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ORGANIZATION OF THE SENATE

1. ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

The Senate is a continuing body. Its officers have no stated or statutory term of office. They serve until their successors are appointed by the Senate. This proceeding is usually determined by resolution. A SENATOR. Mr. President, I offer the following resolution:

Ordered, That the Senate do now proceed to the election of the following officers in the order named: First, Secretary of the Senate; second, Sergeant-at-Arms; third, Chaplain; fourth, Assistant Doorkeeper; fifth, Acting Assistant Doorkeeper.

On agreeing to the resolution, the following resolutions are considered, the question upon each being separately put and the result declared:

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The following order is then made:

Ordered, That the President of the United States and the House of Representatives be notified of the election of

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NOTE. The office of Assistant Secretary of the Senate was created by a special provision in the act "making appropriations to supply deficiencies in the appropriations," etc., approved March 3, 1905, and in the following words: "There shall be employed in the office of the Secretary of the Senate an Assistant Secretary of the Senate (Henry M. Rose), at an annual salary of five thousand dollars."

NOTE 2.-On December 18, 1883, debate ensued on a motion made that Gen. Anson G. McCook, of the city of New York, be elected Secretary of the Senate, and the Chair ruled that the rule as to ballot, as its terms are expressed, applies in the Rules only to the formation of committees, and that a resolution or order was the proper mode, as the Constitution says that the Senate "shall chuse their other officers;" so the Senate proceeded to choose its officers in the above manner and form, without objection as to form.

2. APPOINTMENT OF STANDING AND SELECT COMMITTEES.

A SENATOR. I ask unanimous consent for the adoption of the following resolution: Resolved, That so much of the rule of the Senate as requires the appointment of the standing and other committees of the Senate to be made by ballot be suspended. THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? The Chair hears none. The rule is suspended.

A SENATOR. I offer the following resolution affecting the organization of the Senate. THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from presents a privileged resolu

tion, which will be read.

[The Secretary reads:]

Resolved, That the Senate now proceed to the appointment of the standing and other committees of the Senate for the present session.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the present consideration of the resolution? The Chair hears none. The question is on agreeing to the resolution.

The resolution is agreed to.

A SENATOR. I move that the committees be constituted as stated in the paper which I send to the Chair.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from

moves that the standing com

mittees be constituted according to the resolution and list now to be read by the Secretary.

Resolved, That the following be the standing committees of the Senate during the present session:

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THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to the constitution of the standing committees of the Senate as proposed. Senators in the affirmative will say "aye" (putting the question). Senators in the negative will say "no." The ayes have it, and it is so ordered.

A SENATOR. I offer the following resolution:

Resolved, That the following select committees be appointed for the present session, and that each of these committees shall be and is vested with all the powers and authorities heretofore given by the Senate to each of the select committees on the respective committees to which they relate:

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[The question is put and disposed of in the same manner as in the case of appointment of standing committees. Resolutions relative to the organization are usually counsidered by unanimous consent.]

3. NOTIFYING THE HOUSE THAT A QUORUM IS PRESENT IN THE SENATE.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The Secretary will call the roll to ascertain if a quorum is present.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. A quorum being present, what is the pleasure of the Senate?

A SENATOR. Mr. President.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from
THE SENATOR. I offer the following resolution.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from

It will be read.

[The Secretary reads the resolution:]

offers the following resolution.

Resolved, That the Secretary inform the House of Representatives that a quorum of the Senate is assembled, and that the Senate is ready to proceed to business. THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Is the Senate ready for the question? (Putting the question.) The resolution is agreed to

4. NOTIFYING THE PRESIDENT OF THE ORGANIZATION OF BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS.

[The Senate having elected its officers, a Senator offers the following resolution:]

Resolved, That a committee consisting of two members be appointed, to join such committee as may be appointed by the House of Representatives, to wait upon the

President of the United States, and inform him that a quorum of each House is assembled, and that Congress is ready to receive any communication he may be pleased to make.

5. FIXING THE HOUR OF THE DAILY MEETING OF THE SENATE.

A SENATOR. Mr. President, I offer the following resolution.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from

be read.

[The Secretary reads the resolution, as follows:]

offers a resolution, which will

Resolved, That the hour of daily meeting of the Senate be 12 o'clock meridian until otherwise ordered.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Is the Senate ready for the question? (Putting the question.) The resolution is adopted.

6. REQUESTING TO BE EXCUSED FROM SERVICE ON A COMMITTEE, AND FILLING THE VACANCY THUS CREATED.

A SENATOR. Mr. President, I ask to be excused from further service as a member of the Committee on

THE PRESIDING Officer. The Senator from

asks to be excused from further

service on the Committee on .
-. Is there objection? The Chair hears none.

It is so ordered. How shall the vacancy be filled?
SENATORS. By the Chair.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair appoints the Senator from serve on the Committee on

Mr.

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MORNING BUSINESS.

1. BY CUSTOM OR SPECIAL ACTION THE ORDER OF BUSINESS MAY BE CHANGED, DESPITE THE RULES.

The order of business is prescribed by the rules. In the consideration of the calendar of bills and joint resolutions and other matters on the calendar, it is frequently the case that an order of business covering certain specified subjects is determined to be adhered to until otherwise ordered. When this order is formally agreed to, it is the duty of the Presiding Officer to be governed by it, notwithstanding the standing orders as embraced in the rules.

2. OPENING OF THE SENATE.

The Presiding Officer enters the Senate Chamber accompanied by the Chaplain punctually at 12 o'clock meridian of the day to which the Senate has adjourned, and with the gavel raps once.

[The Chaplain offers prayer.]

The Presiding Officer takes the chair, and using the gavel says: The Senate will be in order. A quorum being present, the Journal of proceedings of the preceding day's session will be read by the Secretary.

[The Secretary reads the Journal, and such corrections as are necessary are made.]

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The Journal will stand approved, if there be no objection.

3. PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair lays before the Senate the petition of A. B. (reciting its substance), which, if there be no objection, will be referred to the Committee on

[Or-]

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair lays before the Senate certain petitions and memorials which, if there be no objection, will be referred to the appropriate committees.

[Or-]

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair lays before the Senate the petition of

[The Secretary states from the indorsement the name or names of the petitioner or memorialists and the substance of the paper.]

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. This petition (or memorial) will be referred to the Committee on

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The presentation of petitions and memorials is now in order.

A SENATOR. Mr. President

THE PRESIDing Officer. The Senator from

THE SENATOR. I present the petition (or memorial) of (naming some of the leading petitioners and briefly stating its contents, which should also be indorsed upon the paper), which I move be referred to the Committee on

[If there be no apparent objection, ---]

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. It is so ordered. Or, it will be so referred.

[If there be apparent objection, the question is taken upon the motion to refer, a division demanded, or a call for the yeas and nays demanded as upon other motions of like character, without debate.]

4. WHEN PETITIONS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS ARE PRESENTED..

A SENATOR. Mr. President, I present several petitions on various subjects. I ask that they be separately noted (in the Journal and the Record), and appropriately referred.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. That order will be made.

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