meet in Washington to settle the difficulties between the two
governments arising from the spoliations of the Alabama.
” 16—Catacazy, the Russian Minister, called home at the
request of our government.
” 29—Investigation of abuses in the New York city government
commences. W. M. Tweed surrenders to the sheriff.
1872.
Jan. 2—Brigham Young arrested on a charge of murder.
Mar. 7—Trial and conviction of Kuklux prisoners in Ala.; 3
sentenced to imprisonment for 20 years.
Apr. 1—The colored people celebrate the adoption of 15th
Amendment.
May 3—Horace Greeley nominated for President by a convention
at Cincinnati, O.
” 22—The General Amnesty Bill signed by the President.
” 30—Graves of the Union soldiers decorated throughout the
country.
June 6—Grant and Wilson nominated for President and
Vice-President.
” 26—Trial of Stokes for the murder of Fisk begun. After
several trials he was condemned to imprisonment for murder.
July 24—Spotted-Tail and other western Indians visit
Washington.
Aug. 16—Yellow Fever appears at New York.
Sept. 2—Father Hyacinthe, a liberal French Catholic priest,
marries an American lady.
” 14—The arbitrators of the Alabama Claims, to whom the case
had been submitted, and who had been two months sitting at
Geneva, Switzerland, announced their award. The United
States was to receive $15,500,000 in gold.
Oct. 14—Wm. H. Seward, one of our most distinguished
statesmen, is this day buried at Auburn, N. Y.
” 25—About this time the Horse disease commences, and spreads
rapidly over the whole country.
Nov. 5—In the presidential election on this day President
Grant is re-elected.
” 9—A great fire in Boston, Mass. Loss $75,000,000 in
buildings and merchandise. Insurance $50,000,000.
In this month and December following storms of extreme
severity caused great loss of life and property. An overflow
of the river Po, in Italy, rendered 40,000 persons homeless.
In the Baltic Sea 80 vessels were wrecked, some islands were
inundated, and all their inhabitants drowned. It was not less
severe on the coasts of England and Ireland.
” 29—Horace Greeley, recent candidate for President of the U.
S., died, aged 62 years.
Dec. 11—The King of the Sandwich Islands, Kamehameha V.,
died, leaving no heir.
” 12—The actor, Edwin Forrest, dies, at Philadelphia.
” 17—Edward A. Pollard, editor and author, died.
Important investigations of abuses in New York city and in
the conduct of the Pacific Railway are made this winter, and
many healthy reforms inaugurated. The order of Patrons of
Husbandry becomes popular among agriculturists, and spreads
rapidly, through the coming year.
1873.
Jan. 7, 8, 9—A dreadful snow storm occurs in Minnesota, by
which 70 lives are lost.
” 9—The ex-Emperor Napoleon III. dies at Chiselhurst, in
England, aged 64 years.
” 31—At Chicago, Ill., Joel A. Matteson, ex-governor of
Illinois, died.
Feb. 1—M. F. Maury, formerly distinguished in the U. S. Naval
service, dies at Lexington, Va.
” 9—J. W. Geary, ex-Governor of Penn., died at Harrisburg.
” 15—Steamer Henry A. Jones burned in Galveston Bay, Texas.
21 lives lost.
Mar. 3—Congress enacted a law increasing their pay, that of
the President, and various officers of the government. It
extended over the whole previous term of the 42d Congress,
commencing March 4th, 1871. This law was very offensive to
the mass of the people.
” 4—The wreck of the Alaska mail steamer, Geo. S. Wright,
is reported at Portland, Oregon. All on board, 23 persons,
perished.
” 16—The Boston steamer, Grace Irving, foundered. 8 lives
lost.
” 17—Great fire at Lawrenceburg, Ky.
” 19—San Salvador, Central America, destroyed by an
earthquake. Property destroyed estimated at from $12,000,000
to $20,000,000; and 500 lives lost.
Apr. 1—Steamer Atlantic wrecked near Halifax, N. S. 535 lives
lost.
May 5—James Orr, American Minister to Russia, died, at St.
Petersburg, aged 51.
” 4—An iron bridge at Dixon, Ill., crowded with people
witnessing a baptism, fell, killing and drowning 100 persons.
” 7—Salmon P. Chase, Chief Justice of the U. S., died in New
York, aged 65.
” 8—Hon. Oakes Ames, M. C., died at North Easton, Mass., aged
69.
John Stuart Mill, a celebrated English philosopher and
author, died at Avignon, France.
” 30—A second great fire in Boston, Mass.
June 28—Hon. Horace F. Clark, prominent in railway
enterprises, died in New York.
” 27—Hiram Powers, the distinguished American sculptor, died
in Florence, Italy.
” 29—Jesse R. Grant, father of the President, died.
July 4—Severe storm, very destructive to crops in Ohio,
Indiana, Wisconsin and Missouri. 20 persons drowned in Green
Lake, Wisconsin.
Aug. 2—Great fire at Portland, Oregon. Loss $1,500,000.
” 24—A storm of unprecedented severity raged on the coast
of British America, and, at the same time, on the coast of
Mexico. More than 100 vessels were destroyed in and near the
gulf of St. Lawrence. Some populous islands were quite laid
waste. 176 sailing vessels and 12 steamers were lost in the
Gulf of Mexico.
Sept. 15—The propeller Ironsides foundered in Lake Michigan.
31 lives lost.
The Patrons of Husbandry organize about this time at the rate
of near 1,000 granges a month.
In this month commenced a most serious financial panic at New
York, that spread over the whole country.
Oct. 26—J. C. Heenan, the prize fighter, died on the Union
Pacific R. R.
Nov. 6—Gen. Sickles, U. S. Minister to Spain, telegraphs to
Washington the capture of the Virginius by the Cubans.
” 8—Stephen R. Mallory, former Sec. of the Confederate Navy,
died, aged 63.
” 19—John P. Hale, of N. H., a statesman of some celebrity,
died.
” 22—The steamship Ville du Havre run into and sunk by the
Loch Earn in mid ocean. 226 lives lost.
” 27—Richard Yates, ex-U. S. Senator and ex-Governor of
Illinois, died at St. Louis, aged 55.
Dec. 1—The 43rd Congress assembles for its first session.
” 14—Louis Agassiz, a distinguished naturalist and man of
science, died at Cambridge, Mass.
1874.
Jan.—The U. S. government narrowly escaped a war with
Spain on account of the taking of the Virginius by Cuban
authorities. That vessel was sailing under the American
flag which was violated by its capture. 54 men were shot
as pirates, some of them American citizens. The Spanish
government disavowed the act, and gave up the vessel, Dec.
16th, 1873. It was so much damaged as to sink while on the
way to the United States.
” 2—A Revolution in Spain overthrows the government of Señor
Castelar.
” 5—The President sends a message to Congress concerning the
Spanish difficulty, now substantially settled.
” 8—U. S. Senate repeals the bill of March 3rd, 1873,
increasing the pay of members of Congress.
” 9—Hon. Caleb Cushing nominated Chief Justice of the U. S.
Supreme Court.
” 14—Nomination of Caleb Cushing recalled.
” 17—Death of the Siamese twins.
” 19—Morrison R. Waite, of Ohio, was nominated by the
President as Chief Justice and confirmed afterward by the
Senate.
” 27—Reliable intelligence of the death of David Livingstone,
the African explorer, reaches England.
Feb. 4—The seventh annual meeting of the National Grange
of the Patrons of Husbandry occurs in St. Louis, Mo. 8,000
subordinate granges have been added during the year. The
Executive Committee state that farmers had saved $8,000,000
during the year by their co-operative system.
Mar. 8—Ex-President Fillmore died, in Buffalo, N. Y.
” 11—Death of Hon. Charles Sumner, a distinguished statesman
and Senator from Mass., in Washington. He was born in
Boston, Mass., Jan. 6th, 1811, and was 63 years old. He was
of a patriotic race which originated in the county of Kent,
England. His grandfather was a Major distinguished for valor
in the Revolutionary army. Charles Sumner graduated from
Harvard College in 1830, was admitted to the bar in 1834, and
became highly distinguished as a lawyer. He succeeded Daniel
Webster in the U. S. Senate in 1851, in which he remained
till his death, being always conspicuous as one of the
foremost leaders in public affairs.
” 24—A bill increasing the currency to $400,000,000 passed in
the U. S. House of Representatives by 168 to 77.
Apr. 1—The U. S. debt officially stated to be
$2,152,690,728.62. Decrease of debt during March, 1874,
$2,189,338.46.
” 14—The Senate bill increasing the currency passes the House
of Representatives. Many protests from different parts of the
country are presented against it as injurious to the credit
and interests of the country. The discussion of this measure
has occupied much of the time of Congress for some months.
” 18—The funeral of Livingstone, the lamented African
explorer, takes place in London, England, where his remains
had arrived. He was interred in Westminster Abbey, as a mark
of distinguished honor.
