Page:Felt’s Parliamentary Procedure Upload 2.pdf/66

57. When an assembly has such committees all matters are on their first presentation usually referred without reading to the proper committees, because the reading of all such communications would consume too large a portion of the session, leaving but little time for action. If the committee is one for action, it should be small and consist of only those in favor of the proposed action, since if any member of the committee is hostile to the measure he cannot be expected to assist in perfecting it. When the committee is one for deliberation, or investigation, it should be larger and represent all parties, so that the fullest debate may be had in committee, and its opinion and recommendations, as contained in its report, carry as great weight as possible, because if any important faction is not represented the usefulness of the committee may be greatly impaired, and the chance of unpleasant debate in the assembly increased. In either case it is well to have a committee consist of an uneven number, in order to avoid a tie vote.