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When the Assembly resolves itself into Committee of the Whole, the Speaker selects a Chairman, as follows:

"The gentleman from —, Mr.

—, will take the Chair."

The appointed Chairman advances to the Speaker's desk, and having taken the Chair, receives from the Clerk the papers indicated by the motion for the committee, when the Chairman announces:

"GENTLEMEN:-The committee have under consideration, bill No. -, entitled —, (reading the title from the back of the bill. Or in case of consideration of the general file,) the committee have under consideration the general file of bills; the first in order is bill No. -, entitled "The first section is as follows:"

The Chairman then reads the first section, and asks—

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"Are there any amendments proposed to the first section?"

If none are offered, the Chairman says:

"No amendments being offered to the first section, the second section will be read."

This process is continued through the whole bill, when at the close of the reading the Chairman says:

"Theth section and the whole bill have now been read, and are open to amendment."

At this point, after the friends of the bill have perfected it, it is customary for the opponents of the bill to open their attack.

After the discussion of the bill to such an extent as may be desired, if no amendments are made, the final vote is generally upon a motion

"That the bill be reported back to the House without amendment."

If any other bills are before the committee, they are proceeded with in the same manner. If it is desired to have a further consideration of any matter before the committee, or if the general file has not been gone through with, the motion is,

"That the committee rise, report progress, and ask leave to sit again." If the committee has completed its duties, the motion is,

"That the committee rise and report."

Which being analagous to a motion to adjourn, is not debatable. The Chairman states the matter as follows:

"It is moved that the committee do now rise and report [or otherwise, as the case may be.]

"Is the committee ready for the question?

"GENTLEMEN:-Those who are of opinion that this committee do now [rise and report], say aye; those of a contrary opinion, say no.".

In case of doubt, a division must be had, as the ayes and noes cannɔt be called in Committee of the Whole.

When the committee rises, the Speaker resumes his seat, and the Chairman, in his place on the floor, reports as follows:

"Mr. Speaker."

The Speaker answers

"Mr. Chairman."

Who reports

"The Committee of the Whole have had under consideration bill No. —. A., entitled —, and have instructed me to report the same to the House with amendment," [or as the case may be.]

When the general fille has been under consideration, the report is as follows: "The Committee of the Whole have had under consideration the general file of bills, have gone through the same, and have directed me to report to the House the bills contained therein, with sundry amendments and recommendations, as follows, to wit:" [Here follows the title of bills considered, with action taken upon them.]

In case the file has been left unfinished, the report is

"The Committee of the Whole have had under consideration the general flle of bills, and have made some progress therein. I am directed to report back the following bills, with the amendments and recommendations hereinafter specifled, and ask leave for the committee to sit again." [Here follows the report of amendments, etc., as above.]

On the latter report the question is

"Shall leave be granted?"

When, upon a count, it is ascertained that a quorum is not present, the report is

and

"The Committee of the Whole have had under consideration after some progress therein, find there is no quorum present; that fact I herewith report to you."

In case of confusion or disorder, the Speaker, of his own accord, resumes the Chair temporarily, and without any formality, for the purpose of suppressing it. When order is restored, the Chairman resumes the Chair and the business proceeds.

Upon the coming in of a report, the recommendations are at once acted on by the Assembly.

When, in Committee of the Whole, any member desires to offer an amendment, it must be reduced to writing and sent to the Chairman, who reads it, and asks

"Is the committee ready for the question upon the amendment?"

And if no further amendment or debate offer, he puts the question in the usual manner.

After a section is once passed, with an unsuccessful effort to amend it, no further amendments are in order. The strictness of this rule is, however, not always adhered to-an amendment once made, may, however, be reconsidered. Such a motion is

"That the amendment offered by the gentlemen from section, be reconsidered;"

And is stated as follows:

to the-th

"The gentleman from, moves that the amendment offered by the gentleman from , to the -th section be reconsidered.

"Is the Committee ready for the question?

"Those who are of the opinion that said amendment be reconsidered, say aye; those oi a contrary opinion, say no."

In case the amendment is reconsidered, the Speaker, says:

"The motion is carried. The amendment is reconsidered. The question now recurs upon the adoption of the amendment. Is the Committee ready for the question," etc.?

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−, (filling the blanks with the peoper section and chapter of the revised statutes or general laws, designating the same, and also the subject, object or purpose of the section of the chapter repealed; and in the body of every bill, the full title of the act repealed, shall be recited at length.) [See Joint Rule 13.]

Appropriation Bill:

"To appropriate to

the sum of

-dollars."

Titles should be written inside the bill, and indorsed upon the outside, as follows:

No. —, A.,

A Bill to change the name of Andrew Jack

son to James Monroe.

