1550. Petitions are usually presented by members of the same county. If they be concerning private persons, their names are generally affixed at the beginning thereof, and are also to be subscribed.2 1551. The averment of a member, or of somebody without doors, that they know the handwriting of the petitioners, is necessary, if it be questioned." 1552. It must be presented by a member, not by the petitioners, and must be opened by him, holding it in his hand. 1553. Regularly a motion for receiving it must be made and seconded, and a question put, whether it shall be received. But a cry from the House of "received," or even its silence, dispenses with the formality of this question. It is then to be read at the table, and disposed of.5 1554. The presentation of a petition is, of itself, a motion, that it shall be received. 1555. If the question of reception is ordered to lie on the table, the petition remains in the possession of the member offering to present it." 1556. Motions to read a petition may be debated in the same manner as other motions. 1557. If the chairman of a public meeting signs a petition on behalf of those assembled, it is only received as the petition of the individual, because the signature of one party for others cannot be recognised. 1558. Any forgery, or fraud in the preparation of petitions, or in the signatures attached, is a breach of privilege. 1559. The language of a petition should be respectful and temperate, and free from offensive imputations upon the cha racter, or conduct of Parliament,' or the courts of justice, or other tribunal, or constituted authority. 1560. It may not allude to debates in either House of Parlia 5 ment; nor to intended motions." 1561. Petitions have been received, which prayed that provision should be made for the compensation of petitioners, for losses contingent upon the passing of bills pending in Parliament." 1562. All petitions must be presented by a member of the House to which they are addressed.8 1563. In both Houses it is the duty of members to read petitions which are sent to them, before they are offered to the House, and to see that no flagrant violation of any of these rules is apparent on the face of them.9 1564. The discussion of a petition is not, in itself, introductory to legislative measures.10 1565. When petitions relate to any motion, or bill set down for consideration, a member may present them before the debate commences, at any time during the sitting of the House."1 1566. In the case of a bill, they should be offered immediately after the order of the day has been read.12 1567. It is not in order to present a petition on a subject pending before the House, upon which the previous question has been seconded.13 1568. A petition is to be construed favorably to the petitioners.14 1569. The character of a petition is to be inferred from the whole tenor of the language.15 1570. It is not in order to receive a petition against a bill for imposing a tax, or duty.1 1571. It is irregular to present a petition against a bill, or any measure, then pending before the House.? 1572. This rule has been confined to petitions against bills imposing a tax for the current services of the year. It has not been applied to petitions praying a repeal, or reconsideration of taxes imposed in a former session.3 1573. A petition which states any distress, and prays for relief out of the charity, or munificence of the public, should neither prescribe the amount, nor mention the fund out of which that relief may be granted. The prayer should be general. The nature and extent of the relief should be left to the consideration of the House.1 1574. If the petitions, and documents are different, they should be presented separately.5 1575. Where any portion of a petition is excluded from reception by any special, or standing rule, and a part is admissible, which, if received, and referred, will necessarily send the whole petition to the committee, it is not in order to receive any part of it.6 1576. If a petition is offered by the Chair, the same action of the House will be had as if presented by any other member. 1577. It is not a matter of right for any petition to be heard by counsel; it is discretionary with the House to admit this indulgence. 1578. Proceedings relative to election petitions, see C. L. & P. 1139, and ELECTION COMMITTEE. 1579. A petition, implicating the character, or conduct of any member, will not be received till notice thereof has been given to such member.9 13 Hats. 170. 29 Grey 438. 33 Hats. 174. 4 Ibid. 175. 5 1 Hans. 25. 859-861. Zieg. 112. 6 H. Jour. I. 28. 119, 120. 710 Reg. of Deb. part 1, 960, 1115, 1116. 8 26 Parl. His. 621. 92 Hans. 17. 302; 16 Ibid. 151; 3 Ibid. 36. 769, 855. 1580. Petitions received are referred to proper committees, which report upon the merits of each.1 1581. Proceedings on petitions when evidence is to be heard, see C. L. & P. 1168, et seq. 1582. Concerning the presentation of petitions, see Ibid. 1150, et seq. 1583. It is the undoubted right, and privilege of the House, to judge and determine touching the nature and matter of petitions, how far they are fit, or unfit to be received.2 1584. A petition should not be rejected unless upon the very face of the petition there appears to be something very frivolous, or impertinent.3 POSTPONE, MOTION TO. 1585. "This motion is of American origin, and first occurs in the House of Representatives of Congress, in 1806. 1586. "When a question is under debate, no motion shall be received, but "To adjourn. "To lie on the table. "For previous question. "To postpone to a day certain. "To commit or amend. "To postpone indefinitely. See MOTION. “Which several motions shall have precedence in the order in which they are arranged; and no motion to postpone to a day certain, to commit, or postpone indefinitely, being decided, shall be again allowed, on the same day at the same stage of the bill or proposition." 1587. "When a question is postponed indefinitely, the same shall not be acted upon again during the session.” 5 1588. The motion to postpone, under the practice, admits of but a very limited debate.1 1589. When the consideration of a subject is postponed to a particular day, upon the arrival of that day it is entitled to be taken up, provided no question of privilege, or other question of higher dignity be taken up.2 1590. The order cannot be regularly proceeded with until the day assigned.3 1591. In the case of a report of a committee, postponed to a day certain, and a failure to consider it on that day, it becomes a report undisposed of, to be first considered when reports are in order. And when two, or more reports are postponed to different days, and are not reached on those days, they are to be considered in the order of the times to which they are postponed.* 1592. The subject postponed need not be considered on the day fixed, if it is the pleasure of the House to amend, by inserting, instead of proceeding "now," some future time for its consideration.5 1593. If the order is only partly carried out, it may be adjourned, and, on resuming, the motion may then be withdrawn, or suppressed by the previous question. 1594. If the order is not proceeded with on the day assigned, it becomes a dropped order; then the subject-matter reverts to its original state, and proceedings, if renewed, must commence de novo.6 1595. A motion to postpone pending, when the House passes from the consideration of a bill, will not prevent it from going to the Speaker's table." 1596. A motion to postpone has precedence of the motion to refer.8 1597. If an order is dropped for want of a quorum, it continues in the same condition, and is taken up the next day without any further notice." 1 Cong. Globe II. 39. 1776. 2 Barclay 132. 3 H. Jour. I. 31. 405. 4 Barclay 132. 5 C. L. & P. 1380. Jeff. Man ? 33. 6 C. L. & P. 1384. 7 H. Jour. I. 32. 940. 8 Cong. Globe I. 38. 3140. |