VII.

Every bill shall receive three readings previously to its being passed. The speaker shall give notice, at each reading, whether it be the first, second or third reading, which reading shall be on different days, unless the House unanimously direct otherwise. No bill shall be amended or committed until twice read. The first reading of a bill shall be for information, and if opposition be made to it, the question shall be, "Shall this bill be rejected." If no opposition be made, or if the question to reject be negatived, the bill shall then take the usual course.

VIII.

General appropriation bills shall be in order in preference to any other bills, unless otherwise ordered by a majority of the House.

IX.

All proceedings touching appropriations of money shall first be considered in a committee of the whole House; and no addition to any appropriation shall be made out of Committee of the Whole.

X.

A bill or resolution may be committed with special instructions at any time before the final vote is taken.

XI.

DUTIES OF SPEAKER.

He shall take the chair precisely at the hour appointed for meeting, shall immediately call the house to order, and on the appearance of a quorum, shall cause the journal of the preceding day to be read.

XII.

He shall preserve order and decorum, may speak to points of order in preference to other members, rising from his seat for that purpose, and shall decide questions of order, subject to an appeal to the House by any two members, on which appeal no member shall speak more than once, unless by leave of the House.

XIII.

He shall have a general direction of the hall. He shall have a right to name any member to perform the duties of the chair, but such substitution shall not extend beyond an adjournment.

XIV.

All acts, addresses, and joint resolutions shall be signed by the speaker; and all writs, warrants and subpoenas issued by order of the House shall be under his hand, attested by the clerk.

XV.

In case of any disturbance or disorderly conduct in the galleries or lobby, the speaker, (or chairman of the committee of the whole House,) shall have power to order the same to be cleared.

XVI.

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS AND DOOR-KEEPER.

The sergeant-at-arms shall attend the House during its sittings to execute the commands of the House, and all process issued by authority thereof, directed to him by the speaker. He shall be sworn to keep the secrets of the House.

XVII.

The sergeant-at-arms shall receive for every arrest the sum of one dollar; for each day's custody and releasement, one dollar; and for traveling expenses for himself or a special messenger, going and coming, twenty-five cents per mile. But no compensation shall be allowed for the arrest, custody, or releasement of members, under a call of the House, within the limits of the Capitol grounds. All fees. accruing to the sergeant-at-arms for arrests, custody and release of members shall be paid by the members so arrested, held in custody and released, unless excused by a vote of the House. And when a member shall be excused by the House, the sergeant-at-arms shall not be allowed any fees for the arrest.

XVIII.

The door-keeper shall be sworn to keep the secrets of the House.

XIX.

The standing committees of the House shall be as follows:

1.

2.

A Committee on Elections, to consist of 7 members.
A Committee on Corporations, to consist of 7 members.

3. A Committee on Public Printing, to consist of 7 members.
4. A Committee on Claims, to consist of 5 members.

5.

6.

A Committee on Ways and Means, to consist of 9 members.
A Committee on Judiciary, to consist of 11 members.

7. A Committee on Military Affairs, to consist of 5 members.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

A Committee on Counties and County Boundaries, to consist of 7 mem-
bers.

A Committee on Commerce and Navigation, to consist of 5 members.
A Committee on Education, to consist of 5 members.

A Committee on Agriculture, to consist of 5 members.

A Committee on Internal Improvements, to consist of 5 members. 13. A Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, to consist of 5 mem

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

bers.

A Committee on Public Expenditures and Accounts, to consist of 5 mem

bers.

A Committee on Mines and Mining Interests, to consist of 7 members.
A Committee on Public Lands, to consist of 7 members.

A Committee on Federal Relations, to consist of 7 members.
A Committee on Engrossment, to consist of 5 members.
A Committee on Enrollment, to consist of 3 members.
A Committee on State Prison, to consist of 7 members.
A Committee on Mileage, to consist of 5 members.
A Committee on Public Morals, to consist of 5 members.
A Committee on State Hospitals, to consist of 5 members.
A Committee on Indian Affairs, to consist of 5 members.

25. A Committee on Swamp and Overflowed Lands, to consist of 7 members. 26. A Committee on Roads and Highways, to consist of 5 members.

XX.

All committees shall be appointed by the speaker, unless otherwise specially directed by the House.

XXI.

It shall be the duty of the Committee on Elections to examine and report upon the certificate of election, or other credentials of the members returned to serve in this House, and to take into their consideration all such petitions, and other matters touching elections and returns, as shall or may be presented, or come into question, and be referred to them by the House.

XXII.

