XVI. parties to a suit who desire to produce such evidence, or any Chapter other document in the custody of officers of the house, in a court of law, petition the house, praying that the proper officer may attend, and produce it; and the term "proper officer" includes an official shorthand writer (see p. 199). The motion for leave may be moved without previous notice (see p. 245).1 During the recess, however, it has been the practice for the Speaker, in order to prevent delays in the administration of justice, to allow the production of minutes of evidence and other documents, on the application of the parties to a private suit. But should the suit involve any question of privilege, especially the privilege of a witness, or should the production of the document appear, on other grounds, to be a subject for the discretion of the house itself, he will decline to grant the required authority. During a dissolution the Clerk of the house sanctions the production of documents, following the principle adopted Evidence of by the Speaker. It has been held by the courts, that the courts. evidence of members of proceedings in the House of Commons is not to be received without the permission of the house, unless they desire to give it; 2 and, according to the usage of Parliament, no member is at liberty to give evidence elsewhere in relation to any debates or proceedings in Parliament, except by leave of the house of which he is a member.3 members in Examina tion of wit. nesses at the bar. of short minutes, When a witness is examined by the House of Commons, Attendance or by a committee of the whole house, he attends at the hand writer bar, which is then kept down. If the witness be not in to take custody, the mace remains upon the table; when, according see p. 414. to the strict rule of the house, the Speaker should put all the questions to the witness, and members should only suggest to him the questions which they desire to be put: 5 but, for the sake of avoiding the repetition of each question, members are usually permitted to address their questions directly to the witness, which, however, are still supposed 1 106 C. J. 212. 277; 107 ib. 291, &c. 2 Chubb v. Salomons, 3 Carring- 26. ton & Kirwan, 75. 3 18 H. D. 2 s. 968-974. 2 Hatsell, 140; but see 2 C. J. 31 ib. 536. XVI. Chapter to be put through the Speaker. When a witness is in the custody of the Serjeant-at-arms, or is brought from any prison in custody, it is the usual, but not the constant, practice for the Serjeant to stand with the mace at the bar. When the mace is on the Serjeant's shoulder, the Speaker has the sole management; and no member may speak, or even suggest questions to the chair. In such cases, therefore, the questions to be proposed should either be put in writing, by individual members, or settled upon motions in the house, and given to Mr. Speaker before the prisoner is brought to the bar. If a question be objected to, or if any difference should arise in regard to the examination of a witness, he is directed by the Speaker to withdraw, before a motion is made, or the matter is considered. In committee of the whole house, any member may put questions directly to the witness. Where counsel are engaged, the examination of witnesses is mainly conducted by them, subject to the interposition of questions by members; and where any question arises in regard to the examination, the parties, counsel, and witnesses are directed to withdraw. Attendance of members lords of Members of the house are always examined in their Members, by order of places; and peers, lords of Parliament, the judges, and Parlia the house, the lord mayor of London, have chairs placed for them see p. 64. within the bar, and are introduced by the Serjeant-at-arms.5 When a peer is examined before a select committee, it 1 146 H. D. 3 s. 97; 150 ib. 1063. 32 Hatsell, 142, and n. 4.66 Agreed that members ought not to be brought to the bar unless they are accused of any crime," 10 C. J. 46. On the 12th Jan. 1768, Wilkes being brought to the bar in custody, objected that he could not appear there without having taken the oaths: but his objection was overruled. S The same forms are observed when a peer desires to address the house, as in the case of Viscount Melville, 11th June, 1805, 5 H. D. 250; and Duke of Wellington, 1st July, 1814; Abbot's Speeches, 84; 2 Lord Colchester's Diary, 6-8. 6 2 Hatsell, 149, where all these forms are minutely described. ment, &c. Expenses of witnesses. XVI. is the practice to offer him a chair at the table, next to the Chapter When a witness is summoned at the instance of a party, The Lords have appointed a select committee to inquire into the expenses that should be allowed to witnesses, and have received their report in detail, before the items were agreed to.3 In 1873, the East India Finance committee resolved that the expenses of witnesses coming from India (not exceeding 10,000l.) should be paid out of the revenue of the United Kingdom.1 1 See Report, 1840, No. 555. Artisans, mechanics, and other persons of the poorer classes residing in or near London, have been paid, however, the equivalent of the wages or earnings necessarily lost by them by their attendance as witnesses, see report of select committee on Government Contracts (Fair Wages Resolution), Parl. Paper, sess. 1897, No. 93, p. xxv. A witness is allowed his actual travelling expenses, and for every day or part of a day that he is necessarily kept from home, at the following rates, viz. a barrister, physician, civil engineer, or architect, 31. 3s.; a solicitor, surgeon, or land surveyor, Parl. Paper, No. 194, sess. 1873. Chapter Upon a special report from the select committee on the Army and Navy Estimates, and with the sanction of the royal recommendation, a grant was made to provide for the remuneration of accountants who might be employed in behalf of the committee to examine and audit the expense accounts of the army and navy manufacturing departments.1 1 Parl. Paper, No. 289, sess. 1887, 142 C. J. 162. 271. 407; 143 ib. 95.96. Different modes of communi cation. duction. THE two houses of Parliament have frequent occasion to see Intro- Messages. A message is the most simple and frequent mode of Lords to the Commons. Messages from the The Commons sent messages to the Lords by one of their Commons Own members (generally the chairman of the committee of ways and means, or a member who had charge of a bill), who was generally accompanied by thirty or forty members.2 to the Lords. Inconvenience was caused by observance of these usages; and in 1855, the present method of communication between the year 1871, Princess Louise's Annuity Bill, 126 ib. 57. Messages touching bills relating to the Crown or royal family were formerly sent to the Commons by two judges, 80 C. J. 573; 86 ib. 514. 805. The last occasion when the Lords observed this custom took place in 2 D'Ewes, 447; Order and Course of Passing Bills in Parliament, 4to, 1641. |