those people. 1, therefore, ask that the Con-
vention join me in rejecting this proposal.
THE PRESIDENT: Is there any further
discussion?
Delegate Powers?
DELEGATE POWERS: Mr. President,
one of the principal reasons that the Com-
mittee on Calendar and Agenda made the
suggestion that we have a long weekend
toward the latter part of the month of Oc-
tober was that many delegates needed more
time than they now have to talk over mat-
ters with the people where they live.
There seems to be some impression that
the only work that is done by a delegate
to the Convention is either on the floor of
the Convention or in committees. I think
most of us would agree that a great deal
of time is spent by every delegate consult-
ing with constituents and that this is one
of the principal purposes for doing that.
Also at that time we will be going into
a phase where we will begin to have much
longer meetings of the session itself, and
delegates will have even less time to spend
with their constituents or confer with
them. It is believed that it was important
for that reason alone. I hope the motion
will fail.
THE PRESIDENT: Is there any further
discussion? Delegate Scanlan?
DELEGATE SCANLAN: May I remind
Delegate Fornos and our fellow delegates
that the great Constitutional Convention in
Philadelphia in 1787 enjoyed several brief
respites from its important labors, and its
final product did not suffer from a week off
in that case. I think the final product of
this Convention will not suffer from a day
off.
THE PRESIDENT: Is there any further
discussion?
DELEGATE FORNOS: Mr. President.
THE PRESIDENT: Delegate Kiefer.
DELEGATE KIEFER: Mr. President,
the Committee on Personal Rights and the
Preamble has been working very long
hours and they will continue to work long
hours. Very frankly, while October 27 may
be a holiday, I expect that most of the
members of this committee will be working,
as Delegate Powers said, backhome; but,
even so, there is a tremendous amount of
work to be done. We do not call this a lost
day. In fact, we do welcome a respite from
having to be here at the Convention. I
feel that is not to be a lost day. |
THE PRESIDENT: Is there any further
discussion? Delegate Fornos, I will recog-
nize you to close the debate but I think
others should have their chance. Delegate
Gill.
DELEGATE GILL: At the time of this
suggestion the cut-off date for introducing
proposals was October 17 or 23rd, I forget
now. But since then it has been moved up
to the 27th. I doubt the wisdom of a holi-
day on that account.
THE PRESIDENT: Is there any further
discussion? Delegate Beall?
DELEGATE BEALL: Mr. President, I
can understand that if I lived in commuting
distance, I would not need a holiday; but
for us who live 200 miles away, it seems
proper that we should have the opportunity
to get back to our homes one day in the
week.
We can go up there on Fridays or Satur-
days, but Monday we have to start to drive
back in order to be here when the Conven-
tion convenes. I hope that we would get at
least one day a month, a work day, when
we can go back and meet with our own con-
stituents and talk to people. Saturdays
everybody knows nobody else is around. We
would like to have that one day. I hope the
motion is defeated.
THE PRESIDENT: Delegate Bard.
DELEGATE BARD: Mr. President, I
hope that the debate on this issue does not
resolve itself into the matter as to whether
we shall take a holiday or not, but rather
as to whether we will have one day that is
scheduled somewhat differently from other
days. It seems to me this is the real issue
at hand. We will be doing that which we
seek to do in different ways on a necessarily
tight schedule.
THE PRESIDENT: Is there anything
further? Delegate Hutchinson?
DELEGATE HUTCHINSON: Mr.
President, I personally have been asked by
several school teachers to speak to their
classes one day on the constitution and on
the Convention. Because of our schedule,
I am afraid I have not been able to have
an opportunity. I would enjoy one day to
do so.
THE PRESIDENT: Is there any further
discussion? Delegate Fornos.
DELEGATE FORNOS: Mr. President,
I am delighted to see the unanimity among
the leadership of this Convention and also
the others who have joined in calling for |