It shall be the duty of the Committee of Ways and Means to take into consideration all such reports of the treasury department, and all such propositions relative to the revenue, as may be referred to them by the House; to inquire into the state of the public debt or the revenue, and of the expenditure, and to report from time to time their opinion thereon.

XXIII.

It shall be the duty of the Committee on Claims, to take into consideration all such petitions, and matters or things touching claims and demands on the state, as shall be presented, or shall or may come in question, and be referred to them by the House, and to report their opinion thereupon.

XXIV.

It shall be the duty of the Committee on Commerce to take into consideration all such petitions and matters or things touching the commerce of the state, as shall be presented, or shall or may come into question, and be referred to them by the House, and to report from time to time their opinion thereon.

XXV.

It shall be the duty of the Committee on Public Lands to take into consideration all such petitions and matters or things respecting the lands of the state, as shall or may come into question and be referred to them by the House, and to report their opinion thereon.

XXVI.

It shall be the duty of the Committee on Public Expenditures and Accounts to examine the books and accounts of the several public departments; to count the moneys in the state treasury; and to examine particularly into laws making appropriations of money, and to report whether the moneys have been disbursed conformably with such laws, and also to report from time to time such provisions and arrangements as may be necessary to add to the economy of the departments, and the accountability of their offices.

XXVII.

It shall be the duty of the Committee on Military Affairs, to take into consid

eration all subjects relating to the military establishment and public defence, which may be referred to them by the House, and to report their opinion thereupon, and also, to report from time to time such measures as may contribute to economy and accountability in said establishments.

XXVIII.

It shall be the duty of the Committee on Internal Improvements to take into consideration all such petitions and matters and things relating to roads and canals, and the improvement of the navigation of rivers, as shall be presented or may come into question and be referred to them by the House, and to report thereupon.

XXIX.

It shall be the duty of the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds to consider all subjects relating to the public edifices and grounds within the seat of government, which may be referred to them, and report their opinion thereon.

XXX.

It shall be the duty of the Committee on Mileage to ascertain and report the distance for which each member shall receive pay.

XXXI.

No committee shall be permitted to employ a clerk at the expense of the state, without first obtaining leave of two-thirds of the House for that purpose.

XXXII.

When a motion is made to refer any subject, and different committees shall be proposed, the question shall be taken in the following order:

The committee of the whole house,

A standing committee,

A select committee.

XXXIII.

In forming a committee of the whole house, a chairman, to be named by the speaker, shall preside. Bills committed to a committee of the whole house shall in Committee of the Whole be read by sections. All amendments shall be noted and reported to the House by the chairman. After report the bill shall again be subject to amendment before the question is taken.

XXXIV.

The rules of the House shall be observed in Committee of the Whole so far as may be applicable, except limiting the times of speaking, and except that the ayes and noes shall not be taken.

XXXV.

A motion that the committee rise shall always be in order, and shall be decided without debate.

XXXVI.

DECORUM AND DEBATE.

If any member, in speaking or otherwise, transgress the rule of the House, the speaker shall, or any member may, call to order, in which case the member so called to order shall immediately sit down, unless permitted to explain, and if called to order by a member, such member shall immediately state the point of order. If the point of order be sustained by the chair, the member shall not be allowed to proceed, but if it be not sustained, then he shall be permitted to go on. Every such decision from the chair shall be subject to an appeal to the House; but no discussion of a question of order shall be allowed unless an appeal be taken from the decision of the chair.

XXXVII.

When two or more members rise at once, the speaker shall name the member who is first to speak.

XXXVIII.

Every member, when he speaks, shall, standing in his place, address "Mr. Speaker;" and, when he has finished, he shall sit down. No member shall speak more than twice during the consideration of any one question, on the same day, and at the same stage of proceedings, without leave; and members who have once spoken shall not again be entitled to the floor, (except for explanation,) to the exclusion of others who have not spoken.

XXXIX.

If any member be called to order for offensive words spoken in debate, the person calling him to order shall report the words excepted to, and they shall be taken down in writing at the clerk's table; and no member shall be held to answer, or be subject to the censure of the House, for language used in debate, if any member has spoken, or other business has intervened after the words spoken, and before exception to them shall have been taken.

XL.

Any member may rise to explain a matter personal to himself, with leave of the chair, but shall not discuss a question in such explanation.

XLI.

If a question pending be lost by adjournment of the House, and revived on the succeeding day, no member who shall have spoken on the preceding day shall be permitted again to speak, without leave of two-thirds of the House.

XLII.

MOTIONS, ETC.

No motion shall be debated until the same be seconded and distinctly announced by the speaker; and it shall be reduced to writing, if desired by the speaker or any member, and be read by the clerk, before the same shall be debated. A motion may be withdrawn at any time before amendment or decision.