THE PRESIDENT: I am not sure if
that is a parliamentary inquiry or a state-
ment of confusion. Let me say that the
situation that arose today was, indeed, con-
fusing, but not quite so confusing as it
would be if we changed as suggested.
The committee recommendation which is
referred to loosely as the Majority Report
is not properly designated a Majority Re-
port. It is a Committee Recommendation.
When it is filed it is circulated to the dele-
gates, and under the rules, of course, lays
over for at least three days.
I think while it may be confusing, if we
retain the present nomenclature and refer
to that constantly as the Committee Recom-
mendation, even though it may at the time
of debate no longer have the support of the
majority of the Committee, we would not
have any confusion.
I have a few announcements that I want
to make. I had intended to announce that
we had in the gallery several distinguished
visitors: Mr. June Haw and Mr. Young-
gun Hwang, who are members of the staff
of the Korean National Assembly. They
seem to have decided that a session such as
we have had is more than Korean endur-
ance could bear and they have departed.
We are very happy to have had them. I
am sure that their departure was because
of other engagements.
I would like also to announce that the
flowers on the rostrum today are there
through the courtesy of Delegate Dorothy
Murray, and thank her for them.
Delegate Murray.
DELEGATE D. MURRAY: Thank you,
Mr. President. In lieu of the many words
which I anticipate being spoken in this As-
sembly, with your permission and that of
the delegates, I would like to be able to
bring flowers whenever I can, and please
do not mention them again.
THE PRESIDENT: The Chair, speak-
ing for the Convention, says simply thank
you.
(Applause,)
I understand that between 75 and 100
delegates saw the movie at the conclusion
of the session of the Convention yesterday.
I take it, therefore, that all delegates who
desire to see it have seen it. There will be
other showings of the movie from time to
time. You are welcome to see it. No other
showings are scheduled, particularly for
Convention delegates. |
I cannot refrain at this moment from one
other announcement, and that is to say to
the Convention delegates in their capacity
as members of the Committee of the Whole
a very sincere thank you for a well ordered
debate, in which you bore with your presid-
ing officer's slips with very good grace.
Are there any announcements by Com-
mittee Chairmen?
Delegate Kiefer.
DELEGATE KIEFER: Mr. President,
the Committee on Personal Rights and the
Preamble has what I think is a happy an-
nouncement, one I make with a great deal
of satisfaction.
After about two days of hearings ex-
tending over some days and after at least
a good day of debate and discussion, this
Committee adopted by a vote of 16 to 1 the
following language, subject to some polish-
ing, as a recommendation to this Conven-
tion for a replacement of the language of
section 103: "No law shall be enacted re-
specting an establishment of religion or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
This is the Committee's opinion as to
what the First Amendment of the United
States Constitution is. I make this an-
nouncement for two reasons. There has
been a great deal of interest by a great
many delegates. I think in view of the de-
bate as carried on today, it is rather sig-
nificant that this very highly inflammable
subject was enacted by this Committee in a
vote of 16 to 1. We had hoped to go for
due process this afternoon, but obviously
we are not going to do that. In fact, if we
tried to reassemble before 7:30 P.M., I am
sure nobody would come. We will reassemble
at 7:30 P.M. to consider the Preamble and
perhaps move on to some other matters.
THE PRESIDENT: Delegate Sherbow.
DELEGATE SHERBOW: The Commit-
tee on Finance and Taxation will meet to-
morrow morning at 10:00 A.M. to hear Mr.
John Lauber of the Governor's Task Force,
to consider a series of recommendations
sent to our Committee by the Governor.
After the session tomorrow afternoon,
we will meet with the President of the
Senate, Speaker of the House, and other
legislative leaders for further discussion on
the same subject.
I would like specifically now to invite
Delegate Beatrice Miller and Delegate Sos-
nowski to appear at either of these two
meetings tomorrow to discuss their proposal |