” 17—Gov. Wm. B. Washburn is elected by the Mass. Legislature
to represent the State in the U. S. Senate, made vacant by
the death of Charles Sumner.
” 22—President Grant vetoes the Currency Bill increasing the
issues of paper money, which defeats the measure, its friends
in Congress not being numerous enough to pass it over the
veto.
” 24—The Congressional committee on Transportation,
after long and careful investigation, advised government
_oversight_ of Railroads, but against government _ownership_.
” 28—Congress voted $90,000 in aid of sufferers by the
inundation of the lower Mississippi.
May 7—$100,000 were added to the above sum for the same
purpose.
” 19—The system of payments to informers in customs revenue
cases, repealed. That system appeared to have been very
grossly abused.
” ”—The conflict in Arkansas ended in the retreat of Brooks
and the reinstatement of Gov. Baxter.
” ”—The New York Legislature passed a Compulsory Education
Bill, which became a law in that state.
June 1—Mr. Richardson, Secretary of the Treasury, resigned.
Gen. Benj. H. Bristow of Ky., was appointed to succeed him.
” ”—The number of subordinate Granges of the Patrons of
Husbandry is 19,492. The number of Patrons who are voters is
estimated at 1,000,000.
” 23—Congress adjourned. The sums appropriated at this
session for carrying on the government amounted to
$189,784,346.25. The largest item was for the Post Office
Department—over $41,000,000.
” 24—Postmaster-General, John A. J. Creswell resigned, and
Hon. Marshall Jewell was appointed in his place.
” 25—Telegraphic communication between the United States and
Brazil introduced by congratulatory messages between the
Emperor of Brazil and the President of the U. S.
July 8—Message of Gov. Davis of Minnesota to the Sec. of War,
announcing the entire destruction of crops in many counties
of that state by grasshoppers.
” 14—Another great fire in Chicago. Loss over $4,000,000.
Gen Custer, commanding an exploring expedition in the Black
Hills of Dacotah, reported discoveries of rich gold mines
there.
” 27—An International Congress for mitigating the sufferings
of war by means of an International Code of Laws, convened
at Brussels, in Belgium.
Aug. 19—A riot between whites and blacks in Kentucky,
resulted in several murders of blacks. The Gov. called out
the militia to restore order.
Sept. 2—400 Mormons sail from England for this country en
route to Utah.
” 5—Gen. Sherman orders Military head quarters of the U. S.
Army removed from Washington to St. Louis, Mo.
” 5—The one hundredth anniversary of the first meeting of the
Continental Congress in Philadelphia, celebrated.
” 7—Great fire at Meiningen, Germany. Loss in buildings
alone, $3,000,000.
” 13—Guizot, a celebrated French author and statesman, died,
aged 87.
” 14—The white League, a secret organization opposed to the
enfranchisement of the colored people, produced a conflict in
New Orleans. 17 were killed and 32 wounded in a street fight,
and the State government completely overthrown.
” 16—President Grant interfered by proclamation and the
government
” 18—was surrendered to the regular authorities, under
protest.
Oct. 13—Elections held in 6 states returned 12 democratic
Congressmen more than the previous number.
Nov. 3—Elections in 23 states give a strong democratic gain,
indicating a reaction against the government. A sense of
the necessity of reform in various ways, and of greater
purity and integrity of administration was wide spread. It
had caused, in part, the rapid growth of the Patrons of
Husbandry, and was again expressed by political reaction. It
was a significant rebuke to those in power. A typhoon, or
hurricane at Hong Kong, China, Sept. 22-23, destroyed 30,000
lives and $50,000,000 of property.
Europe is making great political improvements. In France,
during the last three years, out of 184 elections to
fill vacancies in the National Assembly, 152 have been
republican—only 32 monarchists, and in Russia the government
has decided to enforce compulsory education.
Dec. 1—The number of Granges in the United States is 21,472.
” 7—The last session of the forty-third Congress commenced.
The President’s Message strongly recommends early resumption
of specie payments.
” 12—Kalakaua, King of the Sandwich Islands, reached
Washington on a visit. He was received by the President on
the 15th and by Congress on the 18th.
” 21—Disturbances at Vicksburg, Miss., called out a
proclamation from the President.
” 28—Gerrit Smith, a distinguished abolitionist and
philanthropist, died in New York, aged 78.
1875.
Jan. 1—Monarchy was restored in Spain. Alphonso XII, son of
the ex-queen Isabella, was proclaimed King, and received the
support of the army and navy. It was only a few months before
that most of the European governments recognized the Spanish
Republic.
” 4—Gen. Sheridan took command of the Department of the Gulf,
at New Orleans. On that day the Legislature of Louisiana was
organized, and United States troops, acting under the orders
of the speaker and of Gov. Kellogg, ejected several members
who, it was alleged, were not entitled to seats. It produced
much excitement throughout the country, the opposition
denouncing it as an unexampled interference of the Federal
Executive with State government. Congress sustained the
action of the President, but exerted its influence to quiet
the excitement in Louisiana, and a compromise was effected
under which it gradually ebbed away.
” 12—Toung-tchi, Emperor of China, died, aged 19 years.
The emigrants arriving at the port of New York during the
year 1874, numbered 149,762; a decided falling off, the
arrivals having for some years, amounted to 250,000. The
governments of Germany are endeavoring to remove the causes
of emigration which threatens to affect their resources
seriously.
Feb. 3—A proposed reciprocity treaty with Canada, was
rejected by the Senate.
” 5—The civil rights Bill, adopted by the Senate during the
last session, was amended by an omission relating to schools
and adopted by the House. It was accepted by the Senate Feb.
27th, and signed by the President, March 1st.
” 25—A Republic was definitely recognized in France.
Mar. 2—A Bill increasing the Tariff was passed by the Senate.
Gen. Lorenzo Thomas of the U. S. army died, aged 71.
” 3—A law admitting Colorado as a state was passed.
” 4—A law, passed in haste in the last hours of the session,
restored the Franking Privilege to members of Congress until
Dec. 1, and increased the postage on newspapers and packages
for the people. The forty-third Congress came to a close.
” 5—The Senate convened in extra session in accordance with
a call previously made by the President. G. S. Orth was
confirmed U. S. Minister to Austria, and Horace Maynard U. S.
Minister to Turkey.
” 10—A new treaty with Belgium was ratified.
” 18—The Senate ratified the treaty with Hawaii, which
renders the interests of the Sandwich Islands substantially
identical with those of the United States.
” 20—A destructive tornado in Georgia caused great loss of
life and property.
” 24—The Senate, after officially approving the action of the
President in Louisiana, closed its special session.
F. E. Spinner, United States Treasurer, resigned, and John C.
New, of Ind. was appointed his successor.
Apr. 19—The centennial anniversary of the battle of Lexington
was celebrated with great interest. This battle was the
first decisive step in the War of Independence. Its scenes
and their consequences were dwelt on by some of the most
distinguished literary Americans, and honored by the presence
of the President of the United States and many of its most
eminent authorities.
” 23—Three Steamers burned at New Orleans, in which fifty
lives were lost.
” 28—A fire at Oshkosh, Wis., destroyed a square mile of the
city. Loss in property over $2,000,000.
May 7—A Bill for suppressing religious orders introduced into
the German Parliament. It subsequently became a law.
The Steamship Schiller was wrecked on the coast of Great
Britain. Three hundred and eleven lives were lost.
” 10—Centennial anniversary of the capture of Fort
Ticonderoga by Ethan Allen.
” 15—Attorney General Williams resigned and Judge Edwards
Pierrepont was appointed his successor.
” 17—John C. Breckenridge, formerly Vice President of the
United States, and a general in the Confederate army during
the Civil War, died, aged 54.
” 18—A fearful earthquake in New Granada, South America. The
city of Cucuta was completely destroyed; between two and
three thousand lives were lost and more than $8,000,000 of
property destroyed.
” 20—Celebration of the Mecklenburg, N. C., Declaration of
Independence, with great enthusiasm.
” 30—The Steamer Vicksburg, on a voyage from Canada to
England, was wrecked in a field of ice. 80 lives were lost.
June 17—Centennial anniversary of the battle of Bunker Hill
was celebrated with great eclat. Its most interesting feature
was the fraternal spirit manifested by the North and South
toward each other. Several Southern States were represented
by bodies of soldiers.
” 30—Business failures since Jan. 1, of this year reported at
3,377, with liabilities amounting in all to $74,940,869.
July 8—Gen. Frank P. Blair, Jun., died in St. Louis, aged 54.
” 18—Lady Franklin, widow of Sir John Franklin, the
unfortunate Arctic Explorer, died in England, aged 70.
Great loss of life and property has been caused in France
by floods. In two cities alone the damage is estimated at
$20,000,000, and in the south of France at $75,000,000.
