Pending the call of the yeas and nays, the
following explanations were made by mem-
bers when their names were called:
Mr. DENNIS. I simply desire to say that
I voted for the order to publish the names of
absentees, because I am perhaps as obnoxious
to that order as any member of the conven-
tion. I have not been here a single night,
and do not expect to be. And it would just
save trouble if the clerk would publish
my name in advance among the absentees.
As to this order, I see no power in this con-
vention to stop the per diem of any member;
and I therefore vote " no."
Mr. JONES, of Somerset. I believe it is not
now competent to move to amend this order
so as to allow those who attend during the
day only, and not at night, half wages. It
is hardly fair, when a member works here
during the day, and is absent at night, that
he should be cut off from the pay for the
work be has done, and I shall have to vote
against the order for that reason. I do not
believe the act calling us together made
any provision for our working at night. I
vote " no."
Mr. NEGLEY. If this convention cannot
vote itself one dollar, how can it deprive it
self of one? If the order were to the effect
of requesting those members who absent
themselves without leave not to take their
per diem, I would vote for it. But in its
present shape it is mandatory, and I think
we have no such power. I therefore vote
"no."
Mr. SANDS. I do not understand this or-
der as taking away from any member who
attends here from ten o'clock to three, his
per diem, because he happens to be away at
night. I have only to say about this matter,
that I receive my per diem here for the ser-
vices I render to my people. And when I
am away, either about my business or my
pleasure, I do not want them to pay me for
my absence instead of my presence. I there-
fore vote "aye,"
Mr. TODD submitted the following :
Ordered, That in publishing the names of
absentees from evening sessions, the clerk be
instructed to omit the names of members ab-
sent by leave of the convention, or on account
of sickness.
Mr. ECKER. That was understood in my
order.
The PRESIDENT. The president will see
that that exception is made.
Mr. TODD. I will withdraw the order.
Mr. WICKARD submitted the following :
Ordered, That Messrs. Berry, of Baltimore
county, Berry, of Prince George's county,
Thruston, Hoffman, Barron and Purnell, be
appointed a committee to report on delin-
quent and indisposed members, the number of
times each member of the convention has absented
himself, and how much extra pay is
due to such absentees. |
Mr. PURNELL. I move that this subject be
referred to a master in chancery to take depo-
sitions upon the" subject.
Mr. JONES, of Somerset, moved to add Dr.
Swope to the committee.
Mr. STIRLING. It seems to me that this or-
der is out of order. It has a collection of
names of some gentlemen who have on one or
two occasions been absent for a week or two
at a time.
Mr. JONES, of Somerset. I must have mis-
understood the object of this order. I under-
stood it was to inquire into the indisposition
of members. And as my friend from Carroll
(Mr. Swope) is a good physician, I thought
he should be a member of the committee.
Mr. STIRLING. This is an order that the
committee report how much extra pay is due
to absentees. I cannot vote for any. such or-
der as that.
The PRESIDENT. Will the gentleman from
Allegany explain what be means by "extra
pay?"
Mr. WICKARD. I really want to see this ac-
count settled between these gentlemen who
come here and offer these orders, and make
all these complaints. My friend on my right,
(Mr. Mullikin) who has just returned from all
absence of several days, is responsible for the
last order voted upon. It is invariably the
case that those members who absent them-
selves the most, when they return make the
most fuss about absentees,
Mr. THRUSTON. The gentleman ought not
to complain, for he has not done anything to
consume the time of the convention. I move
to lay the order on the table.
Mr. STIRLING. I insist upon my point of
order. How can we resolve to appoint a com-
mittee to inquire how much extra pay is due
to absentees? Yet that is what this order
says.
The PRESIDENT. The gentleman from Bal-
timore city (Mr. Stirling) has raised the
point of order that this is not in order. The
chair does not understand what is meant by
"extra pay."
Mr. WICKARD. It is intended to induce an
inquiry upon the subject.
The PRESIDENT. If the gentleman from Al-
legany (Mr. Wickard) will give some infor-
mation to the convention of what is meant by
the term ' 'extra pay," we may be better
able to understand it.
Mr. DAVIS, of Charles. I would suggest
that the gentleman from Allegany (Mr. Wick-
ard) strike out the word "extra."
Mr. WICKARD. I accept the amendment.
The PRESIDENT. The gentleman cannot
amend his order after the point of order is
raised. The gentleman not being able to give
the convention any explanation of what the
order means, the chair rules it out of order.
Mr. AUDOUN submitted the following :
Ordered, That it be entered on the journal
that those members who have continually oc- |
