ABSENT.-Messrs. Achenbach, Addicks, Baker, Bardsley, Biddle, Black, Chas. A., Black, J. S., Brodhead, Broomall, Bullitt, Carey, Cassidy, Church, Clark, Collins, Corson, Craig, Cronmiller, Curry, Curtin, Dallas, Darlington, Dodd, Elliott, Fell, Funck, Gibson, Gilpin, Hall, Harvey, Hazzard, Hemphill, Heverin, Horton, Lamberton, Landis, Lear, Littleton, M'Camant, M'Murray, Mann, Mantor, Metzger, Mitchell, Mott, Newlin, Niles, Palmer, G. W., Palmer, H. W., Parsons, Patterson, T. H. B., Patton, Porter, Purman, Purviance, Samuel A., Reynolds, Ross, Runk, Simpson, Stanton, Stewart, Temple, Van Reed, Wherry, Woodward and Wright-66.

Mr. WORRELL. I move that this Convention adjourn until to-morrow morning at ten o'clock.

Mr. LILLY. I rise to a point of order. A resolution of the House provides that we meet at nine o'clock, and to change the hour will require a resolution, which would not now be in order.

The PRESIDENT. The point of order is sustained.

Mr. LILLY. I move that we do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to, and at five o'clock and forty minutes P. M. the Convention adjourned until nine o'clock tomorrow morning.

THURSDAY, September 18, 1873.

The Convention met at nine o'clock A. M., Hon. John H. Walker, President, in the chair.

Prayer by Rev. J. W. Curry.

The Journal of yesterday's proceedings was read and approved.

Resolved, That on and after to-day the Convention will meet at nine and a half A. M. and adjourn at three P. M.

On the question of proceeding to the second reading and consideration of the resolution, a division was called for, which resulted thirty-six in the affirmative to

MENT.

The PRESIDENT appointed Mr. Buckalew, Mr. M'Michael, Mr. Cuyler and Mr. Stewart as additional members of the Committee on Revision and Adjustment, in pursuance of the resolution adopted yesterday.

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The PRESIDENT laid before the Convention a communication from the president of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, inviting the members of the Con

vention to visit the exhibition of the society, at any time up to Friday evening

next.

Mr. LILLY. I move that the invitation

was announced by the Chair, when Mr. Lawrence rose and called for the yeas and nays.

Mr. HUNSICKER. I rise to a point of order. The result of the vote just taken was announced by the Chair. It is therefore too late to call for the yeas and nays. We have only resolved to proceed to the and nays on the final passage. second reading, and we can take the yeas

The PRESIDENT. The gentleman from Montgomery is correct in his statement, but the Chair will always withdraw his decision if any gentleman desires the yeas and nays called on any question. Mr. STANTON. I would suggest that

the final passage.

Mr. LAWRENCE. I desire to nip this thing in the bud, and I call for the yeas and nays now.

The question being taken by yeas and nays, resulted as follows:

YEAS.

Messrs. Ainey, Alricks, Baer, Baker, Bannan, Bartholomew, Bigler, Black, J. Calvin, Corbett, Curry, Curtin, DarlingS., Bowman, Boyd, Broomall, Buckalew, Funek, Gibson, Green, Guthrie, Harvey, ton, Davis, Dunning, Edwards, Ellis, Hay, Hemphill, Hunsicker, Landis, MClean, M'Michael, Metzger, Minor, Newlin, Parsons, Sharpe, Smith, Henry W.,

Smith, Wm. H., Stanton, Stewart, Turrell, Van Reed, Wetherill, J. M., Woodward and Walker, President-46.

NAYS.

Messrs. Andrews, Armstrong, Baily. (Perry,) Bailey, (Huntingdon,) Bardsley, Brown, Carter, Cochran, Collins, De

Howard, Kaine, Lawrence, Lilly, Mac

Connell, MacVeagh, M'Culloch, Patterson, D. W., Purviance, Samuel A., Reed, Andrew, Rooke, Russell, Struthers, Temple, White, David N., White, Harry, White, J. W. F. and Wright-32.

