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He should be particularly attentive to the cleanliness of the hall and furniture, and have the hall heated in proper time.

He shall distribute the printed bills, &c. on the desks of the members and Clerk, commencing at the Speaker's and Clerk's desks.

He shall announce messages from the Governor or Council, at any time when the house is in session, except when a question is being put, while the yeas and nays are calling, or while the ballots are being counted.

He shall attend to furnishing the members and Clerk with stationary, and the house with fuel.

He shall transmit all papers or documents, if required by the Speaker or Clerk, to the engrossing Clerk, or current printer of the House. He shall carry the contents of the letter box at each adjournment to the Post Office.

He shall attend to preparing the hall for all conventions of members or meetings of committees by candle light in the Assembly chamber. He shall maintain order in the lobbies.

He shall be under the direction of the Speaker in performing the duties of his office.

He is Sergeant-at-arms, during the pleasure of the House, to execute the commands of the House from time to time, together with all such process issued by authority thereof as shall be directed to him by the Speaker.

His pay is fixed in the support bill, and he draws it from the Treasury upon a certificate

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"That if any member, while the House is met, absent himself from the business thereof, for the space of a quarter of an hour, at any one time, without leave previously obtained, he shall be subject to the censure of the House unless his excuse be admitted."-Rule 2 of Assembly.

"That when the House shall send their Serjeant-at-arms for any absent member, the said member be answerable for the expense, to be deducted from his certificate of wages, unless the House allow his excuse of absence."-Ibid.

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"The following is the mode of asking leave of absence: 'Mr. Speaker, I have been requested to ask leave of absence for Mr.- of the county of

for a few days from to-day:' (sometimes he asks leave for himself)—the Speaker, rising, says, 'Mr.

from the county of

asks leave of absence for his colleague Mr.

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for a few days from to-day. Shall the gentleman have leave? If the motion is agreed to, he says, 'Mr. has leave." "Suth. Manual, 127.

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"That in adjournment from day to day, every member attend precisely at the time to which the House was last adjourned, and for default of a quarter of an hour, in any case, he shall be subject to a reprimand from the Chair, unless the House admits his excuse."-Rule 2 of Assembly.

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A majority of the whole number of memers shall be necessary to do business. ih des "That the Speaker and any two members, be sufficient number to meet and adjourn the House from day to day when necessary."-Rule I of Assembly.

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Sec. 23. Order of business. "That the business of the first meeting of each day be conducted in the following manner, to wit: 1. To read the minutes. 2. To receive memorials and petitions. 3. To receive the report of committees. 4. To proceed on the orders and promiscuous business of the day, giving preference to the unfinished business of the preceding sitting, and that the business of the second meeting be conducted in the same manner, except as to reading the minutes."-Rule 5 of Assembly.

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"That all bills and special reports of the committees be numbered by the Clerk as they are severally introduced, and a list made of the same, to lie on the table, and be called up for consideration by the Speaker, according to their numerical order; subject, nevertheless, to postponement on special motion, for the purpose of taking up any bill, or report, which the House may order to be taken up and considered in preference."-Ibid.

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Sec. 24. Bills.

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Every bill shall receive three several readings in the House previous to its passage, and all bills shall be despatched in order, as they were introduced, unless where the House shall direct otherwise; but no bill shall be read twice on the same day, without special order of the House." Rule 90, of H. of R. of U. States.

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"That no bill or joint resolution shall be read more than once on the same day."-Rule 10 of Assembly. land from the off

The following has been the arrangement of business in the Assembly: 1. Reading the journal. 2. Presentation of memorials, petitions, letters, original resolutions, &c. 3. Reports of committees, reference of unfinished business, leave to withdraw documents, motions to reconsider, leave of absence, leave to introduce bills, and motions to appoint additional members to committees, &c. 4. Bills on final passage. 5. Bills on second reading.

The members will save themselves much trouble when bills accumulate on their desks, by dividing them into three or more parcels; first, labelled "bills first reading;" second, labelled "bills second reading;" third, labelled "bills engrossed," &c.del

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