Norwich bulletin., 1909-05-29
HOUSE
 IN SESSION TWO MINUTES.
No Quorum-Members Feared Acts
 Would Not Be Valid.

Hartford, May 2S.-The house of representatives was in session two minutes, this forenoon. It opened at 11.30 and adjourned at 11.32. MT. Burnes of Greenwich had been desig- mated by Speaker Banks to act as speaker today, but was not present. About fifty members were in their seats when Clerk William H. Blodgett called the house to order amid ap- plause and requested the nominations for speaker to be made.
 Mir. Scott of Plymouth and Mir Peck of Stratford were named. Judge Peck withdrew and MT. Scott was chosen. He, too was applauded when he took his place at the desk.
 Prayer was offered by the chaplain, the Rev Franklin Countryman.
 MT. Parker of Hartford addressed the chair, saying that in view of the small attendance and the likelihood that questions of validity might arise if any business was attempted, he moved that the house adjourn to Tues day at 11.15. The motion prevailed and the house was adjourned.
 Speaker Banks on Thursday ad- journed the house to this forenoon, when lack of quorum was disclosed. This action followed a motion to the same effect made by MT. Knight of Salisbury. The matter was talked over by large number of members follow ing Thursdays adjournment and it was then believed that the speaker had made mistake and that he should have adjourned over until Tuesday, as resolution was adopted four months ago specifying Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday as sitting days, and that therefore Any business transacted on any other day would not be valid. This belief doubtless accounted for the small number present today.
 For a half hour or more this morn ing prior, to 11.SO tho question was again under discussion Lr a group of members and Clerk Blodgett. MT. Blodgett contended that the error of the speaker was purely technical and that if there was quorum on hand today the house would have a perfect right to do business, as 1t is a law unto itself so far as it's rules are con- cerned. Mir. Parker of Hartford and others were of the same opinion, MT. Parker declaring that a quorum would have the power to rescind the former resolution and pass another which should include Friday as a sitting day. But even in the absence of this he believed healing" resolution could be lawfully passed validating all business which might be transacted.
 But there was not a quorum.
 The rule NINO. z) unQer Whlch Speak CT Banks adjourned the house Thurs day is this
 Tn the absence of a quorum the speaker may adjourn the house to the afternoon, or to the next sitting day. At all other times. during the session on adjournment shall be pronounced by the speaker on motion"
 The speaker, however failed to rs- call the words Sitting day"
 The resolution which names Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday as session Gays was introduced by MT. Scott of Plymouth on Jan. 2S and Is as follows:
 Resolved, That hereafter and until otherwise specially ordered the house shall meet each week on Tuesday at 12.30 p. m., and on Wednesday and Thursay at 11.15 a. m"
 Clerk Blodgett contends that if the word "only'' had been inserted after the word Thursday then the house could not sit on other days in the week other than those named in the resolu- tion. except by official action on one of those days, but as 1t Is now there Is nothing to hinder sitting on any other day. For weeks now the house has been meeting at 11.30 Tuesdays, al- though 123o is named in the resolu- tion. This has been done by special mention of the hour when the house has adjourned the Thursday before.