So the question was determined in the affirmative.

ABSENT.-Messrs. Achenbach, Addicks, Barclay, Beebe, Biddle, Black, Chas. A., Brodhead, Bullitt, Campbell, Carey, Cas

sidy, Church, Clark, Corson, Craig, Cron

miller, Cuyler, Dallas, Dodd, Elliott, Fell, Finney, Gilpin, Hanna, Hazzard, Heverin, Knight, Lamberton, Lear, Littleton, Long, M'Camant, Mann, Mantor, Mitchell, Mott, Niles, Palmer, G. W., Palmer, H. W., Patterson, T. H. B., Patton, Porter, Pughe, Purman, Purviance, John N., Read, John R., Reynolds, Ross, Runk, Simpson, Smith, H. G., Wetherill, Jno. Price, Wherry and Worrell-55.

cometh when no man can work." [Laughter.]

The question was taken by yeas and nays with the following result: YEAS.

Messrs. Alricks, Andrews, Baer, Baily, (Perry,) Bailey, (Huntingdon,) Bardsley, Bowman, Carter, Cochran, Collins, Curry, De France, Hall, Hay, Horton, Kaine, Lawrence, Lilly, MacConnell, D. W., Purviance, Samuel A., Rooke, M'Culloch, Metzgar, Parsons, Patterson, Russell, Smith, Henry W., Struthers, White, David N., White, Harry, White, J. W. F. and Wright-32.

NAYS.

Messrs. Ainey, Armstrong, Baker, Bannan, Bartholomew, Bigler, Black, J. S., Boyd, Broomall, Brown, Buckalew, Calvin, Corbett, Curtin, Darlington,

Mr. HARRY WHITE. I move to amend by adding to the resolution the words, "and a session beginning at seven and onehalf o'clock and adjourning at nine and one-half o'clock."

The PRESIDENT. The question is on the amendment of the gentleman from Indi

ana.

Mr. HARRY WHITE and Mr. MACVEAGH called for the yeas and nays.

I

Mr. BUCKALEW. Mr. President: hope I may be indulged in a single remark. For two or three days the Committee on Schedule and the Committee on Revision and Adjustment ought to be in session all the afternoon and evening in order to dispose of pending matters. The evening session would prevent those committees from meeting. We cannot do anything more with any of the articles until the Committee on Revision report. I am, therefore, in favor of adopting the resolution which the gentleman from Montgomery (Mr. Hunsicker) has offered, although I was not consulted about it, and keeping it in force at least for a few days until we have business ready for the Convention.

The PRESIDENT. The yeas and nays have been ordered, and the Clerk will call the names of delegates on the amendment of the delegate from Indiana (Mr. Harry White.)

Mr. J. S. BLACK. Let me ask the gentleman whether he does not think his proposition is a violation of the Scripture: 'Work while it is yet day, for the night

ing, Fulton, Funck, Gibson, Green, Guthrie, Harvey, Hemphill, Howard, Hunsicker, Landis, MacVeagh, M'Clean, M'Michael, Minor, Newlin, Palmer, G. W., Pughe, Reed, Andrew, Sharp, Smith Wm. H., Stinton, Stewart, Temple, Turrell, Van Reed, Wetherill, J. M., Woodward, and Walker, President -48.

So the amendment was rejected. ABSENT.-Messrs.Achenbach, Addicks, Barclay, Beebe, Biddle, Black, Charles A., Brodhead, Bullitt, Campbell, Carey, Cassidy, Church, Clark, Corson, Craig, Cronmiller, Cuyler, Dallas, Dodd, Elliott, Fell, Finney, Gilpin, Hanna, Hazzard, Heverin, Knight, Lamberton, Lear, Littleton, Long, M'Camant, M'Murray,Mann, Mantor, Mitchell, Mott, Niles, Palmer, H. W., Patterson, T. H. B., Patton, Porter, Purman, Purviance, John N., Read, John R., Reynolds, Ross, Runk, Simpson, Smith, H. G., Wetherill, Jno. Price, Wherry and Worrell-53.

