Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

Mr. HARDIN moved to take up the following resolution for consideration:

Resolved, That no reports or other communications presented to the House shall be entered on the Journals and printed, except the Auditor’s and Treasurer’s reports, and reports from standing or select committees, unless by special order of the House; but the same shall be filed by the clerk and so entered on the Journal.

Mr. HARDIN explained the object of this motion, which was to prevent a great accumulation of printing expenses.

Mr. CAVARLY thought the exception opened a door to the printing of every thing. It proposed to print every thing under an exception. The better way was to print nothing without the order of the House, and to leave it to its discretion, without tramelling and shackling the House.

Mr. LINCOLN understood that if this resolution did not pass, the clerk was bound to put every report on the Journal.

Mr. WOODSON followed on the same side. His desire was to save all unnecessary expense. One-half of the reports printed were not read.

Mr. MURPHY, of Cook, moved to refer the resolution to the committee on public accounts and expenditures, which motion was agreed to.