The Speaker decided that all bills when read must be referred to a committee, reported upon and printed, before they can be considered. [Senate Journal, 1874, p. 10.] The point of order was raised that an amendment proposed to be inserted in committee of the whole, having been proposed and negatived on second reading, could not be offered. The Speaker decided the point of order not well taken. [Senate Journal, 1874, p. 179.] The Speaker decided that a bill can be amended only when upon its second or third reading, and that upon the final passage of a bill nothing is in order but discussion upon it, and the final vote upon it by yeas and nays, as required by the Constitution, except privileged questions, such as a motion to re-consider. [Senate Journal, 1874, p. 192.] The Speaker submitted to the Senate, for decision, the question, whether it is in order to move, when a bill is on third reading, to strike out an amendment inserted by the Senate on the second reading of the same? The Senate decided in the negative. [Senate Journal, 1874, p. 692.] The Speaker decided that when a bill was regularly before the Senate a simple majority could make such a disposition of it as they saw proper. [Senate Journal, 1874, p. 722.] The Speaker decided that bills which have passed both Houses, and have not been sent to the Governor, can not be taken up again and acted on. [Senate Journal, 1874, p. 908.] Rules of the House of Representatives of Pennsylvania. OF DUTIES OF THE SPEAKER. Taking the Chair. 1. He shall take the chair at the hour to which the House shall have been adjourned, and immediately call the members to order, and, on the appearance of a quorum, shall cause the Journal of the preceding day to be read, which may then be corrected by the House. Order and Decorum. 2. He shall preserve order and decorum, and in debate shall prevent personal reflections, and confine members to the question under discussion. When two or more members rise at the same time, he shall name the one entitled to the floor. Of Questions of Order-Questions of Order to be Reported. 3. He shall decide all questions of order. An appeal from his decision shall be made by two members, or the Speaker may, in the first instance, submit the question to the House. All questions of order involving the determination of constitutional law, shall be submitted to the House, in the first instance, on the request of five members. On questions of order there shall be no debate, except on an appeal from the decision of the Speaker, or on reference of a question by him to the House, when no member shall speak more than once unless by leave of the House. All decisions upon the ques tions of order shall be noted by the Clerk, and placed at the end of the Journal of each session, with reference to the decision as stated in the Journal.* Behavior of Members. 4. While the Speaker is putting the question, or addressing the House, none shall walk out of or across the House; nor in such case, or when a member is speaking, shall entertain private discourse, nor while a member is speaking, shall pass between him and the Chair. Appointment of Committees. 5. The Speaker shall appoint the members of standing and select committees, unless otherwise ordered by the House. Signature of Speaker. 6. Acts, addresses and joint resolutions, shall be signed by the Speaker in the presence of the House, after their titles have been publicly read immediately before signing, and the fact of signing shall be entered upon the Journal; and writs, warrants and subpoenas, issued by the House, shall be signed by him and attested by the Clerk.f Care of the Hall-Substitution. 7. He shall have a general direction of the Hall. He may name a member to perform the duties of the Chair, but such substitution shall not extend beyond an adjournment, except when the Speaker obtains leave of absence, in which case he may de*Changed 1875. + Changed 1874. pute a member as Speaker pro tempore, during such leave, which shall not exceed ten days.* OF THE ORDER OF BUSINESS. 8. After the reading of the Journal, the order of business shall be as follows: Of Petitions, &c. 1st. Letters, petitions, memorials, remonstrances and accompanying documents, may be presented and referred.† Original Resolutions, &c. 2d. Original resolutions may be offered; items of unfinished business may be referred; leave of absence, and leave to withdraw petitions and documents may be asked; and motions to appoint additional members of committees may be made. Reports of Committees. 3d. Reports of committees may be made4th. From standing committees. called over. 5th. From select committees. List is here Bills. 6th. Bills may be read in place. phabetical order to be called over. Counties in al The foregoing orders shall only be called on Monday and Friday. 7th. Bills on second reading to be the order for Thursday. *The Speaker can, under this rule, before the hour to which the House stands adjourned has arrived, name a member to perform the duties of the Chair, with power to call the members to order, and preside over the deliberations. [See Journal, 1826-7, page 90. 1827-8, page 520.] + Altered 1874. 8th. Bills on third reading to be the order for Tuesday.* Bills on first reading shall be the order for Wednesday.† Reports and Resolutions. 9th. Reports and resolutions may, on motion, te considered. 10th. Of bills. Order in Taking up Bills. 11th. Those in which the House has made progress on a second reading. 12th. Those reported by a committee of the whole. 13th. Those in which the committee of the whole has made progress, and has leave to sit again. 14th. Bills not yet considered in committee of the whole shall be taken up. Manner of Presenting Petitions. 9. If a member shall have several petitions or documents to present on the same day, he may present them together; provided he shall present a written list of them to the Speaker.‡ Alphabetical Order. 10. Bills in place shall be read, and petitions and remonstrances shall be presented to the House in the alphabetical order of the names of the several counties of the Commonwealth, as announced by the Speaker.§ But if all the names of the counties are not severally called, those omitted shall be first announced in alphabetical order, when said rules shall be next resumed on any subsequent day. *Altered 1874. † Altered 1875. + Adopted 29th January, 1834. |