Other parts of Europe have suffered heavily from the same
cause.
” 23—Isaac Merrit Singer, inventor of the Sewing Machine of
that name, died in London, England, aged 64.
The most prominent political issue of the time is hard
money and currency. A Democratic convention in Md., and a
Republican convention in Minn., each, yesterday and to-day,
adopted a hard money platform. Ohio and Pa. democratic
conventions afterwards declared for paper money.
” 31—Ex-President Andrew Johnson died in Tenn., aged 67. He
was recently elected U. S. Senator from Tennessee.
Aug.—The Gov. of Tenn. appointed Hon. D. M. Key, to fill the
vacancy in the Senate caused by Andrew Johnson’s death.
” 4—Republican government in France was strengthened by the
passage of a Bill constituting a Senate.
The census of population in Louisiana, gives 850,390, an
increase of over 15 per cent. since 1870. The excess of
increase of colored over white population has been 45,668.
The census in Wisconsin gives a population of 1,236,090,
being an increase of 17⅓ per cent. since 1870.
” 26—The Bank of California suspended payment. It has long
been the leading bank in the Pacific States.
” 27—W. C. Ralston, president of the Bank of California, was
drowned while bathing.
Sept. 1—Violent disturbances in Mississippi between whites
and blacks result in many deaths.
” 7—The Governor of Miss. called on the President for federal
aid to protect citizens and restore order.
CHAPTER XXX.
PARLIAMENTARY RULES.
We give in this chapter the Standing Rules and Orders for conducting
business in the House of Representatives of the United States, as a
proper compend of parliamentary rules for the people of the United
States. They are naturally a standard of procedure in all public bodies
in this country so far as the circumstances are parallel; they have been
carefully compiled and adopted by our highest popular Legislative Body
during the course of more than three-quarters of a century, and may
therefore be considered thoroughly well adapted to the genius of our
people and the character of our institutions; and they were originally
based on Jefferson’s Manual, compiled by him for the use, and at the
request of the Senate when, as Vice-President of the United States, he
became its presiding officer, and was digested by him from the usages of
the English Parliament and other Legislative bodies in Europe.
The value of this manual is attested by its use continued to the present
day, so far as it is applicable. The Rules of the House are therefore
representative of the wisdom of the Old World on this point as well as of
the usages of the New.
They deserve to be carefully studied by American citizens above any other
body of parliamentary rules for several reasons besides those mentioned
above. Hardly any other will be likely to contain so many points of
adaptation to popular use; every one should be fairly acquainted with
the prevailing usages that he may be ready to act his part well if
called on to preside in any public meeting; all who read the reports of
congressional doings require such acquaintance with parliamentary usage
to fully appreciate many points in such reports, and these Rules are a
fine illustration of the spirit of our government and the genius of the
American people.
We see, in the most impressive manner, that the utmost pain is taken to
make Legislative work orderly, decorous, and as rapid as is consistent
with due care that what is done shall be well and carefully done; that
no pains are spared, _in regulations_, that every legislator shall have
the means of knowing all that is his special business to know; and we
discover that proper care is taken to see that economy and faithfulness
are constantly observed by all the officers of the government. If this
is not always actually the case there is, at least, no fault in the
_arrangements, rules and orders_ to that effect. All the people should
know to what they may properly hold their Representatives accountable,
and they will be prepared to judge of the extent of obedience or
transgression. The Rules are just and good. Let the people see that they
are properly observed.
The House of Representatives has 160 Rules, the Senate 52, and the
Joint Rules of the House and Senate, regulating their intercourse with
each other, number 22. Whatever of difference exists between them is
unimportant after due allowance is made for the different character and
constitution of the two bodies. The principles on which they are founded
are identical.
STANDING RULES AND ORDERS FOR CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES.
THE DUTY OF THE SPEAKER.
1. He shall take the chair every day precisely at the hour to which the
House shall have adjourned on the preceding day; shall immediately call
the members to order; and, on the appearance of a quorum, shall cause the
journal of the preceding day to be read.
2. He shall preserve order and decorum; may speak to points of order in
preference to other members, rising from his seat for that purpose; and
shall decide questions of order, subject to an appeal to the House by any
two members—on which appeal no member shall speak more than once, unless
by leave of the House.
3. He shall rise to put a question, but may state it sitting.
4. Questions shall be distinctly put in this form, to wit: “As many as
are of opinion that (as the question may be) say _Aye_;” and after the
affirmative voice is expressed, “As many as are of the contrary opinion
say _No_.” If the Speaker doubt, or a division be called for, the House
shall divide; those in the affirmative of the question shall first rise
from their seats, and afterwards those in the negative. If the Speaker
still doubt, or a count be required by at least one-fifth of the quorum
of the members, the Speaker shall name two members, one from each side,
to tell the members in the affirmative and negative—which being reported,
he shall rise and state the decision to the House.
5. The Speaker shall examine and correct the journal before it is read.
He shall have a general direction of the hall, and the unappropriated
rooms in that part of the capitol assigned to the House shall be subject
to his order and disposal until the further order of the House. He shall
have a right to name any member to perform the duties of the chair, but
such substitution shall not extend beyond an adjournment.
6. No person shall be permitted to perform divine service in the chamber
occupied by the House of Representatives, unless with the consent of the
Speaker.
7. In all cases of ballot by the House, the Speaker shall vote; in other
cases he shall not be required to vote, unless the House be equally
divided, or unless his vote, if given to the minority, will make the
division equal; and in case of such equal division, the question shall be
lost.
8. All acts, addresses, and joint resolutions, shall be signed by the
Speaker; and all writs, warrants, and subpœnas, issued by order of the
House, shall be under his hand and seal, attested by the clerk.
9. In case of any disturbance or disorderly conduct in the galleries or
lobby, the Speaker (or Chairman of the Committee of the Whole House,)
shall have power to order the same to be cleared.
OF THE CLERK AND OTHER OFFICERS.
10. There shall be elected at the commencement of each Congress, to
continue in office until their successors are appointed, a clerk,
sergeant-at-arms, doorkeeper, and postmaster, each of whom shall take an
oath for the true and faithful discharge of the duties of his office,
to the best of his knowledge and abilities, and to keep the secrets of
the House; and the appointees of the doorkeeper and postmaster shall be
subject to the approval of the Speaker; and, in all cases of election by
the House of its officers, the vote shall be taken _viva voce_.
11. In all cases where other than members of the House may be eligible
to an office by the election of the House, there shall be a previous
nomination.
12. In all other cases of ballot than for committees, a majority of the
votes given shall be necessary to an election; and where there shall not
be such a majority on the first ballot, the ballots shall be repeated
until a majority be obtained. And in all ballotings blanks shall be
rejected, and not taken into the count in enumeration of the votes, or
reported by the tellers.
13. It shall be the duty of the clerk to make and cause to be printed
and delivered to each member at the commencement of every session of
Congress, a list of the reports which it is the duty of any officer or
department of the government to make to Congress; referring to the act
or resolution and page of the volume of the laws or journal in which it
may be contained, and placing under the name of each officer the list of
reports required to be made, and the time when the report may be expected.
14. It shall be the duty of the clerk of the House at the end of each
session, to send a printed copy of the journals thereof to the Executive,
and to each branch of the Legislature of every State.
15. All questions of order shall be noted by the clerk, with the
decision, and put together at the end of the journal of every session.
16. The clerk shall, within thirty days after the close of each session
of Congress, cause to be completed the printing and primary distribution
to members and delegates, of the Journal of the House, together with an
accurate index of the same.
17. There shall be retained in the library of the clerk’s office, for the
use of the members there, and not to be withdrawn therefrom, two copies
of all the books and printed documents deposited in the library.
18. The clerk shall have preserved for each member of the House an extra
copy, in good binding, of all the documents printed by order of either
House at each future session of Congress.
19. The clerk shall make a weekly statement of the resolutions and bills
(Senate bills inclusive) upon the Speaker’s table accompanied with a
brief reference to the orders and proceedings of the House upon each, and
the date of such order and proceedings; which statement shall be printed
for the use of the members.
20. The clerk shall cause an index to be prepared to the acts passed at
every session of Congress, and to be printed and bound with the acts.
21. All contracts, bargains, or agreements, relative to the furnishing
any matter or thing or for the performance of any labor for the House of
Representatives, shall be made with the clerk, or approved by him, before
any allowances shall be made therefor by the Committee of Accounts.
22. It shall be the duty of the sergeant-at-arms to attend the House
during its sittings; to aid in the enforcement of order under the
direction of the Speaker; to execute the commands of the House from time
to time; together with all such process, issued by authority thereof, as
shall be directed to him by the Speaker.
23. The symbol of his office (the mace) shall be borne by the
sergeant-at-arms when in the execution of his office.
