DELEGATE BAMBERGER: And what
are those steps which you say can be taken
to extend the uncontrolled time if it is
necessary?
DELEGATE POWERS: If we reach
the point where the uncontrolled time ap-
pears to be insufficient to give the delegates
a reasonable opportunity to present their
point, we would move that the Committee
of the Whole rise and report to the Con-
vention that we desire to amend the debate
schedule to permit further time.
DELEGATE BAMBERGER: I would
address an inquiry to the Chair. Is there
no way to accomplish that purpose without
the Committee of the Whole rising and re-
porting to the Convention?
THE PRESIDENT: No, I do not think
so; but the procedure to do that is not a
matter of delay. It is a 30 second matter.
Is there any further discussion?
Delegate Chabot.
DELEGATE CHABOT: My understand-
ing would be that a motion to reconsider
an action taken in the Committee of the
Whole may be made at any time before
the Committee of the Whole rises. Its ris-
ing merely to accomplish the purpose out-
lined by Delegate Bamberger serves to cut
off the opportunity to make such motion to
reconsider.
THE PRESIDENT: If the Chair were
presented that situation it would rule that
the rising of the Committee merely to seek
further instructions from the Convention
would not affect the rule as to reconsidera-
tion.
Delegate dark.
DELEGATE J. CLARK: Mr. Chairman,
is it possible to reapportion the controlled
time just by announcing it? We have ten
minutes allotted to two speakers here.
Might I just announce that this would be
15 and 5?
THE PRESIDENT: It is really not
working that way, Delegate dark. The per-
son using the time has complete control
over it. For instance, in section 3.04, when
I recognize you for debate under that sec-
tion, you may speak as briefly or as long
as you want within that time. Then when
I recognize you again, if you did not use
your ten minutes, you will simply yield
whatever number of minutes you desire to
whatever delegate you desire.
DELEGATE J. CLARK: Thank you, sir. |
THE PRESIDENT: Control merely
means that the minority spokesman or ma-
jority spokesman is controlling the alloca-
tion of that limited time among the dele-
gates to speak. It does not mean that he
is speaking himself for that period of time.
Delegate Adkins.
DELEGATE ADKINS: Mr. Chairman,
is a motion to amend the debate schedule
in order?
THE PRESIDENT: It is, sir.
DELEGATE ADKINS: I move that we
amend the debate schedule to provide that
the length of uncontrolled speeches be ex-
tended to five minutes, in lieu of three min-
utes, as shown on the schedule, and I
should like to comment briefly on the pro-
posed amendment, if I am in order.
THE PRESIDENT: Is there a second
to the motion?
(The motion was duly seconded.)
THE PRESIDENT: You may proceed.
DELEGATE ADKINS: I suggest, sir,
that these are matters of great complexity.
I am not one who believes in extensive
debate, but I believe in debate of some con-
sequence. I do not think complex presenta-
tion of this problem can be adequately
stated by any intelligent delegate in three
minutes. If the uncontrolled debate is to be
meaningful, I think the delegates should
have an opportunity to develop their
thoughts. I suggest, sir, that they cannot
possibly do so in three minutes.
THE PRESIDENT: Delegate Powers,
do you desire to comment?
DELEGATE POWERS: Mr. President,
the time of three minutes was agreed upon
as permitting different delegates to be
heard. If it goes up to five, it means fewer
people can be heard. Experience elsewhere
that we inquired about showed that two
minutes was not enough, and that the aver-
age time taken was closer to three than
five minutes.
THE PRESIDENT: Is there any further
discussion?
(There was no response.)
The question arises on the amendment
to the Debate Schedule to provide that in
each instance of uncontrolled time within
the period of limited debate, the limit be
five minutes per speaker rather than three
minutes per speaker. A vote Aye is a vote
in favor of the amendment to increase the |
