rejected, another bill of the same argument and matter may not be renewed in the same House in the same session; but if a bill begun in one House, be disliked and refused in the other, a new bill of the same matter may be drawn and begun again in that House whereunto it was sent ; and if, a bill being begun in either House, and committed, it be thought by the committees that the matter may be better proceeded in by a new bill, it is likewise holden agreeable to order, in such case, to draw a new bill, and bring it into the House". In Grey's Debates, vol. ii. p. 389, it is said, that if a bill be rejected by a question, nothing of the same nature can be brought in again the same session; but you may withdraw the bill, in order to bring in another upon debate. And the practice seems now to be, when a bill is not properly prepared, for a member to notice it in the House, and move for the order respecting it to be discharged, that the bill may be withdrawn, and for leave to present a proper bill in the stead thereof. No private person can be heard against a bill, until a petition for that purpose has been presented to the House, and an order made in pursuance n Vide 25 C.J. 758, an estate bill from the Lords read once, and laid aside; and another bill, with the very same title, ordered immediately. See post. title, "Amendments." In such cases, no fresh fees are paid. thereof. thereof. When any opposition is expected, in order to defeat that opposition, the attendance of as many members as possible should be procured in every stage of the bill. When the principle of a bill is opposed, this is the proper stage to present a petition against it; and the petition is generally ordered to lie on the table till the second reading of the bill; and an order is also made for the parties to be at liberty to be heard by their counsel against the bill, at the time appointed for the second reading. In all cases where the King is interested as a party in any bill depending in either House of Parliament, either as patron of a living, or lord of the manor or soil, or in any other way, a print of such bill should be left at the Treasury, or with one of his Majesty's Secretaries of State, that the consent of the Crown may be procured; and if the property and interests thereof be properly secured, or an adequate compensation proposed to be made for them, it is usual for the Chancellor of the Exchequer, or some other member appointed by his Majesty, to acquaint the House, in the course of the bill (generally on the second or third reading), "That his Majesty having been informed of the purport of the said bill, gives his consent, as far as his Majesty's interest is concerned, and that the House may do therein as they shall think fit "." Until his Majesty's consent has been signified as above, the bill cannot pass; and therefore the sooner his Majesty's pleasure can be made known, the better. His Majesty's consent must be again signified by the Lord Chancellor, or one of the Secretaries of State in the House of Lords, and so, vice versa, when a bill originates with the Lords. AT THE LORDS. SECOND READING. "Die Veneris, 16 Novembris 1705-It is ordered by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, that for the future no private bill shall be read in this House a second time, until printed copies thereof be left with the clerk of the Parliaments, for the perusal of the Lords: And that one of the said copies shall be delivered to every person as shall be concerned in the said bill, before the meeting of the committee upon such bill; and in case of infancy, to be delivered to the guardian, or next relation of full age, not concerned in interest, or in the passing of the said bill: And that this order be added to the roll of standing orders, and printed and published, to the end all persons concerned may take notice thereof." When the bill is printed, twelve prints should be left left at the Parliament-office, or at the House of Lords, to be laid on the table; and if the bill be printed soon enough, and there be no opposition" to it, it may be read a second time the day following the first reading, by applying to a Lord to move for that purpose. When a petition has been presented, praying to be heard by counsel against the bill, and an order has been made for that purpose, counsel should attend at the House of Lords on the day appointed for the second reading; and they will be called to the bar to be heard against the bill. After the second reading of a bill, if it be the opinion of the majority of the Lords present, that the bill should be committed, it will be committed, in particular cases, to a committee of the whole House, but more usually to a select committee, which is ge. nerally formed of the Lords then present; so that it is advisable to procure the attendance of such Lords on the second reading, as are proposed to form the committee; otherwise, in order to give any Lords who were not present on the second reading, a voice in the committee, the House must be moved, "that all the Lords who have attended in the then session, be added to the committee," or "that the original order of commitment be waived, and that the bill be committed to all the Lords who have attended in the then present session." Request being made to a Lord for that purpose, he will get the bill committed for any particular day that may best suit all parties; and should any thing prevent the meeting of the committee on the day appointed, the committee may sit on any subsequent day. The fees payable upon all bills, are due on the second reading thereof; and the officers of the House have a right to withhold a bill from being read a second time, until the fees are paid, or some person is answerable for the paying of them P. Previous to the meeting of the committee, every person who is to give evidence before the committee, must be sworn at the bar of the House of Lords; and for this purpose the same steps are to be taken, as are pointed out for the swearing of witnesses to give evidence before the judges; but no certificate of their having been sworn is required. See in L. J. 22 v. 628, a list of fees payable to the offi. cers of that House for every private bill. Vide 13 C. J. 356, a table of fees payable on the passing of private bills in the House of Commons: also standing order of 24th June 1801. Vide 28 L. J. 520, and 26 Ć. J. 278, the rule observed in ascertaining the quantum of fees due for each particular bill. Vide in 2 Hats. 268, a collection of bills that paid fees, though public in their operation. 10 C. J. 290, Sir Thomas Armstrong's bill ordered to pass without paying fees, HOUSE |