hereafter be granted or appropriated for such purpose, for the support and maintenance of the agricultural college.

Revision of Sec. 11, Art. XIII.

SEC. 14. The legislature shall provide by law for the establishment of at least one library in each township and city; and all fines assessed and collected in the several counties, cities and townships for any breach of the penal laws shall be exclusively applied to the support of such libraries. Supplants Sec. 12, Art. XIII. Certain words omitted.

SEC. 15. Institutions for the benefit of those inhabitants who are deaf, dumb, blind, feeble-minded or insane shall always be fostered and supported.

Sec. 10, Art. XIII.

ARTICLE XII.

CORPORATIONS.

SECTION 1. Corporations may be formed under general laws, but shall not be created, nor shall any rights, privileges or franchises be conferred upon them, by special act of the legislature. All laws heretofore or hereafter passed by the legislature for the formation of, or conferring rights, privileges or franchises upon corporations and all rights, privileges or franchises conferred by such laws may be amended, altered, repealed or abrogated.

Revision and enlargement of Sec. 1, Art. XV, and omits the third sentence. The words "except for municipal purposes," also omitted.

SEC. 2. The term "corporation" as used in this article shall be construed to include all associations and joint stock companies having any of the powers or privileges of corporations not possessed by individuals or partnerships. All corporations shall have the right to sue and be subject to be sued in all courts in like cases as natural persons.

No change from Sec. 11, Art. XV, except in phraseology..

SEC. 3. No corporation shall be created for a longer period than thirty years, except for municipal, railroad, insurance, canal or cemetery purposes, or corporations organized without any capital stock for religious, benevolent, social or fraternal purposes; but the legislature may provide by general laws, applicable to any corporations, for one or more extensions of the term of such corporations, while such term is running, not exceeding thirty years for each extension, on the consent of not less than two-thirds of the capital stock of the corporation; and by like general laws for the corporate reorganization for a further period, not exceeding thirty years, of such corporations whose terms have expired by limitation, on the consent of not less than four-fifths of the capital stock.

Revision of Sec. 10, Art. XV.

SEC. 4. The stockholders of every corporation and joint stock association shall be individually liable for all labor performed for such corporation or association.

No change from Sec. 7. Art. XV.

SEC. 5. No corporation shall hold any real estate for a longer period than ten years, except such real estate as shall be actually occupied by such corporation in the exercise of its franchises.

Sec. 12, Art. XV. Words "hereafter acquired" omitted.

SEC. 6. The legislature shall pass no law renewing or extending any special act of incorporation heretofore granted.

Revision of Sec. 8, Art. XV.

SEC. 7. The legislature may, from time to time, pass laws establishing reasonable maximum rates of charges for the transportation of passengers and freight on different railroads in this state, and may pass laws establishing reasonable maximum rates of charges for the transportation of property by express companies in this state, and may delegate such power to fix reasonable maximum rates of charges for the transportation of freight by railroad companies and for the transportation of property by express companies to a commission created by law; and shall prohibit running contracts between such railroad companies whereby discrimination is made in favor of either of such companies as against other companies owning connecting or intersecting lines of railroad.

Sec. 1, Art. XIX-A.

SEC. 8. No railroad corporation shall consolidate its stock, property or franchises with any other railroad corporation owning a parallel or competing line; and in no case shall any consolidation take place except upon at least sixty days' public notice to all stockholders in such manner as shall be provided by law.

No change from Sec. 2, Art. XIX-A, except in phraseology.

SEC. 9. No general law providing for the incorporation of trust companies or corporations for banking purposes, or regulating the business thereof, shall be adopted, amended or repealed except by a vote of twothirds of the members elected to each house of the legislature. Such laws shall not authorize the issue of bank notes or paper credit to circulate as money.

Supplants Sec. 2, Art. XV.

ARTICLE XIII.

EMINENT DOMAIN.

SECTION 1. Private property shall not be taken by the public nor by any corporation for public use, without the necessity therefor being first determined and just compensation therefor being first made or secured in such manner as shall be prescribed by law.

Supplants Secs. 9 and 15, Art. XV.

SEC. 2. When private property is taken for the use or benefit of the public, the necessity for using such property and the just compensation to be made therefor, except when to be made by the state, shall be ascer tained by a jury of twelve freeholders residing in the vicinity of such property, or by not less than three commissioners appointed by a court of record, as shall be prescribed by law: Provided, That the foregoing pro

E

vision shall not be construed to apply to the action of commissioners of highways or road commissioners in the official discharge of their duties. Sec. 2, Art. XVIII.

SEC. 3. Private roads may be opened in the manner prescribed by law; but in every case the necessity for the road and the amount of all damages to be sustained by the opening thereof shall be first determined by a jury of six freeholders or by not less than three commissioners, and such amount, together with the expense of proceedings, shall be paid by the person or persons to be benefited.

Revision of Sec. 14, Art. XVIII.

SEC. 4. The regents of the university of Michigan shall have power to take private property for the use of the university, in the manner prescribed by law.

New.

ARTICLE XIV.

EXEMPTIONS.

SECTION 1. The personal property of every resident of this state, to consist of such property only as shall be designated by law, shall be exempted to the amount of not less than five hundred dollars from sale on execution or other final process of any court.

