commend the adoption of the following resolution:
Resolved That it being no longer necessary to
retain in this Convention the services of the whole
number of committee clerks heretofore appoint-
ed, the following only be and are hereby retained,
that is to say, John W. Rider, Geo. S. King,
Samuel Peacock and Joseph Morritz.
J. SAPPINGTON, Chairman.
Mr. CRISFIELD, from the minority of said committee,
submitted the following
REPORT:
The undersigned, a member of the committee
to whom was referred the enquiry, " whether or
not it would be expedient to discharge some of the
doorkeepers and committee clerks," begs leave
to report, that be finds there are three doorkeepers
; two for the Hall of the Convention and one
for the Senate Chamber, which is daily used for
the accommodation of the members of the Con-
vention and its committees. He is of opinion,
that two doorkeepers are necessary for the Hall,
and that. as long as the Senate Chamber is used
as it has been during the whole of the session, a
doorkeeper for that apartment is absolutely neces-
sary for the prolection of the public property,
and for the accommodation of the committees
and members of the Convention. The under-
signed, therefore, thinks it would not be expe-
dient to discharge any of the doorkeepers.
The undersigned finds that there are in the
employment of the Convention a Post Master
and seven committee clerks, one of whom per-
forms the duties of clerk to the President as well
as those of clerk of the committee on accounts,
and keeps all the accounts of the Convention.
His services are indispensible in the opinion of
the undersigned.
The labor to be performed by the committee
clerks of the Convention, has not been great or
arduous at any time, and it might well be doubt-
ed whether the number orignally employed was
not greater than was necessary'; but, however
that may have been. it is certainly true, the la-
bor for which committee clerks are necessary, is
now over, or nearly performed. The under-
signed is of opinion that there is not now,
and it is not likely there will be during the resi-
due of the session, labor to employ more than
one half of the present number of committee
clerks. He is therefore of opinion, that the pub-
lic business would not be injured by dispensing
with the services of three of the present clerks.
The undersigned, however, wishes it to be dis-
tinctly understood, that in announcing this opin-
ion, he does not intend to depreciate the charac-
ters and services of these officers; as far as he
knows, or has been informed, each of the clerks
of this body has faithfully performed every ser-
vice which has been required of them. The un-
dersigned thinks a portion of them may be dis-
pensed with, not because they are incompetent
or unfaithful, but because their services are un-
necessary.
The undersigned thinks it no part of the duty
of the committee to indicate which of the clerks |
can best be discharged. The resolution does
not require the expression of any opinion on that
subject. J. W. CRISFIELD.
Which was read.
The question being on the adoption of the la-
solution.
Mr. TUCK moved to lay the resolution on the
table.
Mr. CHAMBERS suggested, whether it would
not be the better course to have a day fixed for
the discharge to take place, in order that those
who will he discharged, may make their arrange-
ments for leaving.
Mr. BRENT said, he would now offer a substi-
tute for the resolution, and would ask that it
should be laid on the table with the reports and
resolution, and that they may all be taken up to-
morrow. He did not think that any, of these
clerks should be discharged.
The substitute was read as follows:
"Ordered, That on and after Monday next, no
clerk, doorkeeper, or other officer be entitled to
compensation when absent, unless upon leave of
absence, granted by the Convention.
Mr. TUCK, again moved to lay the reports,
resolution and substitute on the table.
The question being put, the motion was decid-
ed in the negative,
Mr. HICKS moved to postpone said reports and
substitute until the first Monday of May next.
Determined in the negative.
Mr. BROWN moved to postpone said reports
and substitute until to morrow.
Determined in the negative.
Mr. CHAMBERS, of Kent, moved to amend the
report of the majority committee, by adding at
the end of the resolution, the following:
"And that the persons whose services are dispensed
with, be allowed their per diem to Monday
next, the 17th inst."
Mr, PICKS moved as a substitute for said re-
ports and substitute, the following:
Ordered, That the reports of the committee appointed
to enquire into the propriety of discharging
some of the clerks and doorkeepers, be
recommitted to the said committee, with instruc-
tions to said committee to write the names of
each committee clerk and each doorkeeper, upon
a separate piece of paper, and placed in a hat or
box, and that the first three names drawn out be
the clerks or doorkeepers to be discharged.
The PRESIDENT ruled the substitute to be out
of order.
Mr. PRESSTMAN moved the previous question,
and being seconded.
The question was put on the adoption of the
amendment as offered by Mr. CHAMBERS, of
Kent, and
Determined in the affirmative.
The question was then put,
"Will the Convention accept the substitute as
offered by Mr. BRENT, of Baltimore city?"
Mr. SAPPINGTON moved the question be taken
by yeas and nays, and being ordered, appeared as
follows:
Affirmative— Messrs. Blakistone, President, |
