PRINTED VOTES OF THE HOUSE. (Hansard, 26 March 1817)

§ The Speaker

stated, that with the leave of the House, he should submit to its consideration the adoption, as he had last night noticed, of some more convenient and expeditious mode of publishing and delivering to the members the printed votes. Since the reign of Charles 2nd, when in the year 1680, the printing of its votes was first established, the duty of superintending their publication was vested in the Speaker for the time being. He, however, should not feel himself warranted in any deviation from the established usage, without having the previous sanction of the House. Since the accession of his present majesty, until the period of the Union, the business of that House had increased threefold. From the Union to the present time that increase was fivefold. From this consideration he had directed his attention to ascertain whether or not the publication of the votes and of the journals might not be effected in some more compressed form, so as to have their delivery take place at a much earlier period than was possible under the present system, and at a reduced expense in the charge of printing, which now amounted to some thousands. He was now satisfied that the 1274 printed votes under the new arrangement, could be delivered the morning after the decision, and that they might also contain the orders of the day, the notices, and the second readings of private bills. The consequence of the arrangement in the votes would give such an accession of assistance in the preparation of the printed journals, that in their new form they would be also ready for delivery a week after the termination of the session, and not, as at present, continue so long delayed. If the proposition should meet the sanction of the select committee, to which it might be deemed adviseable to refer it, he should submit the propriety of a speedy decision, in order that such exertions might be made during the recess, as would allow the new arrangement to be tried as an experiment during the residue of the session [Hear, hear!].