MANUAL OF PARLIAMENTARY             PRACTICE.          43

seats himself at the clerk's table. Scob. 36. Their quorum is the same ms
that of the House, and if a defect happens, the chairman, on a motion and
question, rises, the Speaker resumes the chair, and the chairman can make
no other report than to inform the House of the cause of their dissolution.
If a message is announced during a committee, the Speaker takes the chair,
and receives it, because the committee cannot. 2 Hats., 125,126.
  In a Committee of the Whole, the tellers on a division, differing as to
num-
bers, great heats and confasion arose, and danger of a decision by the sword.
The Speaker took the chair, the mace was forcibly laid on the table; where-
upon the members retiring to their places, the Speaker told the House "he
had taken the cha-r without an order to bring the House into order."
Some
excepted against it; but it was generally approved, as the only expedient
to
suppress the disorder. And every member was required, standing up in his
place, to engage that he would proceed no further, in consequence of what
had happened in the grand committee, which was done. 3 Grey, 128.
  A Committee of the Whole being broken up in disorder, and the chair re-
sumed by the Speaker without an order, the House was adjourned. The next
day the committee was considered as thereby dissolved, and the subject again
before the House; and it was decided in the House, without returning into
committee. 3 Grey, 110.
  No previous question can be pat in a committee, nor can this committee
  adjourn as others may; but if their business is unfinished, they rise,
on a
  question, the House is resumed, and the chairman reports that the Committee
  of the Whole have, according to order, had under their consideration such
a
  matte:, a:d have made progress therein; but not having had time to go
  through the same, have directed him to ask leave to sit again. Whereupon
a
  question is put upon their having leave, and on the time the House will
again
  resolve itself into a committee. Scob., 38. But if they have gone through
  the matter referred to them, a member moves that the committee may rise,
  and the chairman report their proceedings to the House; which being resolved,
  the chairman rises, the spea-ker resumes the chair, the chairman informs
him
  that the committece have gone through the business referred to them, and
  that he is ready to make report when the House shall think proper to receive
  it. If the House have time to receive it, there is usually a cry of "Now,
  now," whereupon he makes the report; but if it be late, the cry is,
"To-mor-
  row, to-morrow," or "Monday," etc.; or a motion is made
to that effect, and
  a question put, that it be received to-morrow, etc. Scob., 38.
  1i other things the rules of uroceedings are to be the same as in the House.
  Seob., 10.
                           SECTION XIII.
                      EXAmXNATION OF WITNESSES.
   Common fame Is a good ground for the House to proceed by inquiry, and
 even to accusation. Resolution House of Commons, 1 Car., 1, 1624: .Rush.,
 L. Prl., 115; 1 Grey, 16-22, 92; Grey, 21, 23, 17, 45.
   Witnesses are not to be produced but where the House has previously in.