he chairman has even
the appearance of being a partisan, he loses much of his ability to
control those who are on the opposite side of the question.* [The
unfortunate habit many chairmen have of constantly speaking upon
questions before the assembly, even interrupting the member who has the
floor, is unjustified by either the common parliamentary law, or the
practice of Congress. One who expects to take an active part in debate
should never accept the chair. "It is a general rule, in all
deliberative assemblies, that the presiding officer shall not
participate in the debate, or other proceedings, in any other capacity
than as such officer. He is only allowed, therefore, to state matters
of fact within his knowledge; to inform the assembly on points of order
or the course of proceeding, when called upon for that purpose, or when
he finds it necessary to do so; and on appeals from his decision on
questions of order, to address the assembly in debate." [Cushing's
Manual, page 106.] "Though the Speaker [chairman] may of right speak to
matters of order and be first heard, he is restrained from speaking on
any other subject except where the assembly have occasion for facts
within his knowledge; then he may, with their leave, state the matter of
fact." [Jefferson's Manual, sec. xvii, and Barclay's "Digest of the
Rules and Practice of the House of Representatives, U. S.," page 195.]]

The chairman should not only be familiar with parliamentary usage, and
set the example of strict conformity to it, but he should be a

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man of executive ability, capable of controlling men; and it should
never be forgotten, that, to control others, it is necessary to control
one's self. An excited chairman can scarcely fail to cause trouble in a
meeting.

A chairman will often find himself perplexed with the difficulties
attending his position, and in such cases he will do well to heed the
advice of a distinguished writer on parliamentary law, and recollect
that--"The great purpose of all rules and forms, is to subserve the
will of the assembly, rather than to restrain it; to facilitate, and not
to obstruct, the expression of their deliberate sense."

41. Clerk or Secretary [and the Minutes]. The recording officer is
usually called

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the "Clerk" or "Secretary,"* [When there are two secretar