out the bar of the House when his name is called, he shall not be permitted to record his vote, unless he assures the House he did not leave for the purpose of avoiding a vote.

When Committees may be discharged from consideration of a bill.

61. That after a bill has been ten days in the hands of a committee after having been referred to them, a majority of votes shall be sufficient to discharge the committee from the further consideration of the same:* Provided, That if they are ready to report, it shall not be so discharged.†

Lounging prohibited in Hall.

62. That it shall be the duty of the Sergeant-atArms, Door-keeper and their Assistants, to prevent all persons not connected with the Legislature or the Departments, or introduced by a member, from assembling in the halls at any time when the body is not in session, for the purpose of lounging, loafing or gossiping. For the purpose of enforcing this rule, at least two of said officers shall be in attendance at all times, and the presistent neglect or disregard of this rule shall be cause of dismissal by the Speaker.‡

63. That a joint resolution providing for the final adjournment of the Legislature may be read and laid on the table, and after laying on the table one day, may be called up by a member as a question of privilege.§

Reports of Conference Committees.

64. Reports of conference committees shall be presented, printed and placed upon the files of

*

Adopted session of 1868.

+ Adopted session of 1869.

+ Changed session of 1874.

§ Adopted session 1874.

amended bills, at least one day before the same shall be considered.*

Appropriations.

65. No bill appropriating money to any charitable or private corporation, or institution, shall be reported to the House before the general appropriation bills shall have been reported and printed for consideration.*

*Adopted session of 1875.

Decisions of the House of Representatives on Questions of Order.

Quere.-Can a majority of the House appropriate an afternoon session to the consideration of a bill which could not be reached in regular order, or does it require two-thirds? Undecided.-Journal 1826-7, p. 351.

After information has been given to the Senate, that the House insists upon its non-concurrence in an amendment by the Senate, a motion to recede from the non-concurrence is not in order.*-Journal H. R., session 1827-8, p. 781.

The same principle is decided in Journal 1816-7, p. 708.

The proceedings of the House cannot be expunged from the Journal, under the Constitution and uniform practice of the House, without the unanimous consent of the members present.-Journal H. R., 1832-3, p. 728.

The Speaker decided, and the House sustained the decision, that a question on a resolution for dispensing with joint rule relating to the transmission of bills, having been laid one day on the table, under the twenty-sixth rule of the House, is decided in the affirmative by a majority of the votes of the members present.-Journal H. R., 1833-4, p. 816.

The Speaker decided, and the House sustained the decision, that he is not confined by any rule of the House to appoint a committee of conference exclu

*In this case a committee of conference was appointed, and reported that they could not agree.

sively from the members who voted for or against a concurrence.-Journal H. R., 1840, p. 529.

The Speaker submitted to the House for decision: Is the motion to discharge the committee of conference, and recede from its non-concurrence, in order? The House decided in the negative.-Journal H. R., 1840, p. 360.

The Speaker submitted to the House for decision: Whether a motion to re-consider the vote given for the expulsion of a member by the constitutional majority, and his seat declared vacated, is in order? The House decided in the affirmative.-Journal H. R., 1840, pp. 859-61.

The Speaker decided that the House having on yesterday adopted a resolution by a vote of twothirds, that it would proceed to the re-consideration of a certain bill when it met the next morning, the bill is therefore in order. The House sustained the decision.-Journal H. R., 1840, pp. 946-50.

The Speaker decided that a call for the previous question is in order during the pendency of an appeal from the decision of the Speaker. The House sustained the decision.-Journal H. R., 1810, pp. 946-8.

A motion was made to proceed to the consideration of Senate amendments to the bill, entitled "An Act to repeal certain acts in relation to the Philadelphia and Trenton railroad company;" whereupon the Speaker submitted to the House, for decision, whether the motion could be entertained, inasmuch as the House had previously, on the same day, refused to consider said amendments, though other business had intervened. The House decided in the affirmative.-Journal H. R., 1841, pp. 977, 978.

The Speaker decided that it is not in order, under the fourth joint rule of the Senate and House of Representatives, to incorporate with the bill which refers to the Canal Commissioners, a provision relating to the per diem pay of members of the Legislature, it being a subject different from that under consideration. The House sustained the decision. -Journal H. R., 1843, p. 356.

The Speaker decided that it is not in order to entertain two consecutive motions to adjourn, if no other business of the House had intervened at the time the motion was made.-Journal H. R., 1843, p. 361.

The Speaker decided that it is not in order for a committee, in a report, when referring to a report made at a previous session of the Legislature by a member of this House, to call said member by name. The House sustained the decision.-Journal H. R., 1843, p. 594.

The Speaker decided that a bill originating in the Senate, and passed by the House of Representatives with amendments, which are concurred in by the Senate with amendments, and returned to the House was still subject to amendment by the House, the proposed amendment being, in his opinion, only in the second degree. The House sustained the decision. Journal H. R., March 8, 1849.

The Speaker decided that a report of the committee of the whole, embracing subjects not appertaining to the original bill, is not in order.-Journal H. R., 1850, p. 1120.

The Speaker decided that it is not in order for the minority of a committee of conference to make a port, giving the reasons for dissent from the re