READING PAPERS.
Where papers are laid before the House, or referred to a committee,
every member has a right to have them once read at the table, before
he can be compelled to vote on them. But it is a great, though common
error, to suppose that he has a right, _toties quoties_, to have acts,
journals, accounts, or papers, on the table, read independently of the
will of the House. The delay and interruption which this might be made
to produce, evince the impossibility of the existence of such a right.
There is indeed so manifest a propriety of permitting every member to
have as much information as possible on every question on which he is to
vote, that when he desires the reading, if it be seen that it is really
for information, and not for delay, the Speaker directs it to be read
without putting a question, if no one objects. But if objected to, a
question must be put.--2 _Hats._ 117, 118.
It is equally an error to suppose, that any member has a right, without
a question put, to lay a book or paper on the table, and have it read,
on suggesting that it contains matter infringing on the privileges of
the House.--2 _Hats._ 117, 118.
For the same reason, a member has not a right to read a paper in his
place, if it be objected to, without leave of the House. But this rigor
is never exercised but where there is an intentional or gross abuse of
the time and patience of the House.
A member has not a right even to read his own speech, committed to
writing, without leave. This also is to prevent an abuse of time; and
therefore is not refused, but where that is intended.--2 _Grey_, 227.
A report of a committee of the Senate on a bill from the House of
Representatives being under consideration, on motion that the report of
the committee of the House of Representatives on the same bill be read
in the Senate, it passed in the negative.--Feb. 28, 1793.
Formerly, when papers were referred to a committee, they used to be
first read; but of late, only the titles; unless a member insists they
shall be read, and then nobody can oppose it.--2 _Hats._ 117.