The committee, if a select one, may he appointed by the Chair or nominated by a member or mem bers and elected by the assembly. The motion to commit is debatable, and the merits of the question may be gone into. In the next place, the main question may lie disposed of by a motion to amend. which may take either of the following forms: ( 1 ) to 'add' or 'insert' certain words or sentences; (2) to 'strike our; (3) to 'strike out certain words and insert others'; (4) to .substi tute'; and (5) to 'diride the question.' A para graph 0/We inserted eannot he struck out or amended except by adding to it. Similarly, words inserted cannot be struck out except by a motion to strike out the paragraph or a portion thereof. Certain motions are never open to amendment; among these are the motions to adjourn, to lay on the table, to postpone indefi nitely, to reconsider, an amendment of an amend- ' meat, a demand for the previous question, for the orders of the day, and all incidental questions. An amendment may itself be amended, but not so as to alter its form. While an amendment is pending, it is not in order to make• another motion to amend until the first amendment is disposed of. Lastly, the main question may he disposed of by a motion to postpone indefinitely. This motion opens to debate the whole question which it is proposed to amend, brit, as already observed, it cannot itself be amended. its effect is to withdraw the question from the further consideration of the assembly for the remainder of the session. The previous question applies to this motion without affecting the main question.
What are called incidental questions are those which often arise in the course of the considera tion of the main question, and consequently take precedence of the questions out of which they arise. Such questions are unamendable, and, with a single exception, are undebatable. The incidental questions are those of appeal, objec tion to the consideration of a question, the read ing of papers, leave to withdraw a motion, and suspension of the rules. The appeal arises out of objection raised to a decision of the chair on a question of order. The decision of the presiding officer is made without debate, and if a member objects to the result of the decision, he may say "I appeal from the decision of the Chair." if the appeal is seconded, the chairman puts the Ties:don as follows: "Shall the decision of the ( hair stand as the judgment of the assembly?" If there is a tie vote the decision of the Chair is sustained. The appeal is the only incidental question which is open to debate, and there are a few cases when it cannot be debated. When debatable, no is allowed to speak more than once. 1 if the presiding officer neglects to enff?ree the rules of procedure, any member may call his attention to the breach of order by rising and saying, "Mr. Chairman, I rise to a point of order," whereupon the chairman will request the member to state his objection, which lie does, and then resumes his seat. If the chairman de cides that the point of order is not well taken. and no appeal is made against the decision. the first member is permitted to resume his speech. If the decision sustains the point of order• and objection is made, lie cannot continue without a vote of the assembly. It is in order for any member to object to the consideration of the main question before debate has begun on it. The objection does not require a second, and may be made while another member has the floor. It cannot be debated, amended, or have any other subsidiary motion applied to it. \\ believer ob jection is raised to the consideration of a motion the chairman states the question, the question be considered?" Unless all affirmative vote of a two-thirds majority is secured, further consideration for the remainder of the session is ended. otherwise the continues as though objection had never been raised. The
purpose of this motion is not to cut it debate, but to avoid the discussion of any question which may seem irrelevant or inexpedient. Any mem ber has the right to ask for the reading of papers for the information of the assembly, but if an objection is raised, the decision is rendered by the Chair subject to appeal to the assembly. it is in order for the mover of a question which is before the assembly to withdraw it or substitute another in its place, if no one objects. if objec tion is made, it is necessary to obtain leave to withdraw or substitute, which may be done by motion. Such a motion is neither debatable nor amendable. A motion to suspend the rules is one of the important incidental motions. Like the others of its kind, it cannot be debated or amended. It cannot be renewed at the same meeting for the same purpose, nor is it allowable except for a definite purpose, and then only by a two-thirds vote.
Another class of motions are those which are commonly known as privileged questions. They take precedence of all other questions, and are not open to debate except when they relate to the rights of the assembly or of its members. Privileged questions include motions to fix a time for adjournment. to adjourn, motions rela tive to rights and privileges of the assembly or of its members, and the call for the orders of the day. The motion to fix a day for adjourn ment takes precedence of all other privileged motions, and is in order even after the assembly has voted to adjourn, provided the chairman Ito: not announced the result of the vote. Next in precedence is the motion to adjourn. This motion is neither debatable, amendable, nor open to reconsideration after a vote has been taken. If the adjournment does not close the session. all unfinished business has precedence over new busi ness at the next meeting, and is treated as if there had been no adjournment. If the adjournment closes the session, and the next session is that of a new assembly, an end is put to all business un finished at the close of the session, and it can be brought before the assembly only by being re introdneed. Questions of privilege are decided by the presiding officer, subject to the right ?If any two members to appeal from the decision. The assignment of one or more subjects ton particular day constitutes the orders of the day, and they are not open to consideration before that time ex cept by a two-thirds vote. The orders of the day are classified as special and general. the former always taking precedence of the latter. .1 spe cial order involves suspension of all rides that interfere with its consideration at the time specified, and it therefore requires a two-thirds vote to make any question a special order. The effect of an affirmative vote is to withdraw the question then under consideration as though an adjournment had happened. It is in order at any time, even though the floor is already oc cupied, to move a reconsideration of a previous vote on any measure, unless another question is before the assembly at the time. t fibs. the Note is by ballot. the n otion to remnsid, r must be inath- by a member 4,1 the prio.oiling sole, and only on the day the Vote Was taken which it is proposed to consider. No .111....tiIM can lw and a motion to reeol-sid4 r eau of be amended, although it is d. banal I.. suit N‘ debated it opens up fur disen-shon t e t mire subject to he reconsidered. If the nil in to reconsider is carried. the original question is in the condition it was in before the first Not. V. a taken, and must be di.posed of as if it had if r been voted on. No lie eon deb.ite the 111.1...41.111 reCOlefideled who had previously exhausted hi. right of debate on the question. although it is allowable to discuss it while the !notion to Et eon,ider is before the assenddv.