Mr. MACVEAGH. I move to amend the pending proposition by changing the word "three" to "four," which will give us precisely the same number of working hours that we have now.

The PRESIDENT. The question is on the amendment of the delegate from Dauphin.

Mr. HARRY WHITE. I hope the amendment offered by the delegate from Dauphin will not prevail, for this simple reason: If we meet at half-past nine o'clock and continue in session until four o'clock, we shall be in session continuous

ly six and a half hours. Now, I submit that that is unfair to gentlemen here from the country who are accustomed to a plain manner of living, of whom I am one, who dine at from half-past twelve to one o'clock. Unless we get our dinners at that hour our healths will be impaired as much as the heat impaired the health of some gentlemen some time ago. I submit that in justice to gentlemen from Western Pennsylvania, this amendment ought not to prevail.

Mr. MACVEAGH. It was with a view partly to allow those gentlemen the opportunity of getting their dinners that I have steadfastly voted against changing the present hours. I believe that a single session, while it will inconvenience certain members of the Convention, which I regret, will be more efficacious in disposing of the work of this body than the two sessions we now have; but I thought the question was not again to be disturbed, and I voted against disturbing it. Now that it is to be changed, if it is to be, I trust the working hours will not be diminished. Three o'clock is too late for the gentlemen to whom the delegate from Indiana alludes. My friend from York (Mr.Cochran) and other gentlemen who are accustomed to dine at one o'clock, must have their lunch or dinner at that hour. They can either have it at the refreshment room in the building, or at refreshment rooms very near the hall. If the Convention remains in session over two o'clock and up to three o'clock, their dinner hour is destroyed anyhow; they must go out of the Convention for a few minutes, either to the refreshment room here or some place else and get their dinner. Now, my amendment only gives us six and a half hours of working time, and I think that is not too much.

Mr. HUNSICKER. I desire to say but one word to the Convention, and it is rather to make a personal appeal to the gentleman from Dauphin to allow a vote to be taken squarely upon the resolution, and if it is defeated I shall be perfectly content. My object in offering it was simply to consolidate the members into one session. We know what difficulties we have had in the past in regard to two sessions a day. We shall have as many working hours, I take it, when we meet at half-past nine o'clock and sit until three o'clock, as we shall have in any other mode, and this plan of tacking on amendinents simply takes up time and we reach no result. Let us take a vote

on the resolution as it stands, and if it is not acceptable that is the end of it.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President: This discussion about sessions reminds me a good deal of the old Roman fable that we read of in our histories relating to the contention between the belly and the members. Our action upon this whole question seems to be very largely governed by reasons relating to our personal convenience and comfort. Now, there are two classes of men in this body, one who are the fashionable class suppose, who do not eat their dinners until four o'clock, and the other old fogies like myself who are in the habit of dining, as our forefathers did, somewhere about the middle of the day.

If a majority of the members belong to the fashionable class and do not eat their dinner until four o'clock, and are determined that we old fogies shall submit to their regimen in that respect, and if gentlemen who live within striking distance of Philadelphia are determined to have this Convention adjourn in time to let them take the cars and go home every evening and return in the morning, and these two combined interests are to control in this matter, then, sir, we may just as well agree to sit until four o'clock as ad journ at three, for after we have once passed our regular hour, and gone out and taken up what we can get, bread and cheese on the doorsteps, and eat themwhich was once forbidden, I believe, by the Colonial Assembly of Pennsylvania— after we have once done that, we can sit as well till four o'clock as we can until three. So, sir, hope if this proposition is to pass at all and this change of sessions is to be adopted, that we shall conclude to sit until four o'clock.

Mr. WRIGHT. Mr. President: I move the indefinite postponement of this resolution, and on that motion I call for the yeas and nays.

The PRESIDENT. The gentleman from Luzerne moves to postpone indefinitely the amendment and the original resolution.

