Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/271

Rh There yet remain to be noticed in the annals of 1834 a few detached topics before I take up the most prominent of all, the colony. The negotiations of giving preference to those of common utility except by agreement on motion of some vocal; (5) to give the floor alternately to the members for and against; (6) to call members to order; (7) to sign the records as soon as approved, and correspondence to the govt and to ayuntamientos; (8) to convoke extra sessions for serious motives. 7. If his ruling is objected to, one shall speak for and one against, and the majority shall decide. 8. In performing his regular duties, he may remain seated; but in discussion, he must ask for the floor and be subject to the same rules as others.

Tit. iii. — Secretary. — Art. 9. Sec. appointed by the dip. according to law of June 23, 1813, receiving for the present $50 per month. 10. Duties: (1) to keep a record of proceedings 'laconic and clear,' without criticising speeches or reports; (2) to write and sign communications from the dip.; (3) to insert in the acta of 1st day of each month a list of expedientes in various stages of advancement; (4) to lay before the dip. different subjects in the following order: 1st, the acta of preceding session; 2d, official communications; 3d, private communications; 4th, propositions of members; 5th, reports fixed for discussion; 6th, reports for 1st reading.

Tit. iv. — Sessions. — Art. 11. Sessions public, lasting 3 hours from 10 A. M., and longer at the request of any member. 12. Sessions on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, except holidays religious and secular. 13. Secret session following the public one whenever the subject may demand reserve. 14. Any member may ask for a secret session, and the pres. will call it. 15. In a secret session will be presented: (1) confidential communications to the dip.; (2) ecclesiastical and religious matters; (3) other subjects which the pres. may deem to demand reserve. 16. Secret sessions to begin by a discussion whether the subject requires such a session, and to close by asking if the proceedings are to be kept strictly secret. 17. Members must be present from beginning to end, decently dressed; be seated without preference; and observe the silence, decorum, and deportment corresponding to their position. 18. A member unable to attend for serious cause must notify the pres.; but a recorded permission of the dip. is necessary for more than 3 days' absence. 19. Such licenses cannot be granted to more than 2 members.

Tit. v. — Motions. — Art. 20. Motions must be presented in writing, signed by the author, to the sec., worded like the resolution which is desired. 21. Every motion to be discussed as soon as made; the author will explain his motives, and 2 members may speak f-r and against; then it goes to the proper committee. 22. No prop. can be approved without first passing to the com., except by express consent of the dip.

Tit. vi. — Committees. — Art. 23. To facilitate business, committees, both permanent and special, will be appointed to examine matters and put them in shape for final action. 24. The permanent committees will be on ways and means, colonization, vacant lands, missions, government and police, municipal regulations, public works, industry, public instruction, and statistics. The number may be increased or diminished by the dip. 25. The dip. will also classify special com. according to nature of business. 26. The pres. must name permanent committees on the day of installation after administering the oath. 27. A com. will consist of 2 or 3 members, but may be increased by consent of the dip. 28. No member shall refuse a place assigned him on a com. 29. On granting leave of absence, the dip. will name members to replace the absentees on com. 30. The same must be done when members of a com. hare a personal interest in the matter considered; neither can such interested parties vote. 31. The gefe político, or the senior vocal when acting as pres., cannot serve on com. 32. Com. must render their reports in writing, and conclude them with simple propositions to be voted