24. The fees of the sergeant-at-arms shall be for every arrest, the sum
of two dollars; for each day’s custody and releasement, one dollar; and
for traveling expenses for himself or a special messenger, going and
returning, one-tenth of a dollar for each mile necessarily and actually
traveled by such officer or other person in the execution of such precept
or summons.
25. It shall be the duty of the sergeant-at-arms to keep the accounts for
the pay and mileage of members, to prepare checks, and, if required to
do so, to draw the money on such checks for the members, (the same being
previously signed by the Speaker, and endorsed by the member,) and pay
over the same to the member entitled thereto.
26. The sergeant-at-arms shall give bond, with surety, to the United
States, in a sum not less than five nor more than ten thousand dollars,
at the discretion of the Speaker, and with such surety as the Speaker
may approve, faithfully to account for the money coming into his hands
for the pay of members.
27. The doorkeeper shall execute strictly the 134th and 135th rules,
relative to the privilege of the hall. And he shall be required, at the
commencement and close of each session of Congress, to take an inventory
of all the furniture, books, and other public property in the several
committee and other rooms under his charge, and shall report the same to
the House; which report shall be referred to the Committee on Accounts,
who shall determine the amount for which he shall be held liable for
missing articles.
28. The postmaster shall superintend the post-office kept in the capitol
for the accommodation of the members.
OF THE MEMBERS.
29. No member shall vote on any question in the event of which he is
immediately and particularly interested, or in any case where he was
not within the bar of the House when the question was put. And when any
member shall ask leave to vote, the Speaker shall propound to him the
question, “Were you within the bar before the last name on the roll was
called?” and if he shall answer in the negative the Speaker shall not
further entertain the request of such member to vote: Provided, however,
that any member who was absent by leave of the House, may vote at any
time before the result is announced.
30. Upon a division and count of the house on any question, no member
without the bar shall be counted.
31. Every member who shall be in the house when the question is put,
shall give his vote unless the House shall excuse him. All motions to
excuse a member from voting, shall be made before the house divides, or
before the call of the yeas and nays is commenced; and the question shall
then be taken without debate.
32. The name of a member who presents a petition or memorial, or who
offers a resolution for the consideration of the House, shall be inserted
on the journals.
33. No member shall absent himself from the service of the House unless
he have leave, or be sick and unable to attend.
OF CALLS OF THE HOUSE.
34. Any fifteen members (including the Speaker, if there be one), shall
be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members.
35. Upon calls of the House, or in taking the yeas and nays on any
question, the names of the members shall be called alphabetically.
36. Upon the call of the House, the names of the members shall be called
over by the clerk, and the absentees noted; after which the names of the
absentees shall again be called over; the doors shall then be shut, and
those for whom no excuse or insufficient excuses are made may, by order
of those present, if fifteen in number, be taken into custody as they
appear, or may be sent for and taken into custody, wherever to be found,
by special messengers to be appointed for that purpose.
37. When a member shall be discharged from custody, and admitted to his
seat, the House shall determine whether such discharge shall be with or
without paying fees; and in like manner whether a delinquent member,
taken into custody by a special messenger, shall or shall not be liable
to defray the expenses of such special messenger.
ON MOTIONS, THEIR PRECEDENCE, ETC.
38. When a motion is made and seconded, it shall be stated by the
Speaker; or, being in writing, it shall be handed to the chair and read
aloud by the clerk, before debated.
39. Every motion shall be reduced to writing if the Speaker or any member
desire it. Every written motion made to the House shall be inserted
on the journals, with the name of the member making it, unless it be
withdrawn on the same day on which it was submitted.
40. After a motion is stated by the Speaker, or read by the clerk,
it shall be deemed to be in the possession of the House, but may be
withdrawn at any time before a decision or amendment.
41. When any motion or proposition is made, the question, “Will the House
now consider it?” shall not be put unless it is demanded by some member,
or is deemed necessary by the Speaker.
42. When a question is under debate, no motion shall be received but to
adjourn, to lie on the table, for the previous question, to postpone to a
certain day, to commit or amend, to postpone indefinitely; which several
motions shall have precedence in the order in which they are arranged;
and no motion to postpone to a certain day, to commit, or postpone
indefinitely, being decided, shall be again allowed on the same day, and
at the same stage of the bill or proposition.
43. When a resolution shall be offered, or a motion made, to refer any
subject, and different committees shall be proposed, the question shall
be taken in the following order:
The Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union; the Committee
of the Whole House; a Standing Committee; a Select Committee.
44. A motion to adjourn, and a motion to fix the day to which the House
shall adjourn, shall be always in order; these motions and the motion to
lie on the table, shall be decided without debate.
45. The hour at which every motion to adjourn is made shall be entered on
the journal.
46. Any member may call for the division of a question before or after
the main question is ordered, which shall be divided if it comprehend
propositions in substance so distinct that, one being taken away, a
substantive proposition shall remain for the decision of the House. A
motion to strike out and insert shall be deemed indivisible; but a motion
to strike out being lost, shall preclude neither amendment nor a motion
to strike out and insert.
47. Motions and reports may be committed at the pleasure of the House.
48. No motion or proposition on a subject different from that under
consideration shall be admitted under color of amendment. No bill or
resolution shall, at any time, be amended by annexing thereto, or
incorporating therewith, any other bill or resolution pending before the
House.
49. When a motion has been once made, and carried in the affirmative or
negative, it shall be in order for any member of the majority to move
for the reconsideration thereof, on the same or succeeding day; and such
motion shall take precedence of all other questions, except a motion to
adjourn, and shall not be withdrawn after the said succeeding day without
the consent of the House; and thereafter any member may call it up for
consideration.
50. In filling up blanks, the largest sum and longest time shall be first
put.
ORDER OF BUSINESS OF THE DAY.
51. As soon as the journal is read, and the unfinished business in
which the House was engaged at the last preceding adjournment has been
disposed of, reports from committees shall be called for and disposed of;
in doing which the Speaker shall call upon each standing committee in
regular order, and then upon select committees; and if the Speaker shall
not get through the call upon the committees before the House passes
to other business, he shall resume the next call where he left off,
giving preference to the report last under consideration: Provided, That
whenever any committee shall have occupied the morning hour on two days,
it shall not be in order for such committee to report further until the
other committees shall have been called in their turn. On the call for
reports from committees on each alternate Monday, which shall commence
as soon as the journal is read, all bills reported during the first hour
after the journal is read shall be committed, without debate, to the
Committee of the Whole, and together with their accompanying reports,
printed; and if during the hour all the committees are not called, then,
on the next alternate Monday, the Speaker shall commence where such
call was suspended: Provided, That no bill reported under the call on
alternate Mondays, and committed, shall be again brought before the House
by a motion to reconsider.
52. Reports from committees having been presented and disposed of, the
Speaker shall call for resolutions from the members of each State and
delegate from each Territory, beginning with Maine and the Territory last
organized, alternately; and they shall not be debated on the very day
of their being presented, nor on any day assigned by the House for the
receipt of resolutions, unless where the House shall direct otherwise,
but shall lie on the table, to be taken up in the order in which they
are presented; and if on any day the whole of the States and Territories
shall not be called, the Speaker shall begin on the next day where he
left off the previous day: Provided, That no member shall offer more than
one resolution, or one series of resolutions, all relating to the same
subject, until all the States and Territories shall have been called.
53. A proposition requesting information from the President of the
United States, or directing it to be furnished by the head of either of
the Executive departments, or by the Postmaster General—shall lie on
the table one day for consideration, unless otherwise ordered by the
unanimous consent of the House, and all such propositions shall be taken
up for consideration in the order they were presented, immediately after
reports are called for from select committees, and when adopted the clerk
shall cause the same to be delivered.
54. After one hour shall have been devoted to reports from committees
and resolutions, it shall be in order, pending the consideration or
discussion thereof, to entertain a motion that the House do now proceed
to dispose of the business on the Speaker’s table, and to the orders of
the day—which being decided in the affirmative, the Speaker shall dispose
of the business on his table in the following order, viz.:
1st. Messages and other Executive communications.
2d. Messages from the Senate, and amendments proposed by the
Senate to bills of the House.
3d. Bills and resolutions from the Senate on their first and
second reading, that they be referred to committees and put
under way; but if, on being read a second time, no motion being
made to commit, they are to be ordered to their third reading
unless objection be made; in which case, if not otherwise
ordered by a majority of the House, they are to be laid on the
table in general file of bills on the Speaker’s table, to be
taken up in their turn.
4th. Engrossed bills and bills from the Senate on their third
reading.
5th. Bills of the House and from the Senate on the Speaker’s
table, on their engrossment, or on being ordered to a third
reading, to be taken up and considered in the order of time in
which they passed to a second reading.
The messages, communications and bills on his table having been disposed
of, the Speaker shall then proceed to call the orders of the day.
