would get a better result if we allowed the
three who are elected to sit as a committee
and make this determination for us. The
only real objection that I have heard so
far is that it would impede the progress of
our operation, and it would seem disrup-
tive. I do not believe that the following
people who are in this hall today and those
who will be elected by us would try to
impede the process. They have from now
until September 12 to make this determina-
tion. This does not take away from the
president his power to appoint all the em-
ployees. It does not take away from the
president his power to appoint, with the
clearance of the committee chairman, the
employees of the committee; it does not take
away. from the president his right. to be
presiding officer day by day and make those
kind of administrative decisions, and it does
not take away his right to establish salary
structure for employees of this Convention.
I urge support of this amendment.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Henderson.
DELEGATE HENDERSON: Mr. Chair-
man, Ladies and Gentlemen: I call your
attention to the fact that the rule as
unanimously adopted by the Committee calls
for consultation with the two vice-presi-
dents in any appointment to be made by
the president. This change in the rule pro-
vides that in effect the President's selection
can be vetoed by the two vice-presidents.
Now that seems to me to be a thoroughly
undesirable principle. I fail to see that that
is democracy in its workings. That is the
very thing which we see is a limitation of
authority within the Committee itself, the
very thing which has brought criticism on
the federal government mentioned in the
present Constitution.
It seems to me that we must leave the
selection to the president. I believe that is
the procedure in all legislative bodies. I
believe it is the procedure in the House and
Senate, that the presiding officer selects the
members of the committees and the chair-
men of those committees, and this change
in the rules as proposed would place a
veto power upon his selection. He would
not only have to consult with the two vice-
presidents as now required in the proposed
rules, but he could be overruled by them.
I think that is undesirable.
THE CHAIRMAN: Any further discus-
sion? The Chair recognizes—
DELEGATE GILL: Rubye Gill from
Baltimore City, Fourth District. I might
consult with everybody in here about any
particular issue, but I might not follow |
anybody's advice, and for the reasons given
by Delegate Sickles, which need not be
repeated, I would like to second the amend-
ment of Delegate Willoner.
THE CHAIRMAN: The Chair recognizes
Delegate Anderson.
DELEGATE ANDERSON: I would like
to offer an amendment to the amendment.
I do not know just how to proceed to do
that.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Anderson
wants to offer an amendment to the amend-
ment. It is difficult to do this verbally. How-
ever, we can listen and find out what the
delegate wants to do.
DELEGATE ANDERSON: It is very
short. Rule 5: "After appointment," on the
fourth line of the first sentence, the words,
"subject to the confirmation of each com-
mittee by a majority of the Convention."
Now, the purpose of that, as has been
stated before is to give due consideration
to the fact that we are all elected to rep-
resent the people. It seems to me that when
the delegates of this Convention delegate
their authority to one person or three to
make all of the committee appointments,
they are somewhat shirking their responsi-
bility to see that we get proper committee
assignments and people on those committees.
Thank you.
THE CHAIRMAN: The discussion now
is on an amendment to the amendment of-
fered by Delegate Anderson. The Chair
recognizes the delegate from Prince
George's.
DELEGATE SICKLES: Mr. Sickles
would like to rise in opposition to the
amendment to the amendment. It seems to
me we have to recognize the basic problem,
and that is if we were to require the con-
firmation of the full body to the appoint-
ment of these chairmen, we would not do
this until we came back in September. This
is the basic problem that we have. I would
not want to defer in any way the appoint-
ment of these committee chairmen. I
thought Delegate Willoner's proposal was
really. a middle ground from this extreme
of having the entire body approve or leav-
ing it up to the one individual president.
That is one reason why I supported it.
THE CHAIRMAN: The question now is
on the amendment to the amendment. All
in favor, say Aye; opposed, No. The Noes
seem to have it. The Noes have it.
Any further discussion on the amend- |
