Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 27, 1974
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 27, 1974
[00.06.35--cut to committee room] The CHAIRMAN. The committee will come to order. 'The Chair wishes to announce that pursuant to the policy adopted when we considered the rule of procedure for this debate, that it contemplated that there be general debate for a period not to exceed ours and that it -was understood as agreed policy that the balance the time for the consideration of amendments to the articles would consume more than 20 hours. The Chair -wishes to point out that having commenced with the consideration of the articles yesterday for purposes of amendment, 12 hours have already been consumed of that time. However, as the committee certainly understands, the committee can extend time for consideration of the articles for purposes of amendment until -we have resolved the entire question. The Chair would like to state that in the light of some of the motions to strike -which are presently before the Chair, the Chair intends to recognize after a motion to strike has been proffered as an amendment to article I and to each paragraph thereafter that after an hour's debate has expired, the Chair is going to entertain a motion to move the question and that the question will then be in order. Mr. HUTCHINSON. Will the chairman yield? The CHAIRMAN. I recognize the gentleman from Michigan. Mr. HUTCHINSON. I thank the chairman for yielding. I Would not want there to be any misunderstanding about the time limited for debate. MY recollection is, Mr. Chairman, that in earlier version of the rule which was adopted, there was a 20-hour limitation for amendment but that in the final version the wording was worked around the concept of the 5-minute rule and the provision does not limit debate to a total of 20 hours, and that while there was an expression of hope that it could be accomplished in that length of time, still if 12 hours have already been consumed and we have not yet disposed of article I, it becomes very obvious, Mr. Chairman. that it will be necessary to consume more than 20 hours to handle these articles and in order to extend, beyond 20 hours, Mr. Chairman, I do not think it would take any formal action of the committee to extend the time for debate beyond that 20 hours. With regard to limiting debate on a motion to strike to 1 hour Mr. Chairman, an I would indicate that I certainly would interpose an objection to that. Mr. SANDMAN. Mr. Chairman, reserving the right to object- The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Sandman. Mr. SANDMAN. [continuing]. And I shall not object, I would like to say, and I hope that others will agree who took the position I did yesterday that the argument, was exhausted as far as I am concerned yesterday on the articles of impeachment along the line that I suggested. A vote has been taken. There. are amendments on the desk that have my name on them and I would like to withdraw those because they are aimed at the same point of law that we discussed at great length yesterday. It is my hope, Mr. Chairman, that we will be able to proceed with article I with the degree of discipline that existed yesterday and with last night, no doubt continuing today. There is no way that the outcome of this vote is going to be changed by debate and 1, therefore, hope that; we can with dispatch cover the Sarbanes substitute and there will be no objections from me, no amendments from me, nor will there be any motions to strike from me. [00.11.44]