Page:Robert's Parliamentary Practice.djvu/73

Rh vote at a meeting of which every member has been notified, or at an adjourned meeting thereof, except where it is impracticable to obtain the presence of a quorum at a meeting, in which case the report must be agreed to by every member of the committee. In all cases effort should be made to obtain a unanimous report. The minority, however, may prepare a report expressing its views. By permission of the assembly this may be read immediately after the reading of the committee's report.

When it is desired to consider a question in an assembly with the freedom of a committee, a motion should be made to consider the question informally. This motion has the same rank as to commit, and if it is adopted members may speak on the main question and its amendments as often as they can obtain the floor. In recognizing members as having the floor the chair must give the preference to members who have not spoken. He should also give the preference, where practicable, to a member opposed to the last speaker. All the rules of the assembly are in force except the one limiting the number of times a member may speak on a question, and this rule is in force except in case of the main question and the amendments proposed to it. Since members are allowed to speak as often as they can obtain the floor, the length of each speech