Wednesday] DRAWING OF SEATS [June 14 be considered as still remaining agreed to and the motion carried. under debate. Mr. TOWLE offered the following resolution: No. 47. The effects of the main question being ordered shall put an end to all debate, and bring the Convention to a direct vote-first, upon all amendments reported or pending, being first applied to the amendments last moved, and then on the main question. No. 48. After the motion for the previous question has prevailed, it shall not be in order to move a call of the Convention prior to a decision of the main question. No. 49. Every article which it is proposed shall form part of the Constitution, shall be read the first and second times, and be referred to the Committee of the Whole; and after it shall have been considered in Committee of the Whole, and after the amendments reported by the Committee of the Whole, shall have been acted on, it shall be open to amendment, in the Convention; and where there are no further amendments to be proposed, the question shall be on ordering the article to be Engrossed for its third reading; and after the same shall have been Engrossed the same shall not be amended except by the unanimous consent of the Convention. And after the article has been read a third time and passed, it shall be referred to the committee on revision and adjustment, who shall report to the Convention all such verbal amendments as they shall deem expedient not changing in any manner the substance of such article: Provided, however, That this rule shall not be so construed as to prevent a majority of the Convention from taking up the report of the said committee, and making any alterations or amendments thereto. Mr. HASCALL moved that the report of the Committee be adopted. Mr. MASON moved to amend by submitting the report to Committee of the Whole. The amendment was 2. The ballots to be examined and compared with the official lists, by a Committee of two, to be appointed for that purpose by the President. 3. The ballots to be placed in a box and thoroughly shaken in the presence of the Committee. 4. The members then to retire from the seats. 5. A person, other than a member or officer, to be designated to draw ballots. 6. Each ballot as drawn to be handed to the Secretary and to be opened by him, who shall announce the name drawn. 7. The person whose name shall be drawn, to select his seat and occupy it till the completion of the drawing. 8. The drawing to be continued in this manner till completed. Mr. TOWLE moved the adoption of the resolution which was not agreed to. Mr. WOOLWORTH moved a reconsideration of the vote by which the resolution was lost, which was agreed Wednesday] AMENDMENTS TO RULES (June 14 tary prepared the names of members government of the body. After some time the Committee which were deposited in a box, and │ as their names were drawn therefrom arose and Mr. CAMPBELL, Chairby Mr. Hall, one of the reporters, man of the Committee of the Whole members selected their seats. Convention, reported that the ComMr. MANDERSON offered a reso- mittee had had under consideration lution for the appointment of a Com- the permanent Rules of the Convenmittee of three to take into considera- tion and reported the following tion the number of short hand report- amendments: ers necessary to take the proceedings of the Convention, and the compensation that should be allowed, them. Adopted. Messrs. Manderson, Neligh and Weaver were appointed such Committee. On motion of Mr. Stewart the Convention took a recess of five minutes. After Recess. Rule 6. Amended so as to read. "also members of the present Legislature of Nebraska be allowed the privileges of the floor." Rule 31. Sec. 1-add "and judicial districts" Sec's 10. and 11. Consolidate "Finance and Revenue". Sec. 19. amended by striking out the words "judicial circuits". Sec. 6. Add two more members to The PRESIDENT called the Con- the Committee. Rule 36. add, "all vention to order. Rules of The Convention. Mr. McCANN. I move the Convention resolve itself into Committee of the Whole to consider the Rules for the government of the Conven tion. Agreed to NEM CON. | At eleven o'clock and thirty min-i utes A. M. the Convention resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole with Mr. Campbell in the Chair. After sitting some time, the Committee arose, reported progress, and asked leave to sit again at 2 P. M.. Report adopted. Afternoon Session. Wednesday, June 14, 1871. At 2 o'clock P. M., Convention met and went into Committee of the Whole, Mr. Campbell of Otoe in the Chair, resuming the consideration of the Rules reported for the propositions presented to the Convention relating to the provisions or frame of the Constitution, shall in the first instance be referred to an appropriate standing Committee without debate, except as to the Committee to which the reference shall I be made." Mr. WAKELEY offered the following amendment to Rule 45-add, after the words "in order," "if the motion therefor be seconded by ten members". Amendment adopted. Mr. ABBOTT. I move the adoption of the Rules as amended. Mr. MYERS. I move that 200 copies of the Rules be printed for the use of the Convention, under the superintendence of the Secretary of State. Agreed to. Mr. PHILPOTT announced the arrival of his colleague, Mr. Robinson, who appeared, and the oath was ad Thursday] POSTAGE AND FRANKING [June 15 ministered to him by the Chief move that the Secretary of State be Justice. requested to furnish the members of Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President I the Constitutional Convention with wish to ask leave of absence until the necessary amount of postage Monday next, for Mr. Mason. stamps. Leave granted NEM. CON. Adjournment. The PRESIDENT. The gentlemen will frank their letters and stamps Mr. MYERS. Mr. President I move will be put upon them by the postthat the Convention adjourn. The motion was agreed to. So the Convention (at six o'clock and thirty minutes) adjourned. THIRD DAY. Thursday, June 15, 1871. The Convention met at ten o'clock A. M. and was called to order by the President. master. wish to offer a resolution. The Secretary read the resolution as follows: RESOLVED. That the sum of one Prayer was offered by Rev. D. R. hundred dollars, or so much thereof Dungan of Lincoln. as may be necessary, shall be set aside out of the funds of the Conven The journal of yesterday was read tion. and approved. Order of Business. The PRESIDENT. Gentlemen, I shall follow the order of business contained in the Rules adopted on yesterday. The PRESIDENT. Is the motion of the gentleman from York seconded? (yes, yes). Mr. McCANN. I hope a different plan will be adopted. We do not wish postage stamps