if we have a blank day tomorrow, it would
simply mean that we Will be in session one
day longer at the end, or be in session on a
Saturday. The schedule is very close from
this time forward until completion, and in
order to attain the objective of finishing
the business of the Convention within the
time allotted, it will be necessary that we
make up for any blank day by sitting on a
Saturday. We are already scheduled to sit
on two Saturdays. This would mean an
additional one.
I might mention also that this has been
tentatively set for sometime, because the
committee recommendation which I speak
of, was offered here a week ago today, on
the 30th of October, and those who have
been involved with the minority reports will
have had eight full calendar days from
that time in order to prepare the minority
reports. I know nothing about what the
reason is, but it certainly is not a lack of
time from the time when the committee
recommendation was filed. From the stand-
point of the Committee on Calendar and
Agenda, we are very much opposed to
having this blank day. We believe that all
of the delegates were dedicating themselves
to spending their full time here and not
taking a holiday because it affects some
portion of us. There are a hundred or so
other delegates who are not involved in
voting in Baltimore, and we think it would
be a hardship to them to have to have an
extra day.
THE PRESIDENT: Delegate Powers,
may 1 inquire what problems, if any, would
be involved if the Committee Recommenda-
tion LB-I were deferred from tomorrow
until Wednesday and Committee Recom-
mendation S & E-l were scheduled for to-
morrow instead of Wednesday?
I believe there are some minority reports
on Committee Recommendation S & E-l
also, but I wanted to ask Delegate Powers
if he could indicate whether or not such
a switch would be possible or would not be
possible.
DELEGATE POWERS: Of course, one
thing in connection with the switch would
be that it would reduce the time of prep-
aration for the minority who would other-
wise be ready to proceed on Wednesday. It
would reduce that time much more than the
time that has been reduced for those in the
Committee on the Legislative Branch to
prepare minority reports. I think we would
have the same problem with respect to
minority reports and in fairness we at-
tempt to take these in the order that the
reports are filed, insofar as is feasible, and |
it would disrupt the situation, and we prob-
ably would not be able to transact other
business tomorrow.
THE PRESIDENT: And I believe there
are multiple minority reports with respect
to committee recommendations?
DELEGATE POWERS: There are a
number of minority reports. We have been
working on the allocation of time on that,
and the minorities have been very diligent
and have their reports under preparation
so that they will be in the hands of the
delegation in time to be considered before
we take up the matter.
THE PRESIDENT: Is there any further
discussion? Delegate Clarke?
DELEGATE E. CLARKE: May I ask a
question of the Chairman of the Committee
on Calendar? Delegate Powers, do not the
rules provide for the handling of this situ-
ation. In other words, if we convene tomor-
row morning at 10:00 A.M. and this body
then decides after an hour or two of de-
liberation that we would like to take an
hour or two or three-hour recess, could we
not do that in order to get the committee
reports back on the floor tomorrow after-
noon and resolve the whole thing?
DELEGATE POWERS: If we reach a
point, in answer to the delegate's question,
that we are considering matters that the
delegates have not had the opportunity to
familiarize themselves with, there is cer-
tainly provision in the rules that we may
delay the proceedings and afford such an
opportunity. We would contemplate that by
the time the general orders had been
reached, and in view of the ample oppor-
tunity that is afforded the committee chair-
man as well as representatives of the mi-
nority to present without limitation of time
and explanation of any amendments, that
there would not be such a situation as
someone voting out of ignorance, but he
would be very familiar with exactly what
the situation was.
THE PRESIDENT: Is there any further
comment? Delegate Gallagher?
DELEGATE GALLAGHER: Mr. Presi-
dent, I am advised by the members of the
staff that it will be at least another hour
before the minority reports are ready. How-
ever, immediately after that time they can
be distributed. That will not take care of
those who do not plan to return in the
event that we recess before 6:30 P.M.,
however.
THE PRESIDENT: Delegate Gallagher,
may 1 inquire of you simply for informa- |
