reflecting upon the committee, or undertaking
now to destroy its work so far as it has
gone, by the course proposed by the gentle-
man from Howard. I am very sure that
the same reasons which apply to the increase
of that committee might apply to all the com-
mittees with equal power. After we have
faithfully discharged our duties and deter-
mined upon various matters, we shall have to
begin the whole work over again, if the or-
der is passed.
Mr. SANDS. As I stated, there was a mo-
tion to adjourn on account of the absence of
Mr. Jones. I opposed the motion at the time,
stating that in all probability I could not be
present to-morrow, and that would necessi-
tate another adjournment. I wish to state
the facts fairly. Of course every gentleman
who is a member of the committee knows the
fact that there was a motion to adjourn on
account of the absence of Mr. Jones, and that
I opposed it on the ground that I should be
absent to-morrow, so that there would still
be but six members of the committee present.
I did not mean any reflection upon the com-
mittee.
Mr. CLARKE. I did not consider that as a
reflection upon the committee,
Mr. SANDS. I certainly meant no reflec-
tion upon the committee. I have found
them very pleasant, honest, and earnest gen-
tlemen, and I take pleasure in saying that
for them. But I believe the business of the
committee will befacilitated in the end by the
admission of other members. And I believe
that the business of this Convention will be
facilitated by the mutual intercourse of many
of the committees, especially those which
have a great deal to do. What binders any
member of this Convention, who has been
kept out of the committee room, from mak-
ing and advocating any suggestion of his own
after the committee have reported? So after
the reports come into this chamber, you may
have the reports of A, B, and C, and the
suggestions of A, B, and C, to debate and act
upon, I think in view of the facts of the case,
the business of the Convention will be facili-
tated by increasing the committee.
Mr. BOND. If the reason given by the
gentleman from Howard is a good one tor in-
creasing the Judiciary Committee, it will ap-
ply to every committee of this body. If the
absence of a member of a committee is to be
a reason for enlarging it, the same reason
will apply to every individual committee.
Perhaps every gentleman upon this floor is a
member of some committee or other; and by
the appointment of an additional number
upon any one committee, you obstruct the
labors of other committees, and they are
furnished with a still greater reason for ad-
journing and asking an enlargement of their
numbers, I see therefore no sufficient reason
for the prevalence of the motion that has
been made. |
I concur with the gentleman from Balti-
more city, that so far from facilitating busi-
ness by increasing the number appointed
upon a committee, you actually obstruct it to
some extent. Certainly the fewer the num-
ber of members upon a committee the greater
the facility for the interchange of opinion
and the rapid performance of their duty,
Mr. MILLER. I offered the amendment that
I did merely for the purpose of testing the
sense of the body upon the proposition that if
a committee is to be increased, it should be
increased in the regular way by appointment
of the President of tire Convention, he having
the power to appoint. I have no desire at
all that that committee should be enlarged,
but think if it is to be enlarged it should be
by appointment by the President, and not by
naming the additional members in the resolu-
tion.
Mr. EARLE. I wish to state to the Con-
vention, as a member of the Judiciary Com-
mittee, that there was no direct motion this
morning in this committee to postpone its
action. I made the suggestion myself, that
as Mr. Jones, a inember of that committee,
was not here, and had not met with us, we
should postpone action; but the moment the
gentleman from Howard stated that he could
not be present to-morrow morning, that sug-
gestion was withdrawn, and the committee
at once proceeded to attend to the business
for which they were appointed.
Mr. CUSHING. I would like to know if it
is the desire of a majority of that committee
to have it increased. If it is a question of
sufficient importance for the action of the
Convention, it would impress itself upon the
minds of a majority of the committee, and
induce them to request the increase of the
committee. But I do not think it is desirable,
unless there are some extremely good reasons
presented, to change the basis of our commit-
tees; for if we begin to increase the commit-
tees, there is no knowing how far it will go.
if a majority of the committee are of opinion
that it should be increased, and give sufficient
reasons for increasing the committee, it should
be done in the regular way by requesting the
Convention to appoint additional members.
Mr. STOCKBRIDGE, (chairman of the commit-
tee.) In reply to the question asked by my col-
league as to the preference of the committee, I
wish to say that I do not atall know what is the
preference of the committee. The matter was
not at all before the committee, and they have
expressed no opinion upon it, excepting so
far as individual members have expressed an
opinion here since the order was offered.
Here for the first time we have heard of any de-
sire to increase the number of the committee.
Mr. BELT. I move that the order, together
with the amendment, be referred to the Judi-
ciary Committee, in order that they may
report to us whether they desire that the com-
mittee should be increased. |