MR. GORDON.

RESOLUTIONS should not be entitled, but should have the name of the mover indorsed upon them. The same rule applies to amendments.

Resolutions are of no special form; the following may serve as a general guide in such matters:

Res. No.-, A.

"Resolved, That three thousand copies of the Governor's message be furnished by the public printer to the Sergeant-at-Arms, for the use of the Assembly.

FOR REPORTS the following form is used

"MR. TUCKER."

"The committee on . to whom was referred bill No. -, A., a bill to

-, respectfully report the same back to the House with an amendment; and recommend ils passage when emended; " or, i

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"and recommend that it do pass; or,

"and recommend that it be indefinitely postponed; " or,

"and recommend that it be referred to the delegation from "to a select committee."

Or, if the committee report by bill:

-;" or,

"The committee on- to whom was referred

respectfully report

by bill No., A., a bill to

"And recommend its passage."

AN ENACTING CLAUSE must precede the body of the bill

It must invariably be in the following form:

The people of the State of Wisconsin, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:-Const., Art. IV., Sec. 17.

Investigations.

When an investigation is required into any matter. the person most interested in having the inquiry made, should move the appointment of a committee to take the subject in charge. This is done by resolution. The resolution should be so drawn as to state the precise subject to be investigated, and to give the committee all the power which the mover may deem necessary to a thorough examination into the subject matter to be laid before them; this should be done to prevent any misapprehension as to the intention and extent of the inquiry to be made. In case of the adoption of the resolution, the mover, together with other members, will be appointed a committee They have power to send for persons and papers. The form of a subpoena is as follows:

"THE STATE OF WISCONSIN,

"To

——: You are hereby commanded, that, laying aside all business and excuse, you personally appear and attend before Messrs.

day of

on the part of the Senate, and Messrs. — on the part of the Assembly, a joint committee appointed under a resolution of the Senate and Assembly, to investigate · at the room of said committee in the city of Madison, the capital of the State, on the , A. D. one thousand eight hundred and - at the hour of -- in the -noon, then and there, and from time to time, as required by said committee, to testify erd give evidence upon the matters of inquiry before said committee. "Hercof fail not, under penalty in such case made and provided.

A. D. 18-.

"Given at the Assembly Chamber, in the city of Madison aforesaid, this day of "Attest:

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–, Speaker of the Assembly.

-, Chief Clerk of the Assembly."

In case of a refusal to appear, or a refusal to testify, the following form of certificate may be used:

"To Hon. "I,

-, Speaker of the Assembly:

- chairman of the joint committee appointed to investigate do hereby certify that has been duly suppœnaed to appear before said committee, as will fully appear by the writ served, and

affidavit of service accompanying the same, on file with the Chief Clerk of the Assembly.

has failed to appear before said

"I further certify that said committee according to the exigency or mandate of said writ or subpœna. "Dated Madison,

18, at o'clock P. M.

Upon which a warrant, in the following form may be used:

"The State of Wisconsin, to the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Assembly: "It appearing that a writ of subpoena, directed to

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command

-, on the

ing him to personally appear and attend before Messrs. part of the Senate, and Messrs. -, on the part of the Assembly, a joint committee appointed under a resolution of the Senate and Assembly, to investigate ——————————, at the room of said committee, in the city of Madison, the capital of the State, the day of, A. D. 18, at the hour of in the noon, then and there, and from time to time, as required by said committee, to testify and give evidence upon the matter of inquiry before said committee, has been issued, and that the said writ of subpoena was duly personally served upon the said

-, on the - day of

A. D. 18—, aud returned as provided in section one of an act entitled 'an act concerning evidence and witnesses,' approved February 3, 1857; and it further appearing by the certificate of the chairman of the said joint committee, that the said has failed or neglected to appear before the said committee in obedience to the mandate of the said subpoena: therefore, you are hereby commanded, in the name of the State of Wisconsin, to take the body of him, the said and bring him before the Assembly,

so that he may testify and give evidence before the said committee, and answer for his contempt of the Assembly in not obeying the mandate of said subpoena. Hereof fail not.

"Given at the Assembly Chamber, in the city of Madison aforesaid, this day of -, A. D. 18-.

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To which the return, in ordinary cases, would be,

"By virtue of the within process, I did, on the - day of —, 18—, arrest the body of ——, and took him before the committee within named, and the said - having refused to answer interrogatories propounded

by said committee, I have him, by direction of said committee, now before the Assembly.

"Assembly Chamber,

18-.

66

Sergeant-at-Arms of the Assembly.”

A resolution, declaring the defaulter to be in contempt, is the next proceeding.

The following form for such resolution was used at the session of 1858: "Resolved, That the neglect or failure of

to appear before the

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