No. 11, (H.) "Resolution relative to schools." "Resolved, (the Council concurring) that the committee on schools be requested to inquire into the expediency of so amending the laws in relation to schools, as to increase the amount which the several school districts may raise for the purpose of building school houses, also to authorize the districts to assess and collect taxes on taxable property, omitted on the rolls of the town assessors; also to provide for the more speedy collection of taxes, and for fixing upon the minimum amount, which each town or county shall annually raise for the support of schools; and also what action, if any, is proper to be taken in relation to the school lands; and inquire generally what defects exist requiring remedial legislation, and report at as early a day as practicable, by bill or otherwise.' On motion of Mr. Trowbridge, the house adjourned. THURSDAY, December 28, 1843. Mr. Hunkins presented several remonstrances of inhabitants of the county of Milwaukee against the construction of a bridge across the Milwaukee river at Walker's Point; Which were referred to the committee on internal improve ments. A message from the council, by their secretary: "Mr. Speaker: The council have refused to concur in No. 10, (H.) "Resolution instructing the committee on schools to act jointly;" And also, in the amendments of this house to No. 11, (C.) 'Resolution relative to the selection of seminary lands."" Mr. Darling offered the following resolution, which was read and adopted, to wit: "Resolved, That the committee on the judiciary be directod to inquire into the expediency of passing a law embracing the following provisions, to wit: 1st, That the several counties under the system of county government, have power to bid off at the tax sale in each year, the delinquent list of lands, which remains unpurchased on the 10th day of the sale in each year. 2d, That the time of redemption be extended to five years from the day of sale, with twenty-five per cent. interest for the said five years. 3d, That the purchaser of tax certificates, or the holder thereof, shall have the right to pay the taxes on the tract purchased for subsequent years and receive interest on the same at the rate of ten per cent., by filing in the office a statement that the taxes are paid on the tax certificates of a certain year, as the case may be. 4th, That no suit shall be brought to recover any lands sold for taxes unless commenced within two years after the deed shall have been recorded. 5th, That the holders of tax certificates shall, when they assign the same, file a statement in the office of the register of deeds and county commissioners' office, stating to whom assigned." The speaker laid before the house a communication from John Y. Smith, superintendent of territorial property, in answer to a resolution concerning the excavation of rooms in the basement story of the capitol, and the construction of elevators to raise wood to the second floor of the same for the use of the assembly; Which was read and laid on the table. Mr. Ellis, from the committee on corporations, to which certain petitions were referred, reported No. 13, (H.) " A bill to set off the town of Howard in the county of Brown;" Which was read the first and second times. Bills on their passage were announced by the speaker, when the undermentioned were severally read the third time, passed, and their titles agreed to, to wit: No. 6, (C.) "A bill to amend the act to incorporate the Fox rivver Improvement Company;" No. 11, (H)" A bill for an act to authorize the collector of the town of Janesville to collect certain taxes." Mr. Masters, from the committee on enrolled bills, reported that the committee did on this day present to the governor for his approval, a bill, entitled "An act to enable school district number four, in the town of Janesville, to lay a tax for the purpose of building or purchasing a school house." Mr. Messersmith presented the account of Moses M. Strong against the territory, for professional services, which, On motion of Mr. Darling, Was ordered to lie on the table. The message from the council relative to No. 11, (C.) “ Resolution relative to the selection of seminary lands," being taken up for consideration, And the question being put, "Will the house insist on its amendments" to said resolution? It passed in the affirmative; And the ayes and noes having been called for on the said question, Those who voted in the affirmative, were Messrs. Capron, Crossman, Darling, Ellis, Grant, Hicks, Manahan, Masters, Messersmith, Platt, Price and Walker (spk'r)—12. Those who voted in the negative, were Messrs. Hopkins, Hunkins, Parsons, Thompson and Trowbridge-5. Mr. Hunkins moved that bill No. 5, (C.) be now taken up, entitled 66 "A bill to provide for the election of a printer to the legislative assembly;" And pending the question thereon, The following message was received from the council by their secretary: "Mr. Speaker: The council have passed No. 13 (C.) Resolution relative to a ship canal around the Falls of St. Mary,' in which I am directed to ask the concurrence of this house." A motion was then made by Mr. Grant to adjourn, And it passed in the negative. On motion of Mr. Thompson, Resolved, That the judiciary committee, to which a resolution was referred relative to the sale of lands for taxes, inquire further into the propriety of imposing a penalty on the collector of taxes for selling any tract of land on which the taxes shall have been paid to said collectors. On motion of Mr. Hunkins, The house adjourned. FRIDAY, December 29, 1843. Mr. Messersmith presented the remonstrance of inhabitants of Mineral Point against the incorporation of said town as a city; Which was read and laid on the table. The undermentioned petitions were severally presented, and referred as follows, to wit: By Mr. Masters, the petition of Benjamin Piper and others, citizens of the town of Union, in Jefferson county, for the organization of new towns. Referred to the committee on corporations. By Mr. Capron, the petition of inhabitants of town No. two, in range No. eighteen, for the organization of a town by the name of Hudson. Referred to the committee on corporations. By Mr. Grant, the petition of inhabitants of the town of Paris, praying that the said town may be enlarged. Referred to the committee on corporations. By Mr. Hunkins, the petition of citizens of Milwaukee, for the construction of a bridge across the Milwaukee river at Walker's Point. Referred to the committee on internal improvements. Mr. Darling offered the following resolution, io wit: "Resolved, That the accounts of Moses M. Strong, for professional services in the territorial suits, be referred to the committee on territorial expenditures, with instructions to ascertain and report to this house the whole amount of expenses accruing in said suits, and paid or outstanding against the territory, up to this time, specifying the nature of such expenses." Mr. Hopkins offered the following as an amendment, to wit: "That the committee on terriiorial expenditures be instructed to ascertain, 1st. The amount of cost already incurred in prosecuting territorial suits against the building commissioners, treasurer of the board, and contractor, and their sureties, for which the territory is liable; 2d. The amount of attornies fees for conducting the suits; 3d. What would have been the fees if the suits had been conducted by the proper law officer who is authorized by law to attend to all suits; 4th. Whether the opinion of the attorney generals, whose duty it is made by law to attend to such suits, has ever been asked or given as to the expediency of instituting said suits, and the propriety of continuing them from time to time, and prosecuting them to final judgment; and whether they have given any opinion, and if so, what those opinions were, and whether given officially or not; 5th. Whether it is advisable further to continue said suits, together with any other information which may aid this house to determine whether such suits should be further prosecuted or not, and to report to this house at as early a day as possible." Mr. Platt offered the following as an amendment, which was accepted by Mr. Hopkins: Add to the amendment the following words: "And to take into consideration such other matters appertain ing to said suits as they shall deem proper." The question was then put on agreeing to the amendment, And the ayes and noes having been called for by Mr. Palmer, Messrs. Agry, Hopkins, Messersmith, Palmer, Platt, Price and Those who voted in the negative were, Messrs. Capron, Crossman, Darling, Ellis, Grant, Hicks, Hunkins, Manahan, Masters, Parsons, Trowbridge and Walker, (sp'kr) -12. Mr. Darling offered the following as a modification of the reso lution moved by him, to wit: 1 |