ORGANIZATION.

The Constitution provides (article 10, § 6) that the Legislature shall, every year, assemble on the first Tuesday in January, unless a different day shall be appointed by law.

In the absence of any statutory provision, it has been usual for the Clerk to call the Assembly to order, put a motion for the election of Speaker, and conduct proceedings generally until a Speaker is chosen. But it is within the province of the members to elect a temporary presiding officer, if they so desire, in cases where the election of Speaker is protracted.

The Clerk is furnished by the Secretary of State with an official list of the members elect, which, under the changes in the Laws of 1892 (chap. 681), should also indicate those whose oaths of office have been filed as required by the abovementioned chapter.

The oath of office may be administered by any officer authorized to take, within the State, the acknowledgment of the execution of a deed of real property, or by an officer in whose office the

oath is required to be filed, but, wherever administered, it must be duly subscribed, certified and filed in the office of the Secretary of State.

It is not necessary for any member to present his certificate of election unless his claim should be disputed. The certified list of the Secretary of State, presented by the Clerk, is sufficient to entitle any member who is named therein to his seat, unless it should be proved erroneous by the production of a proper certificate from the County Canvassers.

After the presentation of the certified list by the Secretary of State, the roll is called by the Clerk, and, if a quorum be present, the House is competent to proceed to business.

The caucus of each party, for the nomination of its candidates for Speaker, Clerk, etc., is held in the Capitol on the evening previous to the organization, convening at seven o'clock. The party having the largest number of members occupies the Assembly Chamber for this purpose; the second largest the Assembly Parlor.

The election of Speaker may be by ballot, by resolution, or viva voce, as the House may order. It is usually, however, by viva voce. Each member, as his name is called, rises in his place and openly announces for whom he votes. member receiving a majority of all the votes is declared elected, conducted to the chair by a committee named by the Clerk, or voted by the

The

House, and immediately enters upon the performance of his duties.

The election of the remaining officers (viz., Clerk, Sergeant-at-Arms, Door-keeper, two Assistant Door-keepers and a Stenographer) is then proceeded with, either in the same manner or by one of the other modes named. Usually, to save time, the officers named after Clerk, are elected by resolution.

The officers elect are, if present, immediately sworn by the Speaker, and enter upon the discharge of their duties.

Resolutions are then adopted for the appointmént of committees to wait upon the Governor and Senate, and inform them that the House is organized and ready to proceed to business. As soon as these committees report, and a similar announcement is made from the Senate, the annual message of the Governor is presented, read by the Clerk, and usually referred to a committee of the whole House, for future consideration.

COMMITTEE TO WAIT UPON THE SENATE.

When this committee enters the Senate Chamber, it is conducted by the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate to a position within the circle and in front of the presiding officer. The Sergeant-atArms announces "A committee from the Assembly."

The Chairman of the committee then delivers its message, as follows:

“Mr. PRESIDENT:" (and after recognition by that officer)"This committee from the Assembly has been directed by that body to inform the Honorable the Senate that the Assembly is duly organized and ready to proceed to legislative business."

The committee immediately retires, and, on its return to the Assembly Chamber, passes up the main aisle, preceded by the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Assembly, halts in front of the Speaker's chair, and delivers its report, as follows:

"Mr. SPEAKER:" (and after recognition by that officer)"The committee appointed to wait upon the Honorable the Senate and inform that body that this House is organized and ready to proceed to legislative business, has the honor to report that they have performed that duty."

The members of the committee then take their respective seats.

To WAIT UPON THE GOVERNOR.

The message and report of the committee to wait on the Governor may be in the following forms:

(The committee having arrived in the Executive Chamber, salutes the Governor, and the Chairman delivers its message as follows):

"This committee from the Assembly have been directed by that body to inform Your Excellency that that House is duly organized and ready to proceed to legislative business."

The Governor usually replies that he will communicate with the House by message in writing. The report of the committee to the House is as follows:

"Mr. SPEAKER: " (and after recognition) "The committee appointed to wait upon the Governor and inform him that this House is organized and ready to proceed to legislative business, have the honor to report that they have performed that duty, and that His Excellency has been pleased to say that he will presently communicate with the House by message in writing."

After the reading of the message, it is customary to take a recess, and hold an afternoon session, commencing at four o'clock, for the purpose of determining the choice of seats. Although it is not unusual to continue the sesssion until this work is completed.

[These forms, with a trifling variation to suit the circumstances, will suffice for the messages and reports of the committees to be made at the time of the final adjournment of the two Houses.]