New Britain herald., 1915-11-11
MAYOR BARRED FROM
 FLOOR AND CHAIR
If New Rule Is Adopted He Cannot
 Debate and Preside, Too

rules of the common council is by
 no means near its goal, good progress
 is being made and Alderman M. I. Jester, the chairman, is confident l that it will be able to make a report 1 to the council at the January meet 1 three meetings.
 Important changes are being con- sidered and, in the words of Chair man Jester, when the committees work is completed the rules will be up to date and not in need of further revision for a long time to come.
 Probably one of the most import ant changes contemplated is one re- garding the action of the mayor dur ing debates in the council. In the
 past it was permitted for the mayor to step from his chair, express his views on any matter and then re- sume the gavel. The committee has change under consideration which would prevent this and which for
 bids the mayor to resume the chair a1ter participating in debate until the subject under discussion is def- nitely disposed of.
 Five Minutes for Debate.
 The indiscriminate and wastefui use of perfectly good language will be prevented by the adoption of ;e rule which automatically shuts off lengthy speeches. This will be hHe-m1nute rule and it is proposed to apply the gag to any member who speaks more than five minutes at any time without permission of the pre- siding officer or the council For the recommendation of this rule, or one similar in nature, the committee will no doubt receive the blessings of many in the council.
 Disputes such as have been experi, enced recently over the appointment o1 an advisory committee to the board c1 public works and water commits slcn will be presented in the future If the council adopts a recommenda- uon now under consideration by the committee which is revamping the rules. A rough draft of the rule in question says: ,'The mover of a uues- ton may withdraw his motion at any time before a decision or amendment and when a motion has been carried in the affirmative or negative it shall be in order for any member who voted with the majority to move a re- consideration thereof at the same or the meeting next succeeding that at which the motion was passed and such motion shall take precedence over all other questions except to fix the time to which to adjourn, and to adjourn, nor can a vote which has l caused action that cannot be reversed 1 be reconsidered.' |
 Parlor Language Only. 1
 Only gentlemanly language will be l permitted as another rule will say: ''No member shall be mentioned by name but may be referred to by such designation as will be intelligible and 
 Constituents will hereafter know just where their representatives stand on the appropriation of money, if the council adopts the following rule: Vote on all questions involving the appropriations of mony shall be taken by roll call"
 Another rule regarding voting says: ''The vote on every ordinance shall be taken by two-thirds vote of the members present.
 ,. Special reasons will be required from a member who wishes to be excused from voting as a recummen- dation says: When a question is put by the chair every member present shall vote unless the council for special reasons shall excuse him but if personally interested in the result he shall not vote and no member shall he permitted to vote after the de- cision is announced by the presiding Cficer."
 Regarding members leaving the council chamber during meeting, the committee recommends: No member shall absent himself from the council chamber before adjournment without leave unless there be quorum without his presence"
 All committees to whom any petition or other matter is referred shall re- port within one month or ask exten-
 sion of time upon reasons stated to the council for delay.
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