VOTE Concluded.

Member cannot vote after Speaker.

The Speaker decided that it was not in order for a member to vote after the Speaker's name had been called. (Journal H. R., 1864, p. 730.)

A majority of all the members, not necessary to pass concurrent resolution entailing expense to the State.

The Speaker decided that a concurrent resolution to appoint a commisgion, which read: "The expenses of said commission shall be paid upon warrants drawn by the chairman upon the State Treasurer and approved by the Auditor General, and each of said commissioners shall be allowed the sum of ten dollars per day, said expense and compensation to be paid out of such moneys as may by law be hereafter appropriated for such purposes," did not require one hundred and one votes (a majority of all the members of the House) to pass, as the resolution did not appropriate money. On an appeal, the House sustained the decision. (Journal H. R., 1878, p. 1394.)

VOTERS.

Qualifications of, an amendment to a bill relating to, not in order.

A motion was made to amend so as to insert the word "white," before the word "citizens." A question of order was raised, "that inasmuch as the Constitution defines the qualifications of voters, therefore the amendment was not in order." The point of order was submitted to the House, and it was decided to be well taken. (Journal H. R., 1868, p. 467.)

VOTING.

House competent to excuse member from.

The Speaker decided that it was at all times competent for the House to excuse a member from voting. (Journal H. R., 1858, p. 813.)

WITNESSES.

Subpoenaed before contested election cases must be paid.

The Speaker decided that witnesses, regularly subpoenaed before a contested election committee, must be paid according to law. (Journal H R., 1869, p. 597.)

LEGISLATIVE PRACTICE AND PROCEEDINGS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Time of Meeting.

The General Assembly meets bi-ennially on the first Tuesday of January, at 12 o'clock M., the next meeting being on January 1, 1901.

Officers of the Preceding Session Who are Authorized to be Present at the Organization of the Legislature.

The Lieutenant Governor who by the Constitution is made President of the Senate presides at the opening of the Senate.

By the act of 1874, page 129, and the act of 1895, page 14, the following named officers of the Legislature are authorized to return as such at the next regular meeting of the General Assembly, viz: The Chief Clerks; the Reading, Resident, Journal and Executive Clerks; two Transcribing Clerks of each House; the Librarian; the Superintendents of the folding rooms; the Sergeant-at-Arms; the Doorkeepers; the Engineer and the Firemen; Messengers and Postmasters of each House.

ORGANIZATION OF THE LEGISLATURE.

The Senate.

At twelve o'clock M. on the day fixed for the meeting of the General Assembly, the twenty-five Senators whose term of office has not expired and the twenty-five Senators elect, assemble in the Senate Chamber and are called to order by the President of the Senate (the Lieutenant Governor) in the following form: "This being the day fixed by the Constitution for the meeting of the General Assembly, and there appearing to be present a sufficient number of the members of the Senate, together with a number of gentlemen elected to the Senate at the last general election to constitute a quorum, the Senate will come to order."

The custom is to call upon the former chaplain or any minister of the Gospel who may be present to open the proceedings with prayer, after which the Secretary of the Commonwealth, being introduced by the Sergeant-at-Arms, presents to the Senate the returns of the election for Senators held at the previous November election. A motion is then made by a member of the Senate that the clerk proceed to open and read the returns as presented, and upon said motion being agreed to the clerk performs said duty. Upon the completion of the reading of said returns the President orders that the roll of the Senate be called, after which the newly elected Senators present themselves in front of the clerk's desk, when the requisite oath of office is administered to them by

a Judge of the Supreme Court, or of a court of common pleas learned in the law. The next proceeding is the election of a President pro tempore, a motion being made by one of the Senators that the Senate do now proceed to such election, and that the clerks act as tellers; this being agreed to, the President announces that nominations for said office are in order. After the nominations have been made the clerks proceed with the election by calling the roll of the Senate, and the Senators voting for their choice by a viva voce vote. The President announces the result of the vote and declares who has been elected; he then appoints a committee of two Senators (usually the defeated candidate and the Senator who nominated the successful candidate) to escort the President pro tempore to the chair. The next order of business is the election of the Chief Clerk and other officers, after which the Senate is ready to proceed with any business that may be presented.

The House of Representatives.

In the House of Representatives the mode of proceeding is as follows: The members elected and returned meet in the hall of the House of Representatives, and at eleven o'clock, A. M., of the day of meeting, one of the oldest members, that is, one who had been a member for previous years and returned elected to the present session, announces from the Speaker's stand, "that the members of the House of Representatives will meet this day at twelve o'clock M., for the purpose of organization." When that time arrives, the Clerk rises and says: "This being the day appointed by the Constitution for the meeting of the General Assembly, and there being present a sufficient number of gentlemen elected members to constitute a quorum, the House will come to order."

