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I urge your support of it.
THE PRESIDENT: Delegate Boyer, do
you have a comment?
DELEGATE BOYER: Yes, I completely
concur with Delegate Sollins that this is an
insignificant amendment, and I therefore
urge that it be rejected.
It occurs to me, either one or two im-
peachment proceedings, if that, in the last
one hundred years in the State of Mary-
land. I do riot think that this is necessary.
At the very most, it would only be a lapse
of nine months from the time that a legis-
lature would adjourn until it again re-
convenes.
I can conceive of no immediate problem
that could arise if none has arisen in the
last hundred years like this where we would
have to clutter up a constitution by an
amendment as this. I can see no thrust,
no impact, no need for it, and I suggest
that it be defeated.
THE PRESIDENT: Delegate Clark.
DELEGATE J. CLARK: I rise to sup-
port Delegate Sollins' amendment. I think
it makes a great deal of sense. You might
have the situation where it might be the
Governor that needed impeaching, and you
could hardly expect him to call a special
session for that purpose. Therefore I think
this amendment has great merit, and al-
though it may never be needed, I hope it
will never be needed in the State of Mary-
land. If we need it, it will be there. There-
fore I hope you will vote for it.
THE PRESIDENT: Is there any other
discussion?
Delegate Gleason.
DELEGATE GLEASON: May I ask a
question of the sponsor of the amendment?
THE PRESIDENT: Delegate Sollins, do
you yield to a question?
DELEGATE SOLLINS: Yes, sir.
THE PRESIDENT: Delegate Gleason.
DELEGATE GLEASON: This question
borders on the technical side of things, but
it has always been my impression that
really the House of Delegates is not in
session unless the Assembly is in session. I
think there is a great deal of merit in this
proposal because certainly if charges of
impeachment or cries for impeachment
have been raised, it is in the interest of
the person accused to have this matter
handled expeditiously. Therefore I think
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that the House should have the power to
call themselves into session, since we have
given them this power of bringing forth the
bill of impeachment. However, I am won-
dering if you would change this first 'sen-
tence to say "if the General Assembly is
not in session," to keep it consistent with
the fact that the Assembly, after all, is the
legislative body as such, and that is the
one that should be in session.
THE PRESIDENT: Delegate Gleason
and Delegate Sollins, the Chair calls your
attention to the fact that there is provision
for the separate session of the Senate only.
It would be impossible for the Senate to be
in session and the House not to be in
session.
Delegate Gleason.
DELEGATE GLEASON: We are doing
some strange things in this Convention,
and I sit down, Mr. President.
THE PRESIDENT: Delegate Boyles.
DELEGATE BOYLES: I would like to
speak to this amendment.
I suggest to this Convention that it might
be a very good idea not to put this amend-
ment into the constitution for the following
reason: As Delegate Boyer said, only nine
months could possibly elapse between the
time that the House is in session. It might
just be that that is the time necessary to
cool off some hotheads who might other-
wise try to impeach a man who should
probably not have been tried, as President
Johnson was at one time.
Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: Is there any fur-
ther discussion?
(There was no response.)
Are you ready for the question?
(Call for the question.)
The Clerk will ring the quorum bell.
The question arises upon the adoption
of Amendment No. 4, to Committee Recom-
mendations LB-2, LB-3 and GP-10 as
amended by Style Committee Report S&D-
14. A vote Aye is a vote in favor of the
amendment. A vote No is a vote against.
Cast your votes.
Has every delegate voted?
Delegate Boileau.
DELEGATE BOILEAU: Aye.
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