the house. To prevent this privilege from being used improperly, it is well to provide that when the call is made the members cannot adjourn or dispense with further proceedings in the call until a quorum is obtained. A rule like the following would answer for city councils and other similar bodies that have the power to enforce attendance:
Rule. When no quorum is present, — members may order a call of the house and compel the attendance of absent members. After the call is ordered, a motion to adjourn, or to dispense with further proceedings in the call, cannot be entertained until a quorum is present, or until the Sergeant-at-Arms reports that in his opinion no quorum can be obtained on that day.
If no quorum is present a call of the house takes precedence of everything, even reading the minutes, except the motion to adjourn, and only requires in its favor the number specified
usually not over ten days afterwards, though it has been as long as six weeks afterwards. The object of this is to give notice so that all the members may be present on that day, when important business is to come before the house. In Congress a call of the house is only used now when no quorum is present, and as soon as a quorum appears it is usual to dispense with further proceedings in the call, and this is in order at any stage of the proceedings. In some of our legislative bodies proceedings in the call cannot be dispensed with except a majority of the members elect vote in favor of so doing. In Congress it is customary afterwards to remit the fees that have been assessed.