here, lying Under the order of unfinished busi- around loose. I suggest that memness of the previous day. bers frank their mail matter and the postmaster stamp the same and un-charge to the Convention. We then obtain the exact amount of postage required. I think the postmaster will prefer this course. Appointment of Janitor. Mr. MYERS. Mr. President, der that head, I will call up the motion for the appointment of a janitor for the care of this hall during the session. The PRESIDENT. Gentlemen, it has been moved and seconded that a janitor be appointed for the care of this hall during the sessions of this Convention. Those in favor of the motion will say "aye". Opposed, "no". Carried. Postage. Mr. MOORE. Mr. HASCALL. I would say, that was the plan adopted by the last Legislature and I was informed by the postmaster that he got out all his clerks and all the cheap boys that could be found, yet they were not sufficient to put on the necessary stamps. Mr. KIRKPATRICK. Would it Mr. President I not be better for each gentleman to Thursday] CASSELL-TOWLE-ESTABROOK [June 15 furnish his own postage. I am will- question. We ought to consider the ing to do so. Mr. WILSON. It seems to me, it would delay the mail if letters are to be stamped by the postmaster. Let the members have postage stamps and return what they have left. Mr. ESTABROOK. Does any one know that the postmaster would furnish stamps for such pay as we expect to give here, and is it known we can procure stamps by a resolution? I move that the resolution be referred to a committee of three. The motion was agreed to. The PRESIDENT. The Committee will consist of Messrs. Estabrook, Moore and Parchen. Newspapers. propriety of taking all papers it is necessary should be taken. My own view is that each member be allowed to take one copy of each paper, daily and weekly;. not for the purpose of enlightening their constituents, but to learn what their constituents have to say to them. It has been the rule of all parliamentary bodies to send papers abroad, to let their constituents know what the members were doing, but I do not think that is necessary here. We need the advice and instruction of our constituents, and for that purpose I favor the plan of taking one number each of every paper published in the State. I do not think we need any more copies of the Journal, than of any other Mr. CASSELL. I offer a resolution. The Secretary read the resolution paper. as follows: RESOLVED. Mr. NEWSOM. I think it would That the Secretary be unfair to impose upon me such be instructed to provide 300 copies a paper as I would not prefer. I am of the Daily State Journal for the use of the Convention during the session. Mr. TOWLE. I offer the following resolution as an amendment. The Secretary read the resolution as follows: RESOLVED. That each member" of this Convention be allowed to subscribe for seven newspapers (Daily) containing the reports of the proceedings of this Convention, and that so much of the funds of this Convention as may be necessary be, and are hereby, appropriated for such purpose. Mr. HASCALL. I move to amend by saying three instead of "seven" copies. Mr. ESTABROOK. It seems to me that the resolutions, some of them should cover the entire newspaper in favor of the amendment. Mr. WILSON. I have no objection to the suggestion of the gentleman from Douglas, but in taking the papers abroad throughout the State we ought to know if they are prepared to publish the action of this Convention. I would favor the first resolution for 300 copies of the Journal. The PRESIDENT. Gentlemen, the question is on the amendment to the amendment, by the gentleman from Douglas, Mr. Hascall. The amendment was not agreed to. The PRESIDENT. The question now is upon the amendment of the gentleman from Richardson (Mr. Towle). The amendment was agreed to. Thursday] THOMAS-MASON-KIRKPATRICK [June 15 now is upon the original resolution as already been done, has been done in amended. The resolution was agreed to. Newspaper Reporters. Mr. MYERS. I move that the President of this Convention be requested to assign the several reporters present, seats upon the floor of the House. The motion was agreed to. Printing. Mr. THOMAS. I offer the following resolution. RESOLVED. That the Secretary of State be required to communicate to this Convention as soon as possible a statement showing the entire cost to the State of printing and binding, and also the contract price for which the same has been let for each year since the admission of Nebraska as a State. will Mr. MASON. I do not rise to offer an amendment but to add an inquiry as to the arrangement for the printing for this Convention, which more immediately concerns us, whether it has been awarded to the lowest bidder, or whether it is let to some chosen favorite. I want it put in the market; that it be under the control of this Convention, and the contracts awarded to the lowest bidder. I hope the gentleman amend his resolution so as to require the Secretary to inform the members what arrangement has been made, and upon what terms, to procure the printing of the proceedings of this Convention. We have no power to remedy the past. We may, perhaps, avoid the commission of errors in the present, and set an example to avoid them in the future. Mr. McCANN. accordance with the act. Mr. KIRKPATRICK. It strikes me that the act of the Legislature providing for this Convention makes it the duty of the Secretary to procure printing. This thing of letting it out to public and general competition may work some trouble. It is plain to me that the incidental printing ought to be done here. I am as much in favor of economy as anybody. Mr. THOMAS. I will state that the object I had in view in introducing that resolution was that the question of public printing might come before the Convention in order to show how this thing has been done; and see whether it is advisable to follow the same course or whether we shall adopt some mode of our own. I agree with the gentleman that some plan be adopted with regard to the printing for this Convention, but that should be a separate question. The Printing Committee should first report. Mr. MASON. I see now it may be necessary to adopt the resolution of the gentleman from Nemaha, (Mr. Thomas) for the reason that if I recollect correctly, there is a State contract existing. Mr. ESTABROOK. That is prehowever that the letting covers the cisely my idea but I am not certain printing for this Convention. I see the law provides that the Secretary shall cause such printing to be done as the Convention may require. however may not be incompatible with the provisions of the law requirWhat printing has ing that the State printing be let to That |