55. The business specified in the 54th and 130th rules shall be done at
no other part of the day, except by permission of the House.
56. The consideration of the unfinished business in which the House may
be engaged at an adjournment shall be resumed as soon as the journal of
the next day is read, and at the same time each day thereafter until
disposed of; and if, from any cause, other business shall intervene, it
shall be resumed as soon as such other business is disposed of. And the
consideration of all other unfinished business shall be resumed whenever
the class of business to which it belongs shall be in order under the
rules.
OF DECORUM AND DEBATE.
57. When any member is about to speak in debate, or deliver any matter
to the House, he shall rise from his seat and respectfully address
himself to “Mr. Speaker”—and shall confine himself to the question under
debate, and avoid personality.
58. Members may address the House or committee from the clerk’s desk, or
from a place near the Speaker’s chair.
59. When two or more members happen to rise at once, the Speaker shall
name the member who is first to speak.
60. No member shall occupy more than one hour in debate on any question
in the House, or in committee; but a member reporting the measure under
consideration from a committee may open and close the debate, provided
that when debate is closed by order of the House, any member shall be
allowed, in committee, five minutes to explain any amendment he may
offer, after which any member who shall first obtain the floor shall be
allowed to speak five minutes in opposition to it, and there shall be
no further debate on the amendment; but the same privilege of debate
shall be allowed in favor of and against any amendment that may be
offered to the amendment; and neither the amendment nor an amendment to
the amendment shall be withdrawn by the mover thereof, unless by the
unanimous consent of the committee. Provided further, that the House
may, by the vote of a majority of the members present, at any time after
the five minutes’ debate has taken place upon proposed amendments to any
section or paragraph of a bill, close all debate upon such section or
paragraph, or at their election upon the pending amendments only.
61. If any member in speaking or otherwise, transgress the rules of the
House, the Speaker shall, or any member may call him to order; in which
case the member so called to order shall immediately sit down, unless
permitted to explain; and the House shall, if appealed to, decide on the
case, but without debate; if there be no appeal the decision of the chair
shall be submitted to. If the decision be in favor of the member called
to order, he shall be at liberty to proceed; if otherwise, he shall not
be permitted to proceed, in case any member object, without leave of the
House; and if the case require it, he shall be liable to the censure of
the House.
62. If any member be called to order for words spoken in debate, the
person calling him to order shall repeat the words excepted to, and they
shall be taken down in writing at the clerk’s table; and no member shall
be held to answer, or be subject to the censure of the House, for words
spoken in debate, if any other member has spoken, or other business has
intervened, after the words spoken, and before exception to them shall
have been taken.
63. No member shall speak more than once to the same question without
leave of the House, unless he be the mover, proposer or introducer of the
matter pending; in which case he shall be permitted to speak in reply,
but not until every member choosing to speak shall have spoken.
64. If a question depending be lost by adjournment of the House, and
revived on the succeeding day, no member who shall have spoken on the
preceding day shall be permitted again to speak without leave.
65. While the Speaker is putting any question, or addressing the House,
none shall walk out of or across the House; nor in such case, or when a
member is speaking, shall entertain private discourse; nor while a member
is speaking, shall pass between him and the chair. Every member shall
remain uncovered during the session of the House. No member or other
person shall visit or remain by the clerk’s table while the ayes and noes
are calling, or ballots are counting.
66. All questions relating to the priority of business to be acted on
shall be decided without debate.
OF COMMITTEES.
67. All committees shall be appointed by the Speaker, unless otherwise
specially directed by the House, in which case they shall be appointed
by ballot; and if upon such ballot the number required shall not be
elected by a majority of the votes given, the House shall proceed to a
second ballot, in which a plurality of votes shall prevail; and in case
a greater number than is required to compose or complete a committee
shall have an equal number of votes, the House shall proceed to a further
ballot or ballots.
68. The first named member of any committee shall be the chairman; and
in his absence, or being excused by the House, the next named member,
and so on, as often as the case shall happen, unless the committee, by a
majority of their number, elect a chairman.
69. Any member may excuse himself from serving on any committee at the
time of his appointment, if he is then a member of two other committees.
70. It shall be the duty of a committee to meet on the call of any two
of its members, if the chairman be absent, or decline to appoint such
meeting.
71. The several standing committees of the House shall have leave to
report by bill or otherwise.
72. No committee shall sit during the sitting of the House without
special leave.
73. No committee shall be permitted to employ a clerk at the public
expense, without first obtaining leave of the House for that purpose.
74. Thirty-one standing committees shall be appointed at the commencement
of each Congress, viz.:
TO CONSIST OF NINE MEMBERS EACH.
A Committee of Elections.—Nov. 13, 1789.
A Committee of Ways and Means.—Jan. 1802.
A Committee on Appropriations.—March 2, 1865.
A Committee on Banking and Currency.—March 2, 1865.
A Committee on the Pacific Railroad.—March 2, 1865.
A Committee on Claims.—Nov. 13, 1794.
A Committee on Commerce.—Dec. 14, 1795.
A Committee on Public Lands.—Dec. 17, 1805.
A Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.—Nov. 9, 1806.
A Committee for the District of Columbia.—Jan. 27, 1808.
A Committee on the Judiciary.—June 3, 1813.
A Committee on Revolutionary Claims.—Dec. 22, 1813.
A Committee on Public Expenditures.—Feb. 26, 1814.
A Committee on Private Land Claims.—April 29, 1816.
A Committee on Manufactures.—Dec. 8, 1819.
A Committee on Agriculture.—May 3, 1820.
A Committee on Indian Affairs.—Dec. 18, 1821.
A Committee on Military Affairs.—March 13, 1822.
A Committee on Militia.—Dec. 10, 1835.
A Committee on Naval Affairs.—March 13, 1822.
A Committee on Foreign Affairs.—March 13, 1822.
A Committee on the Territories.—Dec. 13, 1825.
A Committee on Revolutionary Pensions.—Dec. 9, 1825.
A Committee on Invalid Pensions.—Jan. 10, 1831.
A Committee on Railways and Canals.—Dec. 15, 1831; April 9, 1869.
A Committee on Mines and Mining.—Dec. 19, 1865.
A Committee on Freedmen’s Affairs.—Dec. 4, 1866.
A Committee on Education and Labor.—March 21, 1867.
TO CONSIST OF FIVE MEMBERS EACH.
A Committee on Patents.—Sept. 15, 1837.
A Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds.—Sept. 15, 1837.
A Committee of Revisal and Unfinished Business.—Dec. 14, 1795.
A Committee on Accounts.—Nov. 7, 1804.
A Committee on Mileage.—Sept. 15, 1837.
TO CONSIST OF SEVEN MEMBERS.
A Committee on Coinage, Weights and Measures.—Jan. 21, 1864: March
2, 1867.
75. It shall be the duty of the Committee of Elections to examine and
report upon the certificates of election, or other credentials, of
the members returned to serve in this House, and to take into their
consideration all such petitions and other matters touching elections
and returns as shall or may be presented or come into question, and be
referred to them by the House.
76. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Appropriations to take into
consideration all Executive communications and such other propositions in
regard to carrying on the several departments of the government as may be
presented and referred to them by the House.
In preparing bills of appropriations for other objects, the Committee
on Appropriations shall not include appropriations for carrying into
effect treaties made by the United States; and where an appropriation
bill shall be referred to them for their consideration, which contains
appropriations for carrying a treaty into effect, and for other objects,
they shall propose such amendments as shall prevent appropriations for
carrying a treaty into effect being included in the same bill with
appropriations for other objects.
77. It shall also be the duty of the Committee on Appropriations, within
thirty days after their appointment, at every session of Congress,
commencing on the first Monday of December, to report the general
appropriation bills for legislative, executive, and judicial expenses;
for sundry civil expenses; for consular and diplomatic expenses; for
the army; for the navy; for the expenses of the Indian Department;
for the payment of invalid and other pensions; for the support of the
Military Academy; for fortifications; for the service of the Postoffice
Department, and for mail transportation by ocean steamers; or, in failure
thereof, the reasons of such failure. And said committee shall have leave
to report said bills (for reference only) at any time.
78. It shall be the duty of the Committee of Claims to take into
consideration all such petitions and matters or things touching claims
and demands on the United States as shall be presented, or shall or may
come in question, and be referred to them by the House; and to report
their opinion thereupon, together with such propositions for relief
therein as to them shall seem expedient.
79. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Commerce to take into
consideration all such petitions and matters or things touching the
commerce of the United States as shall be presented, or shall or may come
into question, and be referred to them by the House; and to report, from
time to time, their opinion thereon.
80. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Public Lands to take
into consideration all such petitions and matters or things respecting
the lands of the United States as shall be presented, or shall or may
come in question, and be referred to them by the House; and to report
their opinion thereon, together with such propositions for relief therein
as to them shall seem expedient.
81. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Post-Office and
Post-Roads to take into consideration all such petitions and matters or
things touching the post-office and post-roads as shall be presented,
or shall come in question, and be referred to them by the House; and to
report their opinion thereon, together with such propositions relative
thereto as to them shall seem expedient.
82. It shall be the duty of the Committee for the District of Columbia to
take into consideration all such petitions and matters or things touching
the said District as shall be presented or shall come in question, and
be referred to them by the House; and to report their opinion thereon,
together with such propositions relative thereto as to them shall seem
expedient.
83. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Judiciary to take into
consideration such petitions and matters or things touching judicial
proceedings as shall be presented or may come in question, and be
referred to them by the House, and to report their opinion thereon,
together with such propositions relative thereto as to them shall seem
expedient.
84. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Revolutionary Claims to take
into consideration all such petitions and matters or things touching
claims and demands originating in the Revolutionary war, or arising
therefrom, as shall be presented, or shall or may come in question, and
be referred to them by the House, and to report their opinion thereupon,
together with such propositions for relief therein as to them shall seem
expedient.
85. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Public Expenditures
to examine into the state of the several public departments, and
particularly into laws making appropriations of money, and to report
whether the moneys have been disbursed conformably with such laws;
and also to report from time to time such provisions and arrangements
as may be necessary to add to the economy of the departments, and the
accountability of their officers.
86. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Private Land Claims to take
into consideration all claims to land which may be referred to them, or
shall or may come in question; and to report their opinion thereupon,
together with such propositions for relief therein as to them shall seem
expedient.
87. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Military Affairs to take
into consideration all subjects relating to the military establishment
and public defense which may be referred to them by the House, and to
report their opinion thereupon; and also to report, from time to time,
such measures as may contribute to economy and accountability in the said
establishment.
88. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Militia to take into
consideration and report on all subjects connected with the organizing,
arming and disciplining the militia of the United States.
89. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Naval Affairs to take into
consideration all matters which concern the naval establishment, and
which shall be referred to them by the House, and to report their opinion
thereupon; and also to report, from time to time, such measures as may
contribute to economy and accountability in the said establishment.
90. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Foreign Affairs to take
into consideration all matters which concern the relations of the United
States with foreign nations, and which shall be referred to them by the
House, and to report their opinion on the same.
91. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Territories to examine
into the legislative, civil and criminal proceedings of the Territories,
and to devise and report to the House such means as in their opinion
may be necessary to secure the rights and privileges of residents and
non-residents.
92. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions to
take into consideration all such matters respecting pensions for services
in the Revolutionary war, other than invalid pensions, as shall be
referred to them by the House.
93. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Invalid Pensions to take
into consideration all such matters respecting invalid pensions as shall
be referred to them by the House.
94. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Roads and Canals to take
into consideration all such petitions and matters or things relating
to roads and canals, and the improvement of the navigation of Rivers,
as shall be presented or may come in question, and be referred to them
by the House, and to report thereupon, together with such propositions
relative thereto as to them shall seem expedient.
95. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Patents to consider all
subjects relating to patents which may be referred them; and report their
opinions thereon, together with such propositions relative thereto as may
seem to them expedient.
96. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds
to consider all subjects relating to the public edifices and grounds
within the city of Washington which may be referred to them; and report
their opinion thereon, together with such propositions relating thereto
as may seem to them expedient.
97. It shall be the duty of the Committee of Revisal and Unfinished
Business to examine and report what laws have expired, or are near
expiring, and require to be revived or further continued; also to examine
and report, from the journal of last session, all such matters as were
then depending and undetermined.
98. It shall be the duty of the Committee of Accounts to superintend
and control the expenditures of the contingent fund of the House of
Representatives; also to audit and settle all accounts which may be
charged thereon.
99. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Mileage to ascertain and
report the distance to the sergeant-at-arms for which each member shall
receive pay.
100. There shall be referred by the clerk to the members of the Committee
on Printing on the part of the House, all drawings, maps, charts, or
other papers which may at any time come before the House for engraving,
lithographing, or publishing in any way; which committee shall report
to the House whether the same ought, in their opinion, to be published;
and if the House order the publication of the same, that said committee
shall direct the size and manner of execution of all such maps, charts,
drawings, or other papers, and contract by agreement, in writing, for all
such engraving, lithographing, printing, drawing, and coloring, as may
be ordered by the House; which agreement, in writing, shall be furnished
by said committee to the Committee of Accounts, to govern said committee
in all allowances for such works, and it shall be in order for said
committee to report at all times.
101. It shall be in order for the Committee on Enrolled Bills and the
Committee on Printing to report at any time.
102. Seven additional standing committees shall be appointed at the
commencement of the first session in each Congress, whose duties shall
continue until the first session of the ensuing Congress.
COMMITTEES, TO CONSIST OF FIVE MEMBERS EACH.
1. A committee on so much of the public accounts and
expenditures as relates to the Department of State;
2. A committee on so much of the public accounts and
expenditures as relates to the Treasury Department;
3. A committee on so much of the public accounts and
expenditures as relates to the Department of War;
4. A committee on so much of the public accounts and
expenditures as relates to the Department of the Navy;
5. A committee on so much of the public accounts and
expenditures as relates to the Post Office;
6. A committee on so much of the public accounts and
expenditures as relates to the Public Buildings; and
7. A committee on so much of the public accounts and
expenditures as relates to the Interior Department.
103. It shall be the duty of the said committees to examine into the
state of the accounts and expenditures respectively submitted to them,
and to inquire and to report particularly—
Whether the expenditures of the respective departments are justified by
law;
Whether the claims from time to time satisfied and discharged by the
respective departments are supported by sufficient vouchers, establishing
their justness both as to their character and amount.
Whether such claims have been discharged out of funds appropriated
therefor, and whether all moneys have been disbursed in conformity with
appropriation laws; and
Whether any, and what, provisions are necessary to be adopted, to
provide more perfectly for the proper application of the public moneys,
and to secure the government from demands unjust in their character or
extravagant in their amount.
And it shall be, moreover, the duty of the said committees to report,
from time to time, whether any, and what, retrenchment can be made in the
expenditures of the several departments, without detriment to the public
service; whether any, and what, abuses at any time exist in the failure
to enforce the payment of moneys which may be due to the United States
from public defaulters or others; and to report, from time to time, such
provisions and arrangements as may be necessary to add to the economy of
the several departments and the accountability of their officers.
It shall be the duty of the several committees on public expenditures to
inquire whether any officers belonging to the branches or departments,
respectively, concerning whose expenditures it is their duty to inquire,
have become useless or unnecessary; and to report from time to time,
on the expediency of modifying or abolishing the same; also to examine
into the pay and emoluments of all officers under the laws of the United
States; and to report from time to time such a reduction or increase
thereof as a just economy and the public service may require.
OF COMMITTEES OF THE WHOLE.
104. The House may at any time, by a vote of a majority of the members
present, suspend the rules and orders for the purpose of going into the
Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union; and also for
providing for the discharge of the Committee of the Whole House, and the
Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, from the further
consideration of any bill referred to it, after acting without debate on
all amendments pending and that may be offered.
105. In forming a Committee of the Whole House, the Speaker shall leave
his chair, and a chairman to preside in committee shall be appointed by
the Speaker.
106. Whenever the Committee of the Whole on the State of the Union, or
the Committee of the Whole House, finds itself without a quorum, the
chairman shall cause the roll of the House to be called, and thereupon
the committee shall rise, and the chairman shall report the names of the
absentees to the House, which shall be entered on the journal.
107. Upon bills committed to a Committee of the Whole House, the bill
shall be first read throughout by the clerk, and then again read and
debated by clauses, leaving the preamble to be last considered; the body
of the bill shall not be defaced or interlined; but all amendments,
noting the page and line, shall be duly entered by the clerk on a
separate paper, as the same shall be agreed to by the committee, and so
reported to the House. After report, the bill shall again be subject to
be debated and amended by clauses, before a question to engross it be
taken.
108. All amendments made to an original motion in committee shall be
incorporated with the motion, and so reported.
109. All amendments made to a report committed to a Committee of the
Whole House shall be noted and reported, as in the case of bills.
110. No motion or proposition for a tax or charge upon the people shall
be discussed the day on which it is made or offered, and every such
proposition shall receive its first discussion in a Committee of the
Whole House.
111. No sum or quantum of tax or duty, voted by a Committee of the Whole
House, shall be increased in the House until the motion or proposition
for such increase shall be first discussed and voted in a Committee of
the Whole House; and so in respect to the time of its continuance.
112. All proceedings touching appropriations of money shall be first
discussed in a Committee of the Whole House.
113. The rules of proceedings in the House shall be observed in a
Committee of the Whole House, so far as they may be applicable, except
the rule limiting the times of speaking; but no member shall speak twice
to any question until every member choosing to speak shall have spoken.