Mr. AINEY. I hope the Convention will not postpone this question indefinitely. I hope that we shall vote down the proposition to postpone indefinitely, and then vote down the amendment offered by the gentleman from Dauphin After the Committee on Revision have reported to this body, I will then agree to extend the hours of session to four o'clock; but until that time, from nine and a-hal

until three will be ample for this Convention to labor in, and if we are industrious and assiduous, we can do all that we ought to do, and more, in that time. Until the Committee on Revision have reported, we are not prepared to work and go on and finish the third reading of the instrument which we are to submit to the people. I hope, therefore, that the Convention will fix the hours at from nine and a-half to three. I think we shall have better action, fuller attendance, more intelligent action by this body if we have but one session without intervening hours.

Mr. D. N. WHITE. I hope the motion to postpone the resolution indefinitely will prevail. Every gentleman knows that when we have one session a day the last hour or so of that session is absolutely wasted, because we are so fagged out that we cannot do anything. It is impossible for me to sit here and pass all the time in a continuous session of five or six hours. I cannot do it. It is ruinous to my health and ruinous to my usefulness. I think it is unreasonable. Let us adjourn in the middle of the day, go to dinner and come back. We did more practical work yesterday afternoon than we did in the forenoon. Every morning we are troubled with these resolutions about adjournment. The question was settled after fair debate that we should have two sessions a day; but as soon as we got back here gentlemen began to stir it up again. I hope we shall lay this on the table and see the end of it forever.

Mr. W. H. SMITH. I hope this resolution will pass. 1 should like to see it modified by making the hours of session from nine to three; but if you make them from nine to four I shall not object, for one. I believe it is the only way to get done with this work. As for those persons who cannot do without their dinner possibly and must have it, let them go out and get it; they need be gone but a little while; and they can come back refreshed for business. Yesterday afternoon I noticed, and other gentlemen noticed, that we absolutely did not meet for half an hour after the time fixed,and we did not do anything that I remember which was of any value to anybody, and I found a general indisposition to work and a disposition to quit and go home at five o'clock, and even a proposition to adjourn was made at.half-past four. I believe that we can work better at this sort of business towards three o'clock upon empty stom

achs than we can with full stomachs, and I believe we had better fix this time now permanently for the whole session. I would rather see it from nine to three, but I do not insist on that.

As for this being done for the benefit of Philadelphia people, I do not think it is So. I know that there are a great many others who would like to have this change

Mr. WRIGHT. I rise to a question of order. Debate is not admissible after the yeas and nays are ordered.

Mr. W. H. SMITH. I believe they have not been ordered.

The PRESIDENT. The yeas and nays have not been ordered.

Mr. WRIGHT. I call for the yeas and nays on my motion to postpone indefinitely.

Mr. HARRY WHITE. I second the call. M. CARTER. I wish to say a word. I hope that the amendment fixing four o'clock as the hour of adjournment will prevail, and for a reason different from that stated by others. Those who advocated an adjournment from the middle of July, urged that we were to come back here with renewed energies and go to work and complete our business as speedily as possible; and one of our first acts on re-assembling is to cut off our daily time one hour and a half without any occasion. I think there is a great deal of work, a great deal of wind work, at least, to be done before the result of the labors of the Committee on Revision is required to be before this body.

The gentleman from Montgomery (Mr. Hunsicker) says he wants a square vote on this thing to settle it. Well, sir, a vote was taken yesterday, and because it did not suit the gentleman he has it up again this morning, and it will be settled just so far as the settlement agrees with the respective opinions of members.

I hope the amendment will prevail. For one, it is very unpleasant to me to do without my noonday meal; but I am willing to yield. But the chief point with me is, that we are at the time that we were going to work with a will and complete this most tedious job, cutting off an hour and a half of most precious time unnecessarily, in this cool and pleasant weather.

The PRESIDENT. The Clerk will call the yeas and nays on the motion to postpone indefinitely.

The yeas and nays were taken with the following result: