amended, this resolution, so that the Rules
Committee will be directed to give some
attention to the relationship of attendance,
and the right of members of committees
to cast votes.
THE PRESIDENT: Is there a second?
(The motion was duly seconded.)
THE PRESIDENT: The motion is to
amend the previous motion by adding to it
the recommendation that the Committee on
Rules give some attention to the relation-
ship between the attendance of delegates
at committee meetings, and their right to
vote on such committees. Is there any dis-
cussion on the motion to amend? Ready?
Delegate White?
DELEGATE WHITE: In support of the
motion, Mr. President, and members of the
Convention, some of us find that proposals
in which we are vitally interested and
which we have pursued very diligently
through hearings, committee discussions,
et cetera, for many weeks, are occasionally
upset by some committee members who
have possibly been in attendance three
times in such committee since September 12.
Without wishing to appear unkind, I
question the motivation and capacity of
such a delegate to cast an intelligent vote,
when he has been absent on so many occa-
sions, coming in a bit before 2:00 P.M. to
push the green button, and going back
home.
THE PRESIDENT: Is there any further
discussion on the motion to amend? Dele-
gate Lloyd Taylor.
DELEGATE L. TAYLOR: Mr. Presi-
dent, I have a question to address to Dele-
gate White.
THE PRESIDENT: Will Delegate White
yield for a question?
DELEGATE WHITE: Yes.
DELEGATE L. TAYLOR: In the con-
sideration of the voting, would take it into
consideration a good excuse or reason for
absence?
DELEGATE WHITE: My reply to that
is, it is all right; but the question posed
to some of us will be on a particular ques-
tion. As you all know, when a person has
been in attendance three times since Sep-
tember 12, I question how he could be
excused for only appearing five minutes
before two each day, and go back home.
THE PRESIDENT: Delegate Rybczyn-
ski, do you desire the floor? |
DELEGATE RYBCZYNSKI: Mr. Presi-
dent, I would vote against this motion. I
think Congressman Miller is as capable of
voting on any issue, as any man in our
committee.
THE PRESIDENT: Is there any further
discussion? Delegate Storm. This is dis-
cussion on the motion to amend.
DELEGATE STORM: I would just like
to mention that on the Committee on the
Executive Branch we have several mem-
bers, not including myself, who really have
known more than any of the experts that
would testify. Those fellows have been in
attendance all the time, but their source
of knowledge is so vast that if they wanted
to skip all of this, they really could and
still know more than most any member
sitting on this floor. I suggest we would
be penalizing sometimes people who are
very well qualified.
Then in my own instance, I have been
absent two times—excusable, Mr. President,
I think. I intend to ask both the liberals,
and the conservatives, to get what hap-
pened while I was out. I think I will be
briefed very well by them. I do believe we
would be taking a dangerous step, if we
placed voting or conditioned voting on at-
tendance. Some people do not need to at-
tend, and some who do need to attend will
get all the benefit, even though they have
not attended.
This would also require some delegates,
who want to testify in other committees,
not to be able to vote back on their own
substantive committee. It might be good
to prevent some of the fellows with more
votes than one, if you want to interpret it
that way, but one woman, one vote, that
is the best principle. If the party has been
in attendance, or has the knowledge to
vote, do not penalize him because of his
absence.
THE PRESIDENT: Any further discus-
sion on the motion to amend? Delegate
Gallagher?
DELEGATE GALLAGHER: Mr. Presi-
dent, I move the previous question.
THE PRESIDENT: The previous ques-
tion has been called for. Is it seconded?
(The motion was duly seconded.)
THE PRESIDENT: It takes precedence.
Are you ready for the question?
("Call for the question.)
All those in favor of the previous ques-
tion, signify by saying Aye; contrary, No. |
