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, or have it read, on
suggesting that it contains matter infringing on the privileges of the
House. _Ib._
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_, 226.
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 number insist that they
shall be read, and then nobody can oppose it. 2 _Hats._, 117.