drawn. Every matter of interest, however, and every proposition upon which a vote has been taken, should be carefully and accurately noted.

6. The Secretary is charged with the custody of many important papers and documents, as well as with the society's records. These should be carefully guarded, and no paper should be suffered to be taken from his table, or his keeping, without a formal vote of the society.

7. The Secretary should write a legible hand, and understand punctuation, so as to be able properly to punctuate his records. All motions, resolutions, and items of business, should be in separate paragraphs, that they may be readily discovered and read. Every minute book should have a copious index, or, if this involves too much labor, brief side notes, indicating the subjects in the text, should be placed on every page of the record.

8. The Secretary is not deprived of the privilege of taking part in the deliberations of a meeting, but, as a general rule, it will perhaps be found that he can serve the so

ciety quite as efficiently by a rigid attention to business, as by occupying much time on the floor.

OF COMMITTEES.

It is elsewhere stated that the usual custom is, to make the gentleman upon whose motion a committee is raised, chairman of that committee. In all legislative bodies, when standing or special committees are appointed, the individual first named is considered as the chairman, although, according to Parliamentary usage, each committee has a right to elect its own chairman. This right, however, is seldom, if ever, exercised. In some societies the by-laws provide for the appointment of chairmen of committees, in this manner, and in many instances the efficiency of a committee is thereby increased.

In the Senate of the United States the members elect the standing committees, first balloting for a chairman of each, and afterwards for the balance of the requisite num

ber. In the House of Representatives, committees are sometimes chosen by ballot, and in that case the rule is, that if a sufficient number are not chosen, by a majority of votes, on the first ballot, a second ballot is taken in which a plurality of votes prevail. In case a greater number than is required shall have an equal number of votes, the house proceeds to a further ballot or ballots.

In Congress, any member may excuse himself from serving on any committee, at the time of his appointment, if he is then a member of two other committees.

The object of committees is to consider some particular subject or subjects; to gain information; to digest certain business, and place it in a shape suitable for the action of the society, or to attend to some details of business in which the whole society, as a Committees

body, cannot conveniently act. are required, by Parliamentary usage, to meet and attend to the matters assigned them with system and regularity, and not by separate consultation, or in a loose and indefinite manner.

Unless otherwise ordered by the society,

the President will appoint all committees. A majority of a committee is necessary to constitute a quorum.

In appointing committees, those who take exceptions to some particulars in the matter proposed to be examined, may be of the committee, but none who speak directly against the whole matter. "For," as Hatsell justly remarks, "he that would totally destroy, will not amend it. The child is not to be put to a nurse that cares not for it." It is therefore a constant rule that no man is to be employed in any matter who has declared himself against it. And when any member who is against the bill, hears himself named, he ought to ask to be excused.

The rules of Parliament allow any member to be present at the sittings of a select committee, but he cannot vote, and must give place to all the committee, and sit below them.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.

All reports of committees should be signed by a majority of the members.

Reports of committees are of two kinds. 1. They may contain simply a statement of facts, reasoning or opinion, and without recommending definite action. Such reports usually conclude with a resolution to discharge the committee from the further consideration of the subject. 2. They may contain an argument on the proposition submitted, and recommend definite action. Such reports will conclude with resolutions, condensing the main facts or reasoning, and declaring distinct conclusions. In both cases, the resolutions are the proper objects for the action of the meeting, although with reports of the first class, it is not uncommon to adopt them formally, as embracing the views of the whole body.

When a report which has been recommitted, is reported back to the meeting with amendments, the usual course is to read the amendments, and take the question on them separately. If an entire new draft is substi