45. When the reading of a paper is called for, and the same is objected to by any member, it shall be determined by a vote of the house. 46. The unfinished business in which the house was engaged at the last preceding adjournment shall have the preference in the orders of the day; and no motion on any other business, shall be received, without special leave of the house, until the former is disposed of. 47. Every order, resolution, or vote, to which the concurrence of the senate shall be necessary, shall be read to the house, and laid on the table, on a day preceding that in which the same shall be moved, unless the house shall otherwise expressly allow. 48. Petitions, memorials, and other papers addressed to the house, shall be presented by the speaker, or by a member in his place; a brief statement of the contents thereof shall be made verbally by the introducer; they shall not be de bated on the day of their being presented; nor on any day assigned by the house for the receipt of petitions after the first thirty days of the session; unless where the house shall direct otherwise, but shall lie on the table, to be taken up in the order in which they were presented. 49. A proposition requesting information from the president of the United States, or directing it to be furnished by the head of either of the executive departments, or by the post-master general, or to print an extra number of any document or other matter, excepting messages of the president to both houses at the commencement of each session of congress, and the reports and documents connected with or referred to in it, shall li table one day for consideration, unless otherwise ordered by the unanimous consent of the house; and all such propositions shall be taken up for consideration in the order they were presented, immediately after reports are called for from select committees; and, when adopted, the clerk shall cause the same to be delivered. 50. Any fifteen members (including the speaker, if there be one) shall be authorised to compel the attendance of absent members. 51. Upon calls of the house, or in taking the yeas and nays on any question, the names of the members shall be called alphabetically. 52. Any member may excuse himself from serving on any committee at the time of his appointment, if he is then a member of two other committees. 53. No member shall absent himself from the service of the house, unless he have leave, or be sick and unable to attend. 54. Upon the call of the house, the names of the members shall be called over by the clerk, and the absentees noted; after which, the names of the absentees shall again be called over, the doors shall then be shut, and those for whom no excuse, or insufficient excuses are made, may, by order of those present, if fifteen in number, be taken into custody as they appear, or may be sent for, and taken into custody, wherever to be found, by special messengers to be appointed for that purpose. 55. When a member shall be discharged from custody and admitted to his seat, the house shall determine whether such discharge shall be with or 45. When the reading of a paper is called for, and the same is objected to by any member, it shall be determined by a vote of the house. 46. The unfinished business in which the house was engaged at the last preceding adjournment shall have the preference in the orders of the day; and no motion on any other business, shall be received, without special leave of the house, until the former is disposed of. 47. Every order, resolution, or vote, to which the concurrence of the senate shall be necessary, shall be read to the house, and laid on the table, on a day preceding that in which the same shall be moved, unless the house shall otherwise expressly allow. 48. Petitions, memorials, and other papers addressed to the house, shall be presented by the speaker, or by a member in his place; a brief statement of the contents thereof shall be made verbally by the introducer; they shall not be de bated on the day of their being presented; nor on any day assigned by the house for the receipt of petitions after the first thirty days of the session; unless where the house shall direct otherwise, but shall lie on the table, to be taken up in the order in which they were presented. 49. A proposition requesting information from the president of the United States, or directing it to be furnished by the head of either of the executive departments, or by the post-master general, or to print an extra number of any document or other matter, excepting messages of the president to both houses at the commencement of each session of congress, and the reports and documents connected with or referred to in it, shall lie on the table one day for consideration, unless otherwise ordered by the unanimous consent of the house; and all such propositions shall be taken up for consideration in the order they were presented, immediately after reports are called for from select committees; and, when adopted, the clerk shall cause the same to be delivered. 50. Any fifteen members (including the speaker, if there be one) shall be authorised to compel the attendance of absent members. 51. Upon calls of the house, or in taking the yeas and nays on any question, the names of the members shall be called alphabetically. 52. Any member may excuse himself from serv. ing on any committee at the time of his appointment, if he is then a member of two other committees. 53. No member shall absent himself from the service of the house, unless he have leave, or be sick and unable to attend. 54. Upon the call of the house, the names of the members shall be called over by the clerk, and the absentees noted; after which, the names of the absentees shall again be called over, the doors shall then be shut, and those for whom no excuse, or insufficient excuses are made, may, by order of those present, if fifteen in number, be taken into custody as they appear, or may be sent for, and taken into custody, wherever to be found, by special messengers to be appointed for that purpose. 55. When a member shall be discharged from custody and admitted to his seat, the house shall determine whether such discharge shall be with or without paying fees; and in like manner, whether a delinquent member, taken into custody by a special messenger, shall, or shall not, be liable to defray the expense of such special messenger. 56. A sergeant-at-arms shall be appointed, to hold his office during the pleasure of the house, whose duty it shall be to attend the house during its sittings; 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. 57. The fees of the sergeant-at-arms shall be, for every arrest the sum of two dollars; for each day's custody and releasement, one dollar; and for travelling expenses for himself or a special messenger, going and returning, one-tenth of á dollar per mile. : 58. Twenty-seven standing committees shall be appointed at the commencement of each session, viz: To consist of nine Members each. A Committee of Elections. A Committee of Ways and Means. A Committee of Commerce, A Committee on the Public Lands. A Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. A Committee for the District of Columbia. A Committee on Revolutionary Claims. |