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MUXTCTPAL LAW. 191
The previous ([uestion cannot be uiuveil in a committee of tlic whole.
A eoiiimittee of the wliole cannot adjourn like other committees to some
other time ami plaee, but if their business is not finished at the usual time
for thf Assembly to adjourn or for any other reason, they do not wish to
procee<l further at a particular time, some member may move that the
coniiiiittee rise an<l report. The usual form is, "Tiiat the chairman do
rej)! »rt proi>reHs, and ask leave to sit a^ain ; " and if this motion prevails,
the chairman rises, the presidinif otKcer resmues the chair of the assembly
mid the ehairman of the committee informs him that the ("onuiiittee of the
\Vli')le Iiavini;' hail undei- their considei"ati<jn such a matter, and have made
some progress therein, but not iiavin^ had time to 20 throu<rh with the I
.same have directed him to ask leave to sit again. The presiding officer
will then say, "When shall the eonnnittee have leave to sit again;'" If
leave should not be granted the eonnnittee would, of eoui'se, be dissolved.
Tliis eonnnittee cannot refer any matter to a sub-committee.
The Speaker (or president) of the a,ssembly may take part in the debate
an<l ]iroceedings of the eonnnittee same as other members.
No eonnnitte(! of any kind has authority to punish a member or
st'-inger for a breach of order, but may rise and report the same to the
House.
When a eonnnittee of the whole have gone through with tlie matters
r-.'ferred to them, a mendjer moves that the committee ri.se and the 'jhair-
man report their proceedings to the assemljly, which being carried, the
chairman at once rises and goes to his place, the presiding officer resumes
the chair of the assembly, and the chairman infonns him that the com-
mittee have gone through with the business referred to them, and that he
is ready to make their report when the assembly shall think proper to
reci'ive it. The time for receiving the report is then agreed upon, and at
the time fixed it is made and receive<l the .same as that of any other com-
mittee. Usually it is received at once.
Sometimes the (piestion is dispo.scd of informally without a motion.
If the assembh' is n-ady to receive it at the time, they cry out, " Now,
now," whereupon the chairman pi'oceeds. If not then ready, some other
time is mentioned, as "to-morrow," or "Wednesday," and .such time is
fixed simjjly by general ass(!nt. If it is not the general sense of the
a.s.sembly to receive the report at the time it is better to fix the time by
motion. Of coiu'se the report may be amended or rejected, and matter
struck out by the committee may be restored bj' the assembly.
If the eonnnittee is not through, the usual motion would be "That
the report be accepted and leave granted."
IIM. Obstruction in Committee of t^e Whole is sometimes resorted
to, and l)esides the numerous speeches and u.seless amendments to nearly
<'very clause or item of a bill, a meniber .sometimes, wishing to supersede a
bill entirely, moves 'That the chairman do now leave the chair.' This
motion is always in order, and takes precedence over any other motion in
the eonnnittee, and if carried the chairman mu.st immediately leave the
chair. As he is not authorized to make any report to the assembly, the
miestion disapjiears from the order paper, hence no (piestion before tlie
House. The House may, however, sui)sei|uently re.solve itself into a com-
mittee of the whole on the same subject by giving notice, as the original
order of reference still remains.