or company for building structures over navigable waters, or the incorporation of an educational institution, shall, unless notice required by Chapter III of the Revised Laws or other laws has been given, be referred to the next annual session.
The Rules Committee of the House does not have the broad discretion to recommend suspension of this rule that it does in the case of the twelfth Joint Rule. It must report adversely on the suspension of the ninth Joint Rule[1] unless the members are satisfied by the evidence produced that the petitioners have given notice by public advertisement or otherwise, equivalent to that required by Chapter III of the Revised Laws.[2] The Senate Rules contain no such provision as this.
The Committee on Rules is a powerful body. The presiding officer of each branch sits in that branch as chairman of the Committee and the leading members of the Senate and House make up its membership. Many other matters besides motions to suspend the Joint Rules go to it under the rules. Thus all orders authorizing committees to travel or to employ stenographers, or involving special investigations, or providing that information be transmitted, must be referred without debate to the Committee on Rules, and the Committee on Rules must report upon such matters within fourteen days.[2]
The Joint Rules also provide that where legislation affects the rights of individuals, or of private or municipal corporations otherwise than as it affects generally the people of the Commonwealth or the people of the city or town to which it applies, a petition is always necessary to introduce such
