lowing is adopted: “That the Sergeant-atArms take into custody, and bring to the bar of the House, such of its members as are absent without the leave of the House.” A warrant signed by the presiding officer and attested by the clerk, with a list of absentees attached, is then given to the Sergeant-at-Arms,[1] who immediately proceeds to arrest the absentees. When he appears with members under arrest, he proceeds to the Chairman’s desk (being announced by the doorkeeper in large bodies), followed by the arrested members, and makes his return. The Chairman arraigns each member separately, and asks what excuse he has to offer for being absent from the sittings of the . assembly without its leave. The member states his excuse, and a motion is made that he be discharged from custody and admitted to his seat either without payment of fees or after paying the fees. Until a member has paid the fees assessed against him he cannot vote or be recognized by the Chair for any purpose.
- ↑ “It shall be the duty of the Sergeant-at-Arms to attend the House during its sittings; to aid in the enforcement of order, under the direction of the Speaker; to execute the commands of the House from time to time; together with all such process, issued by authority thereof, as shall be directed to him by the Speaker” (Rule 22 H. R.) The words ‘‘Sergeant-at-Arms” can be replaced in the order by “Chief of Police,” or whatever officer is to serve the process.
