taxation is much greater and destroys the whole system of mutual insurance, which depends upon each individual insurance through the whole state for its success. There are still other objections: that is, the expenses incurred to the state from the continual applications to the legislature for these special monopolies, the time of the members occupied, the expenses of printing incurred, the laws passed, and after their passage they remain a dead letter upon the statute book, their existence only known by a reference to it, except perhaps a committee of the legislature is appointed to inquire into the frauds and abuses committed upon the public by means of its chartered privileges. It is by a system of indiscriminate legislation that these acts are suffered to remain inoperative. It creates a want of confidence in the minds of those who wish to be insured, and the very natural inquiry arises in reference to the ability of the corporation to meet the losses sustained when it is insured in a county mutual insurance office; whereas, if insured by the state mutual insurance company through an agency, it is bringing the whole people of the whole state into one general compact to assist and protect one another. Such then, your committee believe, ought to be the object and policy of the legislature; in all cases, not to grant any acts of incorporation where the same ends can be obtained without it, unless the necessity of the case demands it, which a majority of your committee cannot conceive to be the present application, believing as they do, that in granting the act itself, it would be wholly inadequate to the objects sought for, and have instructed me, as their chairman, to offer the following resolution : Resolved, That the committee on incorporations report this bill back without amendment, and recommend that the same should not be passed. (No. 16.) Report in part of the Committee on Unfinished Busi ness. The committtee on unfinished business ask leave to report in part, That among the various subjects, which at different times engaged the attention of the Senate during the last session, but which from want of time or other cause, did not receive the final action of the legislature, those, a list of which is hereto subjoined, from their intrinsic importance, merit the early consideration of the Senate. Your committee ask leave to present them now, to the attention of the Senate, reserving the power to make further report, as from time to time their researches may enable them to discover the condition of other important, but unfinished business of the last session. And first in the list, your committee would present for the renewed consideration of the Senate, 1st. The report of the committee on finance, upon certain resolutions, introduced in the Senate March 31, 1838, relative to a reduction of salaries and compensations, and a more strict accountability on the part of public officers, &c. which report, (Document No. 51,) was on the sixth April, 1838, ordered to be entered on the journal of the Senate. (See Senate Journal, 342, 375, 423.) 2d. A certain resolution and preamble concerning the competency of certain officers under the authority of this state, to be voted for and received as members of the legislature of Michigan, which resolution does not seem to have received the deliberate attention of the Senate. (See Senate Journal, 392, 393.) 3d. A bill relative to the state library. (Sce Senate Journal, 386.) 4th. A bill further to regulate the practice of courts of record in this state. (See Senate Journal, 378.) 5th. A bill to create a board of commissioners of loans. (See Senate Journal, 389, 391.) 6th. A joint resolution to require annual reports from the several clerks of the courts of record in this state, concerning the number of suits pending therein, &c. (See Senate Journal, 236.) 7th. A resolution and report thereon concerning drains and ditches, through flat, marshy and low grounds. (See Senate Journal, 128, 179.) (No. 17.) Communication from the Board of Internal Improvement, exhibiting the amount of money paid to members thereof. OFFICE OF INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT, To the President of the Senate : } Sir In obedience to a resolution of the Senate passed on the 20th instant, I herewith transmit to the honorable the Senate, a certified statement, shewing the amount paid to each of the mem bers of the board of internal improvement, from the first organization of said board to the 20th of February, 1839, as appears from the books of this office. I am, With much respect, Your ob't serv't, Statement shewing the amount paid to the Members of the Board of Commissioners of Internal Improvement, from the organization of said board to the 20th of February, 1839. |