rapher may receive in addition to his fixed compensation. The stenographic notes of the debates shall be filed with the Clerk, and shall form a portion of the archives of the House. The Clerk of the Assembly is authorized to furnish said Stenographer with proper stenographic blank books in which to record said debates, not to exceed fifty dollars for any annual session of the Legislature.

Door-keeper and Assistants.

The business of the Door-keeper who also serves as assistant Sergeant-at Arms is to attend, in person, the main door or entrance to the floor of the House, to admit, no person who is not entitled to admission by the rules of the House, and to see that spectators are properly seated. He must see, also, that all the Assistant Doorkeepers are at their posts and attend properly to their duties. He should be in attendance, with every assistant, at least an hour before each meeting of the House, to see that no spectators are on the floor at the hour of meeting. He, together with one or more of his assistants, selected by rotation, should be in attendance during the recesses of the House, to prevent improper intrusion.

Postmaster and Assistant.

The business of the Postmaster is to take

charge of all letters and other mail matter deposited with him, and to send them to the city post-office before the closing of each principal mail; to receive from the city post-office all mail matter addressed to members and officers of the House, and to keep it in the box assigned to each in the Assembly Post-office, until called for or ordered by the person to whom it is addressed.

The first 128 boxes are assigned, in their order, to members occupying seats of a corresponding number.

The Postmaster or assistant must always be present in the post-office during office hours, viz.: from 8 A. M. to 9 P. M. each day, except Sunday, and from 8 to 10 A. M. and from 5 to 6 P. M. on that day.

Superintendent of Documents.

The business of the Superintendent of Documents is to receive from the printer all matter ordered by the respective Houses, and to keep a book and enter therein the time of reception by him of every such bill or document, and the number of copies received, and to cause each and any of such bill or document to be immediately placed on the desks of the members. He should keep a particular account of all documents he receives from the printer, and indexes of the various documents in his custody, with

their respective numbers, so that they may be easily referred to when required. He is required to keep the document room open, not only during the sessions of the House, but two hours before each session, and during the afternoon, to receive bills and documents from the printer, and see that they are placed on the files of members promptly.

Janitor and Assistant.

The duty of this officer is to see that the gas is lighted when needed during the sessions of the House or of its committes; to provide a supply of water for drinking and washing purposes, and to see that every thing connected therewith is kept in order; to wait upon committees when required; to carry books and stationery to and from the House, for the service of members or officers.

It is also the duty of this officer or assistant to attend in the Assembly Chamber and the rooms connected therewith, during all hours that they are open, to see that the property of the House or of members is not molested or abstracted; to observe whether the drawers of the members' desks are locked immediately upon their leaving the House, and, if not, to lock them and deliver the keys to their occupants; to gather up and preserve all loose property which members or others may leave on their

desks or about the House, and return the same to the owners.

Duties of certain Officers generally.

It is the duty of the Sergeant-at-Arms and assistant, the Door-keeper and every Assistant Door-keeper, the Janitor and assistant, to severally attend and officiate in the preservation of order, on all occasions when the Assembly Chamber is occupied by meetings of other bodies.

Books.

In the Clerk's room, adjoining the Assembly Chamber, is kept the Assembly library. This contains the journals and printed documents of the Legislature, from the organization of the government, the Revised Statutes and Session Laws of this State, and some other volumes of a public character, to which it is frequently necessary to refer. These are accessible to the members and officers of the House. One copy of each work is required to be kept at all times in the library.

Copies of the Revised Statutes are provided for each of the principal committees, which they may take to their rooms, but must return at the close of the session. This department is in the immediate charge of the Librarian and Assistant Librarian of the Assembly.

The State Library is in the rear of the Old

Capitol. The large collection of books here deposited is open to any member who wishes to draw; subject to no conditions, except the return of the books, in good order, within a reasonable time. This collection is in charge of the State Librarian.

RULES OF ORDER.

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Most of the questions ordinarily occurring in legislative business are specifically provided for by the standing rules of the House; but questions and complications of questions often arise for which no provision has been made. In the determination of these, the custom is to follow precedent, or the usual parliamentary practice, where it is known. Cushing's Manual" is the authority usually referred to in cases of this kind, because of its supposed applicability to most questions likely to occur in legislative business, and approaches more nearly, in the practice it lays down, to that which has of late years prevailed in the Assembly. A most valuable aid to members will be found in the Appendix prepared by Edward M. Johnson, clerk of the Assembly; also in the "Analysis and Classification of the Rules of Proceedings in the Legislature of the State of New York, with explanations of the practice and usages under them," prepared by Sherman Croswell, Esq., and which by contract with the State, is published annually for the use of the Legislature, and, by resolution of