As soon as this announcement is made by the Clerk, and order restored, the Secretary of the Commonwealth presents himself at the bar of the House. The Sergeant-at-Arms immediately arises and announces, "The Secretary of the Commonwealth." The Clerk then announces to the House, "The Secretary of the Commonwealth." When this is done, the Secretary of the Commonwealth advances a few feet within the bar of the House, and says: "Mr. Clerk, I have the honor to present the returns of the late election of members of the House of Representatives for the several cities and counties of this Commonwealth, agreeably to the provisions of the Constitution and laws relating to the elections of this Commonwealth."

As soon as the Secretary of the Commonwealth retires, some member rises in his place, and moves "that the returns of the election be opened and read." This motion being regularly stated by the Clerk, and agreed to by the House, the Clerk proceeds first, with the returns from the city of Philadelphia, and then with those of the several counties in the Commonwealth, in alphabetical order.

When the returns are all read, and the names of the members returned as such announced, the Clerk then calls over the roll of members alphabetically, each member, when his name is called, signifying his presence

by simply answering "present." The oath of office is then administered by a judge of the Supreme Court or of a court of common pleas learned in the law, and signed in a book prepared for the purpose. It is usual for those who swear by the Bible to be sworn first; then those who swear by the uplifted hand; and lastly those who affirm.

A motion is now made by a member, "that the members present do now, in conformity with the ninth section of the second article of the Constitution, proceed to the election of Speaker." This motion being stated by the Clerk, and adopted by the House, the clerks proceed to call over the names of the members, each member announcing distinctly when his name is called, the person for whom he votes. When the call of the roll is gone through with, the clerks add up the number of votes given for each person voted for, and announce the result to the House. If any one candidate receives a majority of all the votes cast, he is declared elected Speaker.

The clerk and other officers of the House are then elected, after which the House is ready to consider any business which may be presented.

Of the General Powers and Duties of the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House.

There are certain duties pertaining to the office of President and Speaker which are not necessary to be specified by rule, being so obviously proper and right as to be indisputable.

1. He puts all questions, and declares the determination of the body. 2. He communicates its resolutions to others, conveys its thanks, and expresses its censures, its reprimands, or its admonitions.

3. He is the representative of the body itself, in its powers, its proceedings, and its dignity.

4. He announces the business before the assembly, in the order in which it is to be acted upon.

5. To restrain the members, when engaged in debate, within the rules of order.

6. Under the rules he has the general direction of the hall.

7. To receive messages and other communications from other branches of the government, and announce them to the assembly.

8. When a legislative body is engaged in its judicial functions, it is the duty of the presiding officer to conduct the proceedings, to put questions to parties and witnesses, and to pronounce the sentence or judgment.

9. When the assembly is engaged in any of its high administrative functions, or in matters of state or ceremony, as, for example, when a member or other person is to be reprimanded or thanked, the presiding officer is the mouth-piece and organ of the body.

10. The President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House are always members, and may present petitions, memorials and remonstrances sent to them. They possess the right to vote as other members, on all questions before the body, and may leave the chair and

address the body on any question. The Lieutenant Governor, as President of the Senate, only votes when there is a tie.

Of Letters, Petitions, Etc.

If a letter, petition, bill, memorial or remonstrance be sent to a member to be by him presented to the House or Senate, his first duty is to fold it up in a neat form (about three and a half inches by eight and a half inches) and indorse on the back of it, in brief, the subject on which it treats, and immediately above this statement he signs his name and county, and indorses the date. For example, a member has a petition for the passage of a bill, etc., he indorses it in this way: "The petition of the inhabitants of praying," etc.

......

In presenting it, he rises in his place, when the name of the county which he represents is called, and says: "Mr. President (or Mr. Speaker), I present the petition of the inhabitants of

praying,"

etc. He then delivers it to one of the pages, to be handed to the Speaker, who also reads the indorsement, by way of information, to the Senate or House, and then refers it to the appropriate committee. The same course is pursued in regard to letters, memorials, etc.

In general, the parliamentary meaning of "resolution" is the expression of the will of the House in regard to any subject before it, public or private; as, for example, that the use of the hall be granted for a particular purpose; that the House will adjourn at a particular time; that certain companies be required to furnish statements, etc. If information is desired from any of the departments, or from the Executive, the resolution assumes the form of a request, as for example: "Resolved, That the Auditor General be requested to furnish the House or Senate with a statement," etc.

This, however, is indeed but an expression of will; the House by the resolution, doing nothing more than declaring it to be their will that the Auditor General be requested to furnish the statement.

When a member is desirous of bringing before the House any proposition for its determination, he writes it out in the form of a resolution, in a plain, legible hand, and as soon as the Speaker announces that