What the Michigan Legislature Accomplished.
The Michigan Legislature adjourned on Monday, after a session of eighty days. Some very important legislation has been passed at this session, which has in the main been a diligent and profitable one. There has been unusually little mere political discussion, members choosing to rather expend their strength in practical work on committees than in forensic displays that subserve no good purpose. A marked feature of the session has been the opposing views of the two Houses and the Governor on the subject of granting municipal aid to railroad enterprises. Another marked feature has been the very liberal action of the Legislature toward our public institutions, exceeding far that of any similar body in the past ten years—a liberality that the people will approve and appreciate. Among the principle measures of the session are the ratification of the constitutional amendment, the passage of an act providing a convention for the revision of the State Constitution, the bills appointing County Superintendents of common schools, providing a new Judicial Circuit, modifying the law in relation to Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the State, appointing a Commissioner for the Muskegon improvement, levying a tax for the support of the University, extending the time for the completion of the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad, admitting colored children on equal terms into the public schools, establishing a Soldiers' Home in Detroit, protecting consignees of goods and defining the responsibility of railroad companies, extending the jurisdiction of the Recorder's Court, amending the Metropolitan Police law, commissions for city government and other important legislation for Detroit, and a joint resolution accompanied by a very able report in favor of the Northern Pacific Railroad. The session has been rather prolific in committees of investigation by which three of our principal railroads have been overhauled, the Detroit House of Correction looked into, the last Auditor General brought to account, etc. It is gratifying to know that the Republican members of the Legislature have maintained harmony and good feeling among themselves, and have no scenes of frivolity or personal disagreement to look back upon with humiliation and regret.