the application of Rule 64 [68]* to the
consideration of the Report of the Rules
Committee today, so this item will be on
tomorrow's Calendar. In addition to that I
would like to say to the delegates that
heretofore our Calendar and Agenda has
not been much more than copying the order
of business from the rules. From this time
forward we propose to make the daily
Calendar and Agenda more particularized
and insofar as reports of committees, re-
ports of select committees, second and final
reading of proposals, unfinished business,
special orders of the day and general orders
of the day such matters will be placed on
the agenda in particular and should be on
the desk of each member before the close
of business on the previous day, not before
the termination of the session but before
the business day ends. Of course, the intro-
duction of the first reading of proposals
and motions and resolutions will always
be an item of business, and the floor will
be open for those matters. It is necessary
that the committee chairmen as well as in-
dividual delegates who have any items
that would normally come under the cate-
gories which I have mentioned which must
be particularized, communicate either
through the liaison member of this Com-
mittee or with the office of the Committee
on Calendar and Agenda, not later than
fifteen minutes after the close of the ses-
sion on any given day so that that matter
may be considered for the agenda for the
following day.
The daily Calendar and Agenda in the
format we have been using is on all desks,
and I move its adoption.
THE PRESIDENT: Is there a second?
Any discussion? Are you ready for the
question? All those in favor, signify by
saying Aye; contrary, No. The Ayes have
it. It is so ordered.
The next item of business is the report
of other standing committees. I do not
believe there are any. If not, we will move
on to the next item, introduction and first
reading of proposals. Before we do that, I
would like to make a comment by way of
explanation. In an effort to speed up the
process of getting to the delegates copies
of the proposals as soon as possible, we
have determined to reproduce them, that is,
to make the multilith copies before they
are actually read across the desk. This will
enable you to have them more readily, and
*The number in brackets refers to the
final number assigned to the rule in the
Rules of the Constitutional Convention of
Maryland, |
normally you will have them on your desks
at the time they are first introduced. This
poses a slight problem in that it is always
possible, of course, that they will be intro-
duced and at the last minute the delegate
may decide not to offer. I think we can
take care of that situation if it arises.
We are still experimenting with the
multilith arrangement, and we find that it
poses quite a problem to have the proposals
multilithed in the interval between noon
and the meeting of the Convention at 2:00
P.M. As is usually the case, most of the
proposals come in shortly before noon. We
will be able, however, to do this with an
additional piece of equipment and a little
more manpower. Today we are not able to
have on your desks, or have delivered to
you, copies of every proposal that will be
introduced this afternoon. They may come
over during the session. If not, they will be
sent to you very promptly.
In connection with this, I failed to an-
nounce yesterday that the additional binder
that was placed on your desk in the chamber
was for your use in keeping copies of pro-
posals referred to your committee. Nor-
mally, that binder will be retained by you
in your committee room. You will be handed
a copy of every proposal that is introduced.
That will be put in your binder in the
chamber. In addition, you will receive a
copy of every proposal that is referred to
your committee. That should be in the other
binder which you will keep in your com-
mittee room.
Delegate Proposal No. 17. The Clerk
will read the proposal.
READING CLERK: Delegate Proposal
No. 17, by Delegate Johnson. Title,
A PROPOSAL that referendum petitions
shall be sufficient if signed by a number of
qualified voters equal to five per cent of the
total number of votes cast for governor in
the most recent gubernatorial election.
THE PRESIDENT: Delegate Proposal
No. 17 is referred to the Committee on
Suffrage and Elections.
Delegate Proposal No. 18. The Clerk will
read the proposal.
READING CLERK: Delegate Proposal
No. 18, by Delegate Chabot. Title,
A PROPOSAL that establishes freedom
of speech, press, assembly, and religion; the
right to vote; due process and equal pro-
tection of the law; just compensation for
the taking of property by the State; the
rights of accused persons; the right to trial |