114. In Committee of the Whole on the State of the Union, the bills
shall be taken up and disposed of in their order on the calendar; but
when objection is made to the consideration of a bill, a majority of
the committee shall decide, without debate, whether it shall be taken
up and disposed of, or laid aside; provided, that general appropriation
bills, and, in time of war, bills for raising men or money, and bills
concerning a treaty of peace, shall be preferred to all other bills at
the discretion of the committee; and when demanded by any member, the
question shall first be put in regard to them; and all debate on special
orders shall be confined strictly to the measure under consideration.
OF BILLS.
115. Every bill shall be introduced on the report of a committee, or by
motion for leave. In the latter case, at least one day’s notice shall be
given of the motion in the House, or by filing a memorandum thereof with
the clerk, and having it entered on the journal; and the motion shall be
made, and the bill introduced, if leave is given, when resolutions are
called for; such motion, or the bill when introduced, may be committed.
116. Every bill shall receive three several readings in the House
previous to its passage; and the bills shall be dispatched in order as
they were introduced, unless where the House shall direct otherwise; but
no bill shall be twice read on the same day, without special order of the
House.
117. The first reading of a bill shall be for information, and if
opposition be made to it, the question shall be, “Shall this bill be
rejected?” If no opposition be made, or if the question to reject be
negatived, the bill shall go to its second reading without a question.
118. Upon the second reading of a bill, the Speaker shall state it as
ready for commitment or engrossment; and if committed, then a question
shall be, whether to a select or standing committee, or to a Committee of
the Whole House; if to a Committee of the Whole House, the House shall
determine on what day; if no motion be made to commit, the question shall
be stated on its engrossment; and if it be not ordered to be engrossed on
the day of its being reported, it shall be placed on the general file on
the Speaker’s table, to be taken up in order. But if the bill be ordered
to be engrossed, the House shall appoint the day when it shall be read
the third time.
119. General appropriation bills shall be in order in preference to any
other bill of a public nature unless otherwise ordered by a majority of
the House.
And the House may, at any time, by a vote of the majority of the members
present, make any of the general appropriation bills a special order.
120. No appropriation shall be reported in such general appropriation
bills, or be in order as an amendment thereto, for any expenditure not
previously authorized by law, unless in continuation of appropriations
for such public works and objects as are already in progress, and
for the contingencies for carrying on the several departments of the
government.
121. Upon the engrossment of any bill making appropriations of money for
works of internal improvement of any kind or description, it shall be in
the power of any member to call for a division of the question, so as
to take a separate vote of the House upon each item of improvement or
appropriation contained in said bill, or upon such items separately, and
others collectively, as the members making the call may specify; and, if
one-fifth of the members present second said call, it shall be the duty
of the Speaker to make such divisions of the question, and put them to
vote accordingly.
122. The bills from the Court of Claims shall, on being laid before the
House, be read a first and second time, committed to a Committee of the
Whole House, and, together with the accompanying reports, printed.
123. A motion to strike out the enacting words of a bill shall have
precedence of a motion to amend; and, if carried, shall be considered
equivalent to its rejection. Whenever a bill is reported from a Committee
of the Whole, with a recommendation to strike out the enacting words, and
such recommendation is disagreed to by the House, the bill shall stand
recommitted to the said committees without further action by the House.
124. After commitment and report thereof to the House, or at any
time before its passage, a bill may be recommitted; and should such
recommitment take place after its engrossment, and an amendment be
reported and agreed to by the House, the question shall be again put on
the engrossment of the bill.
125. All bills ordered to be engrossed shall be executed in a fair round
hand.
126. No amendment by way of rider shall be received to any bill on its
third reading.
127. When a bill shall pass, it shall be certified by the clerk, noting
the day of its passage at the foot thereof.
LOCAL OR PRIVATE BUSINESS.
128. Friday and Saturday of every week shall be set apart for the
consideration of private bills and private business, in preference to any
other, unless otherwise determined by a majority of the House.
129. On the first and fourth Friday and Saturday of each month the
calendar of private bills shall be called over (the chairman of the
Committee of the Whole House commencing the call where he left off the
previous day,) and the bills to the passage of which no objection shall
then be made shall be first considered and disposed of. But when a bill
is again reached, after having been once objected to, the committee shall
consider and dispose of the same, unless it shall again be objected to by
at least five members.
OF BILLS ON LEAVE AND RESOLUTIONS.
130. All the States and Territories shall be called for bills on
leave and resolutions on each alternate Monday during each session
of Congress; and, if necessary to secure the object on said days,
all resolutions which shall give rise to debate shall lie over for
discussion, under the rules of the House already established; and
the whole of said days shall be appropriated to bills on leave and
resolutions, until all the States and Territories are called through.
And the Speaker shall first call the States and Territories for bills
on leave; and all bills so introduced during the first hour after the
journal is read shall be referred, without debate, to their appropriate
committees; provided, however, that a bill so introduced and referred
shall not be brought back into the House upon a motion to reconsider.
OF PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS.
131. Members having petitions and memorials to present, may hand them
to the clerk, indorsing the same with their names, and the reference or
disposition to be made thereof; and such petitions and memorials shall
be entered on the journal, subject to the control and direction of the
Speaker; and if any petition or memorial be so handed in, which, in the
judgment of the Speaker, is excluded by the rules, the same shall be
returned to the member from whom it was received.
OF THE PREVIOUS QUESTION.
132. The previous question shall be in this form: “Shall the main
question be now put?” It shall only be admitted when demanded by a
majority of the members present; and its effect shall be to put an end
to all debate, and to bring the House to a direct vote upon a motion to
commit if such motion shall have been made; and if this motion does not
prevail, then upon amendments reported by a committee, if any; then upon
pending amendments, and then upon the main question. But its only effect,
if a motion to postpone is pending, shall be to bring the House to a
vote upon such motion. Whenever the House shall refuse to order the main
question, the consideration of the subject shall be resumed as though no
motion for the previous question had been made. The House may also, at
any time, on motion seconded by a majority of the members present, close
all debate upon a pending amendment, or an amendment thereto, and cause
the question to be put thereon; and this shall not preclude any further
amendment or debate upon the bill. A call of the House shall not be in
order after the previous question is seconded, unless it shall appear,
upon an actual count by the Speaker, that no quorum is present.
133. On a previous question there shall be no debate. All incidental
questions of order arising after a motion is made for the previous
question and pending such motion, shall be decided, whether on appeal or
otherwise, without debate.
OF ADMISSION ON THE FLOOR.
134. No person except members of the Senate, their secretary, heads of
departments, the President’s private secretary, foreign ministers, the
Governor for the time being of any State, Senators and Representatives
elect, and Judges of the Supreme Court of the United States and of the
Court of Claims, shall be admitted within the hall of the House of
Representatives, or any of the rooms upon the same floor or leading into
the same.
OF REPORTERS.
135. Stenographers and reporters, other than the official reporters of
the House, wishing to take down the debates, may be admitted by the
Speaker to the reporters’ gallery over the Speaker’s chair, but not on
the floor of the House; but no person shall be allowed the privilege of
said gallery under the character of stenographer or reporter without a
written permission of the Speaker, specifying the part of said gallery
assigned to him; nor shall said stenographer or reporter be admitted to
said gallery unless he shall state in writing for what paper or papers
he is employed to report; nor shall he be so admitted, or, if admitted,
be suffered to retain his seat, if he shall become an agent to prosecute
any claim pending before Congress; and the Speaker shall give his written
permission with this condition.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS OF THE SESSION.
136. After six days from the commencement of a second or subsequent
session of any Congress, all bills, resolutions, and reports which
originated in the House, and at the close of the next preceding session
remained undetermined, shall be resumed and acted on in the same manner
as if an adjournment had not taken place. And all business before
committees of the House at the end of one session shall be resumed at
the commencement of the next session of the same Congress as if no
adjournment had taken place.
MISCELLANEOUS.
137. Whenever confidential communications are received from the President
of the United States, the House shall be cleared of all persons, except
the members, clerk, sergeant-at-arms, and doorkeeper, and so continue
during the reading of such communications, and (unless otherwise directed
by the House) during all debates and proceedings to be had thereon. And
when the Speaker, or any other member, shall inform the House that he has
communications to make which he conceives ought to be kept secret, the
House shall, in like manner, be cleared till the communication be made;
the House shall then determine whether the matter communicated requires
secrecy or not, and take order accordingly.
138. The rule for paying witnesses summoned to appear before this House,
or either of its committees, shall be as follows: for each day a witness
shall attend, the sum of two dollars; for each mile he shall travel in
coming to or going from the place of examination, the sum of ten cents
each way; but nothing shall be paid for traveling home when the witness
has been summoned at the place of trial.
