Page:Journal of the Sixth Legislative Council of the Territory of Michigan.djvu/105

24.] On motion of Mr. Moran,

Resolved, That the committee on incorporations be instructed to inquire into the expediency of amending the act for the establishment of an university, approved the 30th of April, 1821, and of all acts amendatory thereto, so as to determine the term of office of the trustees to the said institution, and to have a portion of the said body annually appointed; also, into the expediency of annually appointing a certain number of competent inspectors to said institution; and also, into the expediency of authorizing the said board of trustees to appropriate the use of the building now in the city of Detroit, or of any other building belonging to said corporation, for the use of common schools, until the same shall be required for an university; to report by bill or otherwise.

On motion of Mr. Farnsworth,

Resolved, That the judiciary committee be instructed to inquire into the expediency of making some further provision for the safe keeping and support of lunatic paupers, and report by bill or otherwise.

Mr. Martin, from the committee on the judiciary, made the following report, which was laid on the table:

The judiciary committee, instructed by resolution to inquire into the expediency of repealing the act for the punishment of idle and disorderly persons, report:

That the subject has been considered, and it is deemed inexpedient to recommend a repeal of that law. The description of persons liable to punishment under it, is such as to require the restraints imposed by the statute, and it is far better to leave the speedy mode of trial, and the infliction of the penalties now provided for, than to recur to the common law. In all minor offences against the good order of society, jurisdiction is given to justices of the peace; and many questions would arise, which most of them are. incompetent to decide, or to say the least, might occasion them much embarrassment, were they left to draw the rule of decision from the common law. It is for the benefit of the criminal also that the provision should stand, for he is now ensured a speedy trial, and the punishment to be inflicted is definite. To obviate the difficulties of delay and uncertainty of decision upon nice points of law, this statute was framed, and the committee is of opinion that it would be unwise to repeal it, and therefore asks to be dicharged from the further consideration of the subject.

Mr. Martin, from the committee on the judiciary, reported

A bill for the relief of Hiram Wilmarth.

The bill was read the first time.

Mr. Farnsworth laid on the table the following resolution:

Resolved, That the report of the committee on internal improvement, made on Saturday, against the expediency of opening a road