bill itself, and not on the propriety of going into a consideration of it. To enforce the rule properly, it is to be done as soon as a member commences with his reasons in favor of his motion, by the Speaker's remarking, "No observations can be allowed on the question of proceeding to the consideration of a bill."

Of Rules.

Rule 39.-No rule shall be altered or dispensed with, but by two-thirds of the members present.

There is no rule more frequently called into requisition than the 39th, towards the rising of the legislature. By this rule, which dispenses so frequently with other rules, bills have passed through their several readings in the course of a few minutes. The process is as follows:

Page 773.-Agreeably to order, the house resolved itself into a committee of the whole, Mr. Ramsey in the chair, on the bill from the Senate, No. 574, entitled "An act for the relief of Wm. Streper, a soldier of the revolution ;" and after some time, the Speaker resumed the chair, and the chairman reported the bill without amendment.

As soon as this report was made, it was moved and seconded to proceed to the second reading and consideration of the bill, which being agreed to, and the several sections, together with the title, having been read and agreed to, the Speaker rises and says: says: "This bill having been read the second time, considered and agreed to, the question will be on preparing it for the third reading." He puts the question: "Will the house agree to prepare the bill for a third reading?" which having carried, he says: "The bill will be prepared for the third reading." As soon as he has announced that it will be prepared, a member moves, that "The rule which prohibits bills from being read twice on the same day, be dispensed with so far as relates to this bill, and that it now be read the third time." If no objections are made, he says: "The motion is agreed to." The clerk then reads the bill; and when he has finished, the Speaker says: "The bill is before the house," and rises and states the question thus: "This bill originated in the Senate, and has now been read the third time. The question will be on its final passage." "Will the house agree to the passage of the bill?" He puts

the question in this shape, as the bill is an important one, and he wishes to economise the time of the house, as motions after this manner are always made about the time of the adjournment of the legislature.

Sometimes the motion to proceed to the second reading is put with this addition-" that it be read by its title." In this case, the sections are not read, but merely the title; when the Speaker says: "The bill has been read a second time, considered and agreed to. The question is on preparing the bill for a third reading."

Bills from the Senate are not transcribed by the Clerk of the House, for they are transcribed before they are transmitted; hence the bill is said to be "prepared." It is not unusual, when the motion is made to dispense with the rule, which prohibits bills from being read twice on the same day, and that it be read a third time, to add "by its title." If this motion is agreed to, the clerk reads the title, and the Speaker announces, that "the bill is before the house, and that the question will be on its final passage." This motion prevents the Speaker from reading over the printed bill to detect errors while the clerk is

reading the enrolled copy, and of course is never resorted to, except in cases of necessity. When, however, the clerk has doubts about the correctness of the copy, he informs the Speaker, and the motion to read by the title is withdrawn, and the bill is read throughout. It used frequently to occur, that a motion was made to dispense with going into committee of the whole; but that motion is not so beneficial as to go into committee, and there make the necessary amendments; as this keeps the journal from being loaded with amendments -whereas if the motion to dispense with going into committee is carried, then, if any amendments are made upon a second reading, they must appear upon the journal, unless unanimously dispensed with.

Contested Elections.

Constitution, Article 1st, Sect. 12. Contested elections shall be determined by a committee, to be selected, formed and regulated in such manner as shall be directed by law. Upon the petition of at least fifty qualified electors of this State, (see the act of 6th March 1793 and its supplements,) addressed to the Legislature, complaining of an undue election

or false return of a person elected Governor, or upon the petition of twenty qualified electors of the proper district, presented to the Senate, complaining of an undue election or false return of a Senator, or upon the petition of twenty proper city or county qualified electors, complaining of an undue election or false return of a member of the House of Representatives, a committee is directed to be selected and qualified agreeably to the provisions of the act of the 29th September, 1791, Purdon 222, who are to try the matter of the petition and to give a true judgment thereon according to the evidence. This committee is vested with power to send for persons, papers and records, to examine all witnesses who may come before them upon oath or affirmation, which the chairman or clerk of the committee may administer in their presence, and any person guilty of taking a false oath or affirmation before them, or of procuring another so to do, shall upon conviction, be liable to the same punishment as persons convicted of perjury are liable to by the laws of this commonwealth. By the act referred to, no petition can be received by the Legislature, unless the same shall be presented within twenty