the honour conferred on him. He now asks the House to name a member to administer to him the requisite qualifications. This is invariably declined; and he is requested to name a member himself. He then calls some experienced member, who standing in front of the speaker's desk, administers the oath of office in the following form :

"You do swear, that you will support the Constitution of the United States; so help you God."

"You do also swear, that you will support the Constitution of the State of Pennsylvania, and that you will discharge your duty as Speaker and member of the House of Representatives, with fidelity; so help you God."

If the Speaker swear by the uplifted hand-"You do swear by Almighty God, the searcher of all hearts, that you will support the constitution of the United States, and that as you shall answer to God at the great day."

"You do also swear by Almighty God, the searcher of all hearts, that you will perform your duty as speaker and member of the House of Representatives with fidelity, and that, as you shall answer to God at the great day."

If he affirm: "You most solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm, that you will support the Constitution of the United States."

"You also most solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm, that you will support the Constitution of the State, and discharge your duty as Speaker and Member of the House of Representatives with fidelity.”

The Speaker, having been duly qualified, signs his name to a copy of the oath or affirmation he has just taken, in a book kept for that purpose. He then requests the members to step forward, in front of the Speaker's desk, as their names are called in alphabetical order, and take their qualification of office, and sign the same. "Those who swear by the book will please to step forward first."

Those who swear by the uplifted hand are afterwards called upon. Those who affirm are called last. This order depends upon the pleasure of the Speaker, who may vary it, if he thinks proper.

The House being thus organized, a motion is made in the following words, by a member rising from his seat and standing up in his place: Mr. Speaker, I move that a committee be appointed to inform the Senate,

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that the House of Representatives is organized and ready to proceed to business." The motion being seconded, the Speaker states it, and rising from the chair, puts it as follows: "As many as are in favour of the motion will say Aye.” Having paused a moment, he reverses it by saying-As many as are against it will say No." As this motion uniformly carries, the Speaker sometimes puts the question thus:"Will the House agree to the motion?" which being determined in the affirmative, he announces that "it is agreed to." He then asks, "Of what number shall the committee consist?" The answer is "Two." The Speaker then observes, "two has been named: no other number having been named, the committee will consist of two." The Speaker then names the committee-"the committee are Messrs. A. B. and C. D." In making up this committee, the gentleman offering the motion is always first named upon it. The two gentlemen thus appointed, immediately repair to the bar of the Senate chamber, where they find the sergeant-at-arms of that body; who being notified that they are a committee from the other House, rises and addresses the Speaker of the Senate, as fol

lows: "A committee from the House of Representatives." The Speaker of the Senate rises from his seat, as soon as the sergeant-atarms announces the committee, and addresses the Senate in the same language: "A committee from the House of Representatives." The committee now step some three or four paces within the bar of the Senate, and the first named member addresses the Speaker, who continues standing during the ceremony, as follows: "Mr. Speaker, we have been appointed a committee by the House of Representatives to inform the Senate, that the House of Representatives is organized, and ready to proceed to business." The committee then withdraw, and the Speaker resumes his scat. The committee return to the h use, and take their seats. The chairman, if he discovers that there is no business before the house, rising in his place, makes report as follows: "Mr. Speaker, the committee appointed to inform the Senate, that the House of Representatives is organized, and ready to proceed to business, Report, that they have discharged that duty." The Speaker repeats their report.

A similar committee is appointed by the

Senate, who wait upon the House, are received in the same manner, and make report to the Senate. It is proper here to adopt the following motion: Resolved, That a committee be appointed to prepare and report á system of rules and regulations for the government of the House, and until such report is made and approved, that the Rules of the last House be adopted. This is done in obedience to the 13th section of the first article of the constitution, which vests each House with power to determine upon its own rules of proceeding.

The following resolution is usually presented on the same afternoon, by a member rising and announcing as follows: "Mr. Speaker. I offer the following resolution." He then reads it: Resolved, that the members of this House, the clerks, sergeant-at-arms, and door keeper, cach be furnished, during the present session, with two daily newspapers, or as many papers as shall be equivalent thereto in price, and that the expenses thereof be paid out of the contingent fund." As soon as the member shall have read his resolution, he walks up in front of the Speaker, and politely hands it to him: who says "the following