Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 May 1883 — Committee of the Whole. [ARTICLE]

Committee of the Whole.

Messages from the President and other matters of great importance are usually referred to a committee of the whole House, where general principles are digested in the form of resolutions, which are debated and amended until they get into a shape that meets the approbation of a majority. These resolutions, after being reported and confirmed by the House, are then referred to one or more select committees, where they are reduced into the form of bills or joint resolutions. It is found that the sense of the House is better learned in committee, because in all committees every one speaks as often as he pleases. No gag law can be applied in committee by moving the previous question. The form for going from the House into the committee of the whole is for the Speaker, on motion, to put the question that the House do now resolve itself into a committee of the whole to take into consideration such a matter, naming it; to which the deliberations of the committee must be confined. If determined in the affirmative, he leaves the chair and takes a seat elsewhere, as any other member, and the person appointed Chairman seats himself at the Clerk’s table. The Speaker usually appoints a Chairman, but the committee has full power to set him aside and select its own Chairman. In case of the committee’s getting into violent disorder the Speaker, who is clothed with authority to call in the Sergeant-at-arms, if necessary, to enforce order, may take his chair, and at the tap of his gavel every member is required to take his proper seat, snch action having the effect to dissolve the committee. Cases of this kind are rare. Usually when the committee is ready to rise the Chairman rises, the Speaker Immediately resuming the chair; if the business is unfinished, the Chairman of the committee reports progress and asks permission for the committee to sit again, which the House may or may hot consent to. If the business is finished the Chairman tenders his report.— Chicago Inter Ocean.