VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS, NOVEMBER SESSION, 1806. 5

On motion, Leave given to bring in a bill, entitled, An act to settle and ascertain the salary of the members
of the council for the ensuing year. ORDERED, That Mr. Smoot, Mr. Shaaff and Mr. Forwood, be a committee
to prepare and bring in the same.

A petition from sundry inhabitants of Harford county, praying a law may pass confirming the plot of a road
returned to the levy court of said county, under an act of last session, and to authorise and direct said court to
levy a sum of money, not exceeding one hundred and fifty dollars, for opening and making the same passable,
was preferred, read, and referred to Mr. Forwood, Mr. Bond and Mr. Street, to consider and report thereon.

On motion, ORDERED, That the committee of claims procure weekly one copy of the Maryland Gazette for
each member of the legislature.

On motion, Leave given to bring in a bill, entitled, An additional supplement to the act, entitled, An act to
ascertain the allowance to jurymen and witnesses of the general court, and the several county and orphans
courts in this state. ORDERED, That Mr. W. H. Brown, Mr. Aisquith and Mr. Kerr, be a committee to pre-
pare and bring in the same.

Mr. Smoot, from the committee, delivers to the speaker a bill, entitled, An act to settle and ascertain the
salary of the members of the council for the ensuing year; which was read the first time and ordered to lie on
the table.

The clerk of the council delivers a letter from the executive, enclosing the report of the agent for disposing of
the stock in the British funds belonging to the state of Maryland, and for investing the proceeds thereof in the
stock of the United States; which was read, and referred to Mr. Bond, Mr. Shaaff, Mr. Denny, Mr. Frisby and
Mr. Sudler. Also a letter from the governor of Kentucky, enclosing an act to amend the act incorporating the
Ohio canal company, with a memorial to congress and a resolution of that state prefixed, together with a copy
of the report of the managers of said company; and also a letter from the governor of Tennessee, covering a
resolution of that state, instructing their senators and representatives in congress to use their exertions to ob-
tain an amendment to the federal constitution, so as to authorise congress to pass a law to prevent the further
importation of slaves into the United States; which were read, and referred to Mr. Shaaff, Mr. Aisquith, Mr.
Pearce, Mr. Parnham and Mr. Comegys, to consider and report thereon.
Mr. Sudler, from the committee, delivers to the speaker the following report:

THE committee appointed to report the rules proper to be observed during this session, beg leave to submit
the following:

1. At the hour appointed for. sitting the roll of the house shall be called over, and. the absent members, if
any, sent for.

2. Every member shall take his seat when the speaker takes, the chair, and remain uncovered till the house
rises.

3. Every member who shall deliver his opinion, or speak in any debate, shall rise, and respectfully address
himself to the speaker.

4. No member, at the time of speaking in debate, shall name any other by his proper name, but shall use
some other distinction.

5. If two or more members shall rise to. speak at the same. time, the speaker shall determine which shall
speak first.

6. No member shall speak a second time until every member who offers to deliver his sentiments has spoken once.

7. Any member called to order by the speaker, or any member, shall thereupon take his seat.

8. When the house is sitting, no member shall hold conversation to interrupt debate.

9. No motion shall be debated until the same be seconded, and, (if desired by the speaker or any member, )
reduced to writing, delivered in at the table, and read by the clerk.

10. When a motion is. made and seconded, the matter of the motion shall receive a determination by the
question, or be postponed by a motion for commitment or postponement, or by the previous question, before
any other motion shall be received.

11. Ever; question shall be entered on the journal, and the yeas and nays shall be taken when required by
three members who shall have divided on the question.

12. The previous question, that is, Whether the question propounded be now put? may be called for by any
member on any question, except to an amendment, or other matter which cannot in its nature be postponed.

13. If a question in debate contains more distinct parts than. one, any member may, of right, have, the same
divided into as many questions as parts.

14. All questions shall be determined by a majority of the members present, those dividing in the affirmative
rising in their places, those in the negative continuing in their seats, and so vice versa until a decision by the
speaker.

15. Whenever the speaker shall decide any question, the same shall be final, unless the yeas and nays be re-
quired,

16. Every bill or resolution originated. in this house, or received from the senate, shall be rend on tun se-
veral days, with an intermission of one day at least, during which time it shall lie on the table for the perusal
of the members, unless on very urgent occasions the house shall, by especial order, dispense. with this rule,
which order shall be entered on the journal.