ons upon the Clerk of each sion as sta The Spe order hin re in legis ire, to put & r instan ity will b are a cons e lost in meat shar House, is, Compose r the fir der, a trangers ition t "It is always in the power of the Speaker to prevent, to a very great extent, personal reflections, by promptly, yet in a decorous manner, informing a member that he is out of order, and that such remarks cannot be tolerated. The great error consists in allowing a member to proceed too far, before he is checked, and then the gentleman to whom the remarks were intended to apply, demands it as a right to be heard. Mr. Speaker should stop without delay the first indication that may be evinced of the sort alluded to. By such conduct, he saves the time and preserves the dignity of the House, while he manifests his qualifications to preside over its deliberations. If it is understood that the Speaker will enforce this part of his duty, the most delicate, while it is the most important; members will be cautious in stepping across the threshold of propriety. The Speaker will always find himself sustained by the House if he enforce the rules" without fear, favor, or affection." Sutherland, 117. e that But if th House "On questions of order, there shall be no debate, except on an appeal from the decision of the Speaker, or a reference of a question by him to the House, when no member shall speak more than once, except by leave of the House, all de er of it edious to be de decided the Ho 4 distr ions upon questions of order, should be noted the Clerk, and placed at the end of the Jourl of each session, with a reference to the desion as stated in the Journal." Ibid. 118.ogs "The Speaker should always decide questions f order himself. He is selected for his experince in legislative business, and ought not, thereore, to put aside a question, to be decided in the first instance by the House. The great probability will be, that he will decide correctly, and save a considerable time, which would otherwise be lost in useless debate. And what takes a great share of weight from a decision by the House, is, that, usually, a majority of the House is composed of new members, who are, therefore, for the first time called upon to settle a point of order, a matter to which they are almost total strangers. And as there is a praiseworthy disposition to support the Chair, it is most probable that its decisions will pass unquestioned. But if the Speaker submits the question to the House primarily, he admits that he is not master of it, and thus puts a subject afloat, for a tedious discussion, that will not be more likely to be decided correctly by them, than if he had decided it himself; besides which, calling upon the House to decide on points of order, begets a distrust in his judgment, and tends to encourage appeals, when he may decide what he feels confident is right. It is to the advantage of the House as well as the Speaker, that he should be R considered well skilled in his duties and need not be instructed." Ibid. 118, 119. "That when two or more members rise to speak nearly at the same time, the Speaker to decide who shall speak first, and call him by name, and that such member then proceed, unless the House shall interfere and adjudge otherwise."-Rule 7 of Assembly. The Speaker, in order to distribute the business equally among the members, should keep a check roll, noting the number of committees on which each member is appointed. He should be careful in the selection of every committee, to appoint at least one member conversant with the subject matter referred. Chairman He should call a member to order, who should entertain private discourse while a member is speaking, or pass between him and the Chair. e) shall ha leared." ines of the Stenograp es, may b all assign su When he retires, (the House being in session,) he may nominate some member to take the Chair, but such substitution not to extend beyond adjournment. sewhere, to He shall appoint all committees, unless otherwise ordered by the House. ere with t 13 of ibi That, in a Committee Chairman He shall sign all bills, addresses, joint resolutions; also, all writs, warrants, and subpœnas, issued by the House. He shall have a general direction of the Hall. He is ex officio trustee of school fund. "In case of any disturbance or disorderly conduct in the galleries or lobby, the Speaker State for th et of May "That th rmation peaker, s sembly. "That ommitte are sever me to Consider Americ "Tha to Cour r Chairman of the Committee of the Whole ouse) shall have power to order the same to e cleared."-Rule 12 of the House of Represenatives of the U. States. "Stenographers, wishing to take down deates, may be admitted by the Speaker, who hall assign such places to them, on the floor or elsewhere, to effect their object, as shall not inerfere with the convenience of the House."Rule 13 of ibid. "That, in all cases, when the House goes into a Committee of the Whole, the Speaker appoint the Chairman.-Rule 13 of Assembly. Sec. 19. Of the Clerk. la sit "That the Secretary of Council and Clerk of Assembly shall forthwith, on the passage of any bill into a law, deliver the same to the Secretary of State for the time being, to be filed in his office." Act of May 27th A. D. 1820. "That the Clerk, when reading or giving information upon any subject, by order of the Speaker, shall stand up in his place." Rule 4 of Assembly. "That all bills and special reports of the Committees be numbered by the Clerk as they are severally introduced, and a list made of the same to lie on the table and be called up for consideration, by the Speaker, according to their numerical order." Rule 5 of Assembly. "That all messages be sent from this House to Council by the Clerk." Rule 11 of Assembly. I do solemnly profess and swear, that I do and will, bear true faith and allegiance to the government established in this State, under the authority of the people. He sha equired grossing He sha ach adjo He sh Conventi I do solemnly promise and declare, that I will truly and faithfully discharge the duties of Clerk of the General Assembly, to the best of my understanding and ability; and that I will not intentionally divulge any thing done in the house, which being known, may involve injurious consequences to the public or any individual. I do solemnly swear, that I will support the constitution of the United States. mittees He sh He sh in perfo He is the H House |