this could make a difference within our
own committee. I strongly recommend to
the Chair that the referral be to the Com-
mittee of the Whole.
THE PRESIDENT: Delegate Scanlan.
DELEGATE SCANLAN: Mr. President,
although Mr. Rybczynski and I sit across
the aisle and share many common views,
we did not discuss this problem. He rose
on his own initiative, but I was about to
rise to suggest that the Committee on
Rules has no special competency to bring
back a report on this resolution, and that,
therefore, referring it to our committee,
even if we can act very promptly, only
interjects an unnecessary delay.
Secondly, I know that the committees
have reached the very crucial stage of
voting on important issues. The resolution
asks that if adopted, it be applied retro-
actively. I think this is a matter, I agree
with my good friend Edward Rybczynski
here, that should be decided not by the
Committee of the Whole, but by the Con-
vention, promptly.
I would be so bold as to move we now
suspend the rules to take up Resolution
No. 18.
(The motion was duly seconded.)
THE PRESIDENT: Just a second. I
was just about to say that I do not believe
a reference to the Committee of the Whole
would be proper, and that the only proper
way to take up the resolution immediately
would be by suspension of the rules.
DELEGATE SCANLAN: I move we
suspend the rules to consider Resolution
No. 18.
DELEGATE RYBCZYNSKI: Second.
THE PRESIDENT: Motion to suspend
the rules has been duly made and seconded.
Is there any discussion? Since this requires
the affirmative vote of the majority of the
whole number of delegates, the votes will
be by the electronic roll call board. Delegate
Bard.
DELEGATE BARD: Mr. President, I
would like to ask a question in respect to
line 13—whereas three delegates have been
assigned to eight substantive committees—
first may I ask, is it in order to ask about
the resolution at this point?
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, I think you
can ask the sponsor.
DELEGATE BARD: Does the sponsor— |
THE PRESIDENT: Wait just a second.
I think probably the present matter is on
suspension of the rules. If the rules are
suspended, then you may ask your question.
Is there any discussion on the motion to
suspend? If not, the question arises on
the motion to suspend the rules to take up
for immediate consideration by the Con-
vention Resolution No. 18. A vote Aye is a
vote in favor of the motion to suspend the
rules. A vote No is a vote against the sus-
pension of the rules, in which event the
resolution will be referred to the Committee
on Rules, Credentials and Convention Bud-
get. Indicate your vote.
Has every delegate voted? Does any dele-
gate desire to change his vote?
(There was no response.)
The Clerk will record the vote.
There being 118 votes in the affirmative
and 4 in the negative, the motion carries.
The rules are suspended.
The Chair recognizes Delegate Rybczyn-
ski. I suppose I should recognize first one
of the sponsors. Does either of the three
sponsors desire to speak? Delegate Kirk-
land.
DELEGATE KIRKLAND: Mr. Chair-
man, I think the reason I subscribe to this
resolution is based on the one man, one
vote rule. I saw absolutely nothing in the
rules that would give any delegate elected
by the people an opportunity to have more
than one vote. This you would have to con-
sider a weighted vote. I am sure that it
was not the intent of the people of Mary-
land to give any person more than one
vote on any particular committee or in
this Convention.
The other thing is, it is hard to conceive
that a person who does not attend regularly
any substantive committee would have the
background or the knowledge of the wit-
nesses that appeared, and would permit him
to make a really justifiable vote. This is
basically the reason why I subscribe to this
resolution.
THE PRESIDENT: Delegate Bard, do
you wish to ask your question of the
sponsors?
DELEGATE BARD: Yes, I am not clear
as to the second whereas. It seems to me,
Mr. President, that we would need to have
some arrangement, whereby the three dele-
gates concerned would have a vote some-
where. I personally am concerned about
multiple voting, but I am equally concerned
about any arrangement which would keep
these three delegates from having— |
