27.

In filling blanks the largest sum and the longest time shall be first in order.

28.

When the reading of a paper is called for, and the same is objected to by a senator, the question shall be determined by a vote of the Senate.

29.

The yeas and nays shall be taken on the call of a senator, and every senator present shall vote, unless excused by the Senate; but no senator shall be compelled to vote who was absent when the question was stated by the President, nor shall any one be permitted to vote who was absent when his name was called, nor after the decision of the question has been announced from the Chair.

30.

No senator in the minority, nor one who did not vote on the decision of a question, shall have a right to move a reconsideration thereof: nor shall any motion for reconsideration be in order unless made before the close of the next day of actual sitting of the Senate, after that in which the vote was taken, and before the bill, resolution, report, amendment, address or motion, upon which the vote was taken, shall, in the regular progress of business, have gone out of the possession of the Senate.

31.

On all questions, in the decision of which a simple majority is required, when the Senate is equally divided, the Secretary shall take the casting vote of the President. In all such cases, a motion for reconsideration, if made in time, shall be in order from any senator who voted on the question.

32.

The President shall have the right to call upon any senator to discharge the duties of the Chair, whenever he shall find it necessary temporarily to retire; but such substitution shall not extend beyond more than one adjournment.

33.

The Senate having taken the final vote on any question, the same shall not again be in order during the same session, in any form whatever, except by way of reconsideration; and when a motion for reconsideration has been decided, that decision shall not be reconsidered.

34.

No proposition to amend the rules of the Senate, or the joint rules of both houses, shall be acted on until the same shall have been before the Senate at least twenty-four hours; and no rule of the Senate shall be suspended except by the vote of three-fourths of the members present.

35.

Messages shall be sent to the House of Representatives by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary.

36.

Reporters may be placed on the floor of the Senate, under the direction of the Secretary, with the approbation of the President.

37.

No person shall be admitted within the lobby of the Senate Chamber, except the Governor, Treasurer of the State, Auditor of Accounts, members of the other House, Judges of the Supreme Court, Circuit Judges, Senators and Representatives in Congress, Ex-Governors and Lieut. Governors, Ex-Judges of the Supreme Court, Ex-Senators of the State Senate, District Judge and Attorney of the United States, members of other State Legislatures, Clerk and Assistant Clerks of the House of Representatives, and the Secretary of Civil and Military Affairs, and such ladies and gentlemen as the President or a senator may introduce.

38.

When in session the senators shall sit with their heads uncovered.

39.

Upon any disorderly conduct in the gallery, the President may order the same to be cleared.

40.

Whenever a bill or resolution is laid on the table, by order of the Senate, and shall have remained on the table twentyfour hours, it shall be subject to be taken up by the Chair, and presented for the consideration of the Senate, without a call or order on the subject.

41.

There shall be one Doorkeeper and one Assistant Doorkeeper of the Senate; and the Secretary may appoint two boys to attend in the Senate Chamber.

42.

CHOICE OF SEATS.

At nine o'clock on the morning of the first day of the session and before the Senate shall be called to order, the Secretary shall place in a box prepared for the purpose, fourteen ballots, designating by name the several counties in the State, and shall proceed to draw therefrom impartially one ballot at a time until all are drawn. And as each ballot is drawn the senator or senators from the counties designated by such ballot, shall personally, if present, or may by proxy if absent, select his or their seat or seats. If any senator or senators from any county so drawn should not be present either personally or by proxy at the time of such drawing, the county next drawn shall have preference.

43.

At each annual session the Senate shall appoint, in addition to the standing committees provided for in rule 17, a committee to consist of three senators, entitled the Committee on Federal Relations.

44.

The subject matter of each and every bill and resolution shall be briefly indicated in its title by the mover; and every bill and resolution shall be properly folded, and the name of the mover legibly written at the bottom of the same before its introduction.

The President laid before the Senate the following communication from his Excellency, the Governor :

STATE OF VERMONT,

Executive Chamber, Oct. 16, 1869.

To the President of the Senate:

}

SIR: I have the honor to transmit to the Senate, herewith, the Message which I have delivered in the presence of the two Houses.

The President laid before the Senate the annual Executive Message, which is as follows:

Gentlemen of the Senate

and House of Representatives:

Having been elected to the office of Chief Magistrate of this State, with a most earnest appreciation of the great responsibility, which the action of the people has imposed upon me, I have met with you, as required by the Constitution, to give to you such information and assistance, as may be in my power and be required by you to enable you faithfully to guard the interests of the Commonwealth, provide for the support of the government, and consider and decide upon such alterations and improvements, as you may deem necessary, of its laws and its policy,-trusting that in the performance of my duties I may enjoy your confidence, and, if need be, have the benefit of your kind forbearance, but above all, that we may each be gifted with that wisdom, which cometh only from God, without whose approval and assistance States, as well as individuals, are powerless for good, and whose acknowledgment and worship have been made by our fathers the corner stone of our Republic.

During the past year peace has prevailed throughout the land, contrasting most beautifully and significantly with the stormy excitement of the years of warfare for our National existence, through which we have so recently passed. The earth has yielded bountiful crops to its cultivators. No general epidemic, or disease, has prevailed within our borders. And business of all kinds has progressed without serious reverse, or financial disaster. For all which grateful thanks are due and should be reverently returned to the Divine Providence, from whence all blessings flow.

FINANCES.

The details of the present financial condition of the State and of the receipts and disbursements for the year are shown by the Reports of the Treasurer and of the Auditor of Accounts, which will be laid before you. The result may be briefly stated.

The total funded debt of the State at the present time is one million seventy-five thousand dollars, ($1,075,000.00,) -which sum, however, includes twenty-seven thousand five hundred dollars, ($27,500.00,) of bonds due in 1876 and 1878, which have been purchased by the Treasurer and have not been cancelled, but are held by him with a view of exchanging them, if found expedient, for bonds due in 1871. The excess of current liabilities over current resources is twenty-one thousand one hundred and eight dollars and forty-eight cents, ($21,108.48.) The present apparent total liability of the State is therefore one million ninety-six thousand one hundred and eight dollars and forty-eight cents, ($1,096,108.48.) But against this is to be offset the present amount of the sinking fund, which is seventy-five thousand six hundred and ninety-four dollars and two cents, ($75,694.02,) and twenty-seven thousand five hundred dollars, ($27,500.00) of bonds held by the Treasurer as before stated, making the net liability not provided for nine hundred and ninety-two thousand nine hundred and fourteen dollars and forty-six cents, ($992,914.46.) For all purposes, except that of exchange, these bonds held by the Treasurer may be treated as paid in determining the present financial condition of the State.

At the commencement of the year the funded debt was one million two hundred and twenty-seven thousand dollars, ($1,227,000.00.) The excess of current resources over current liabilities was seventeen thousand four hundred and five dollars and forty-nine cents, ($17,405.49.) Leaving the net liabilities at that time one million two hundred and nine thousand five hundred and ninety-four dollars and fifty-one cents, ($1,209,594.51.) But the amount of the sinking fund then on hand, which was fifty-nine thousand six hundred and thirty-seven dollars and seventy-one cents, ($59,637.71,) was applicable in reduction of that sum,leaving the net liabilities of the State, not then provided for, one million one hundred and forty-nine thousand nine hundred and fifty-six dollars and eighty cents, ($1,149,956.80.) The funded debt has been reduced during the year, one