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vided by law. All governmental proceedings
and meetings shall be open to the public."
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Storm, I
think it is going to be awfully difficult for
us to carry that in mind. It is not written
out?
DELEGATE STORM: Just in my hand-
writing.
THE CHAIRMAN: This is an entire sub-
stitution for the section?
DELEGATE STORM: This combines the
good elements of 24 —
THE CHAIRMAN: The language you in-
tended is a substitution for the entire
Amendment No. 24?
DELEGATE STORM: Yes, sir, and I am
using practically the same words as in 24,
but just a little change.
I will repeat it so that it is very clear. I
think this is important, and I think this will
be very clear to you:
"All public records shall be open for
inspection unless otherwise provided by
law, and to the extent and in the manner
provided by law, all governmental pro-
ceedings and meetings shall be open to
the public."
THE CHAIRMAN: The Chair suggests it
is very difficult to carry it in mind.
Is there an objection to considering the
amendment ?
DELEGATE JAMES: I object.
DELEGATE BAMBERGER: I object.
THE CHAIRMAN: There are objections,
Delegate Storm.
The question now rises on adoption of
Amendment No. 24. The Clerk will ring the
quorum bell.
The question arises on the adoption of
Amendment No. 24 to Committee Recom-
mendation R&P-2.
A vote Aye is a vote in favor of Amend-
ment No. 24. A vote No is a vote against.
For what purpose does Delegate Gullett
rise ?
DELEGATE GULLETT: A point of par-
liamentary inquiry.
THE CHAIRMAN: State your inquiry.
DELEGATE GULLETT: We did have de-
bate in controlled debate, and then we had
a substitution. At no time has the Chair
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recognized those who might want to speak
on Amendment No. 24 itself.
THE CHAIRMAN: The Chair did recog-
nize the delegates to speak at the time of
the debate scheduled for uncontrolled de-
bate, in the practice heretofore followed of
considering these two things together. Do
you desire to speak on Amendment No. 24 ?
DELEGATE GULLETT: In favor of it,
very briefly.
THE CHAIRMAN: Very well. The Chair
will permit you to proceed.
DELEGATE GULLETT: I think the time
has come when we should seriously reorient
our thinking about the conduct of public
meetings and about allowing the record to
be made available for those who need to
know.
All the records of public meetings are
open here. It is very refreshing. I can think
of no reason why there should be a closed
meeting except as to salary or discharging
an employee. There have been many in-
stances in the State of Maryland regarding
this problem, and the way the meetings are
conducted in public. I think writing this in
the constitution will serve as a clarion call
to those public officials who know that now
is the time to stop secrecy in public meet-
ings.
THE CHAIRMAN: Are you ready for the
question?
Delegate Johnson, for what purpose do
you rise?
DELEGATE JOHNSON: A parliamen-
tary inquiry.
THE CHAIRMAN: State your inquiry.
DELEGATE JOHNSON: If Amendment
No. 24 is adopted, would I be correct in
assuming that it would be open to amend-
ment until such time as the Committee of
the Whole reports to the convention with
respect to its final action on R&P-1 and
R&P-2 ?
THE CHAIRMAN: The Committee of the
Whole has already reported to the Con-
vention with respect to Committee Recom-
mendation R&P-1. The Chair would intend
that the Committee of the Whole report to
the Convention with respect to R&P-2 as
soon as we conclude consideration.
Subject to those comments, your state-
ment is correct. The section would then be
open to further amendment, assuming, of
course, that the amendment was proper.
I do not know what you have in mind as
to the amendment. If you are talking about
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