No change from Sec. 1, Art. XVI, except in phraseology.

SEC. 2. Every homestead of not exceeding forty acres of land and the dwelling house thereon and the appurtenances to be selected by the owner thereof and not included in any town plat, city or village; or instead thereof, at the option of the owner, any lot in any city, village or recorded town plat, or such parts of lots as shall be equal thereto, and the dwelling house thereon and its appurtenances, owned and occupied by any resident of the state, not exceeding in value fifteen hundred dollars, shall be exempt from forced sale on execution or any other final process from a court. Such exemption shall not extend to any mortgage thereon lawfully obtained, but such mortgage or other alienation of such land by the owner thereof, if a married man, shall not be valid without the signature of his wife to the same.

No change from Sec. 2, Art. XVI, except in phraseology.

SEC. 3. The homestead of a family, after the death of the owner thereof, shall be exempt from the payment of his debts in all cases during the minority of his children.

No change from Sec. 3, Art. XVI, except in phraseology.

SEC. 4. If the owner of a homestead die, leaving a widow but no children, such homestead shall be exempt, and the rents and profits thereof shall accrue to her benefit during the time of her widowhood, unless she be the owner of a homestead in her own right.

No change from Sec. 4, Art. XVI, except in phraseology.

SECTION 1. The militia shall be composed of all able-bodied male citizens between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years, except such as are exempted by the laws of the United States or of this state; but all such citizens of any religious denomination, who, from scruples of conscience, may be averse to bearing arms, shall be excused therefrom upon such conditions as shall be prescribed by law.

SEC. 2. The legislature shall provide by law for organizing, equipping and disciplining the militia in such manner as it shall deem expedient, not incompatible with the laws of the United States.

SEC. 3. Officers of the militia shall be elected or appointed and be commissioned in such manner as may be prescribed by law.

No change in above sections from Art. XVII, except in phraseology.

ARTICLE XVI.

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

SECTION 1. The terms of office of all elective state officers and of all judges of courts of record shall begin on the first day of January next succeeding their election, except as otherwise prescribed in this constitution. The terms of office of all county officers shall begin on the first day of January next succeeding their election, except as otherwise prescribed by law.

This section is a condensation of like provisions appearing in various sections of the constitution of 1850.

SEC. 2. Members of the legislature and all officers, executive and judicial, except such officers as may by law be exempted, shall, before they enter on the duties of their respective offices, take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the constitution of the United States and the constitution of this state, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of according to the best of my ability." No other oath, declaration or test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust. No change from Sec. 1, Art. XVIII.

SEC. 3. Neither the legislature nor any municipal authority shall grant or authorize extra compensation to any public officer, agent, employe or contractor after the service has been rendered or the contract entered into. Salaries of public officers, except circuit judges, shall not be increased, nor shall the salary of any public officer be decreased, after election or appointment.

Revision of Sec. 21, Art. IV and Sec. 20 of the Schedule.

SEC. 4. In case two or more persons have an equal and the highest number of votes for any office, as canvassed by the board of state canvassers, the legislature in joint convention shall choose one of said persons to fill such office. When the determination of the board of state

canvassers is contested, the legislature in joint convention shall decide which person is elected.

No change from Sec. 5, Art. VIII.

SEC. 5. The legislature may provide by law the cases in which any office shall be deemed vacant and the manner of filling vacancies, where no provision is made in this constitution.

No change from Sec. 37, Art. IV, except in phraseology.

SEC. 6. The laws, public records and the written judicial and legislative proceedings of the state shall be conducted, promulgated and preserved in the English language.

No change from Sec. 6, Art. XVIII.

SEC. 7. The legislature may establish courts of conciliation with such powers and duties as shall be prescribed by law.

No change from Sec. 23, Art. VI.

SEC. 8. The real and personal estate of every woman, acquired before marriage, and all property to which she may afterwards become entitled by gift, grant, inheritance or devise shall be and remain the estate and property of such woman, and shall not be liable for the debts, obligations or engagements of her husband, and may be devised or bequeathed by her as if she were unmarried.

No change from Sec. 5, Art. XVI, except in phraseology.

SEC. 9. Aliens, who are or who may hereafter become bona fide residents of this state, shall enjoy the same rights in respect to the possession, enjoyment and inheritance of property as native born citizens.

No change from Sec. 13, Art. XVIII.

SEC. 10. No lease or grant of agricultural land for agricultural purposes for a longer period than twelve years, reserving any rent or service of any kind, shall be valid.

Sec. 12, Art. XVIII.

ARTICLE XVII.

AMENDMENT AND REVISION.

SECTION 1. Any amendment or amendments to this constitution may be proposed in the senate or house of representatives. If the same shall be agreed to by two-thirds of the members elected to each house, such amendment or amendments shall be entered on the journals, respectively, with the yeas and nays taken thereon; and the same shall be submitted to the electors at the next spring or autumn election thereafter, as the legislature shall direct; and, if a majority of electors qualified to vote for members of the legislature voting thereon shall ratify and approve such amendment or amendments, the same shall become part of the constitution.

No change from Sec. 1, Art. XX.

SEC. 2. Amendments may also be proposed to this constitution by petition of the qualified electors of this state but no proposed