139. Maps accompanying documents shall not be printed, under the general
order to print, without the special direction of the House.
140. No extra compensation shall be allowed to any officer or messenger,
page, laborer, or other person in the service of the House, or engaged
in or about the public grounds or buildings; and no person shall be an
officer of the House, or continue in its employment, who shall be an
agent for the prosecution of any claim against the government, or be
interested in such claim otherwise than an original claimant; and it
shall be the duty of the Committee of Accounts to inquire into and report
to the House any violation of this rule.
141. When the reading of a paper is called for, and the same is objected
to by any member, it shall be determined by a vote of the House.
142. When a question is postponed indefinitely, the same shall not be
acted upon again during the session.
143. Every order, resolution, or vote, to which the concurrence of the
Senate shall be necessary, shall be read to the House, and laid on the
table, on a day preceding that in which the same shall be moved, unless
the House shall otherwise expressly allow.
144. The rules of parliamentary practice, comprised in Jefferson’s
Manual, shall govern the House in all cases to which they are applicable,
and in which they are not inconsistent with the standing rules and orders
of the House, and joint rules of the Senate and House of Representatives.
145. No standing rule or order of the House shall be rescinded or changed
without one day’s notice being given of the motion therefor; nor shall
any rule be suspended, except by a vote of at least two-thirds of the
members present; nor shall the order of business, as established by the
rules, be postponed or changed, except by a vote of at least two-thirds
of the members present; nor shall the Speaker entertain a motion to
suspend the rules, except during the last ten days of the session, and
on Monday of every week at the expiration of an hour after the journal
is read, unless the call of the States and Territories for bills on
leave and resolutions has been earlier concluded, when the Speaker may
entertain a motion to suspend the rules.
146. All election of officers of the House, including the Speaker,
shall be conducted in accordance with these rules, so far as the same
are applicable; and pending the election of a Speaker, the clerk shall
preserve order and decorum, and shall decide all questions of order that
may arise, subject to appeal to the House.
147. These rules shall be the rules of the House of Representatives of
the present and succeeding Congresses unless otherwise ordered.
148. An additional standing committee shall be appointed at the
commencement of each Congress, whose duties shall continue until the
first session of the ensuing Congress, to consist of five members,
to be entitled a “Committee on a Uniform System of Coinage, Weights,
and Measures;” and to this committee shall be referred all bills,
resolutions, and communications to the House upon that subject.
149. The names of members not voting on any call of the ayes and noes
shall be recorded in the journal immediately after those voting in the
affirmative and negative, and the same record shall be made in the
Congressional Globe.
150. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Pacific Railroad to
take into consideration all such petitions and matters or things relative
to railroads or telegraph lines between the Mississippi valley and the
Pacific coast, as shall be presented or shall come in question, and be
referred to them by the House, and to report their opinion thereon,
together with such propositions relative thereto as to them shall seem
expedient.
151. It shall be the duty of the Committee of Ways and Means to take into
consideration all reports of the Treasury Department, and such other
propositions relative to raising revenue and providing ways and means
for the support of the government as shall be presented or shall come
in question, and be referred to them by the House, and to report their
opinion thereon by bill or otherwise, as to them shall seem expedient;
and said committee shall have leave to report for commitment at any time.
152. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Banking and Bank Currency
to take into consideration all propositions relative to banking and the
currency as shall be presented or shall come in question, and be referred
to them by the House, and to report thereon by bill or otherwise.
153. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Mines and Mining to
consider all subjects relating to mines and mining that may be referred
to them, and to report their opinion thereon, together with such
propositions relative thereto as may seem to them expedient.
154. The allowance of stationery to each member and delegate shall be
of the value of seventy-five dollars for a long session, and forty-five
dollars for a short session of Congress.
155. The hall of the House shall not be used for any other purpose than
the legitimate business of the House, nor shall the Speaker entertain any
proposition to use it for any other purpose, or for the suspension of
this rule: Provided, That this shall not interfere with the performance
of divine service therein, under the direction of the Speaker, or with
the use of the same for caucus meetings of the members, or upon occasions
where the House may, by resolution, agree to take part in any ceremonies
to be observed therein.
156. There shall be appointed at the commencement of each Congress a
standing Committee on Freedmen’s Affairs, to consist of nine members,
whose duty it shall be to take charge of all matters concerning freedmen,
which shall be referred to them by the House.
157. When an act has been approved by the President, the usual number of
copies shall be printed for the use of the House.
158. Messages from the Senate and the President of the United States,
giving notice of bills passed or approved, shall be reported forthwith
from the clerk’s desk.
159. Estimates of appropriations, and all other communications from the
executive departments, intended for the consideration of any of the
committees of the House, shall be addressed to the Speaker and by him
submitted to the House for reference.
160. There shall be appointed to each Congress a Committee on Education
and Labor, to consist of nine members, to whom shall be referred all
petitions, bills, reports, and resolutions on those subjects, and who
shall from time to time report thereon.
161. Pending a motion to suspend the rules the Speaker may entertain one
motion that the House do now adjourn; but after the result thereon is
announced, he shall not entertain any other dilatory motion till the vote
is taken on suspension.
162. Whenever a question is pending before the House, the Speaker shall
not entertain any motion of a dilatory character except one motion to
adjourn and one motion to fix the day to which the House shall adjourn;
but the previous question on the engrossment and third reading of any
bill or joint resolution shall not be ordered during the first day
of its consideration, unless two thirds of the members present shall
second the demand: provided, that this rule shall not apply to House
resolutions offered in the morning hour of Monday: and provided further,
that it shall not apply to any proposition to appropriate the money, the
credit, or other property of the United States, except the regular annual
appropriation bills.
CHAPTER XXXI.
THE STATISTICS OF THE WORLD.
------------------------+-----------+---------+----------+---------------
COUNTRY. |Population.| Square | Title of | Capital.
| | miles. | Ruler. |
------------------------+-----------+---------+----------+---------------
| | | |
NORTH AMERICA. | | | |
| | | |
Arctic Region | ----| 600,000|---- |None.
Bermuda | 12,000| 46|Governor |Hamilton.
Columbia (Brit.) | 54,600| 230,000|Governor |N. Westminster.
Costa Rica | 150,000| 16,250|President |San Jose.
Greenland | 10,000| 380,000|Inspector |Lichtenfels.
Guatemala | 1,180,000| 44,778|President |Guatemala.
Honduras | 500,000| 47,092|President |Comayagua.
Honduras (Brit.) | 25,635| 13,500|Lt. Gov |Belize.
Mexico | 8,743,614| 773,144|President |Mexico.
Mosquito | 16,000| 26,000|King |Blewfields.
New Britain | 200,000|1,800,000|---- |York Factory.
New Brunswick | 285,777| 27,720|Lt. Gov. |Fredericton.
Newfoundland | 146,536| 40,200|Governor |St. John’s.
Nicaragua | 400,000| 58,169|President |Managua.
Nova Scotia | 387,800| 19,650|Lt. Gov. |Halifax.
Ontario | 1,620,842| 180,000|Lt. Gov. |Toronto.
Prince Edward Island | 93,338| 2,173|Lt. Gov. |Charlottetown.
Quebec | 1,190,505| 210,000|Lt. Gov. |Quebec.
San Salvador | 750,000| 7,230|President |San Salvador.
St. Pierre | 2,250| 120|Com. |St. Pierre.
United States | 40,000,000|3,578,392|President |Washington.
| | | |
SOUTH AMERICA. | | | |
| | | |
Argentine Confederacy | 1,800,000| 826,828|President |Buenos Ayres.
Bolivia | 1,987,352| 535,760|President |Chuqueaca.
Brazil | 11,780,000|3,231,047|Emperor |Rio Janeiro.
Cayenne | 27,560| 30,000|Governor |Cayenne.
Chili | 2,084,945| 139,335|President |Santiago.
Colombia | 2,794,470| 357,179|President |S. Fe de
| | | | Bogota.
Demerara, etc. | 148,900| 76,000|Governor |Georgetown.
Ecuador | 1,040,371| 218,984|President |Quito.
Falkland Islands | 686| 7,600|Governor |Port Louis.
Paraguay | 1,337,431| 126,352|President |Asuncion.
Patagonia | 120,000| 315,000|---- |None.
Peru | 3,374,000| 510,107|President |Lima.
Surinam | 64,270| 38,500|Governor |Parimaraibo.
Uruguay | 387,421| 66,716|President |Monte Video.
Venezuela | 1,565,000| 426,712|President |Caracas.
| | | |
WEST INDIA ISLANDS | | | |
| | | |
Antigua | 36,412| 183|Governor |St. John’s.
Bahamas | 35,287| 3,021|Governor |Nassau.
Barbadoes | 152,127| 166|Governor |Bridgetown.
Burmudas | 11,796| ----|Governor |Hamilton.
Curacoa | 30,000| 580|---- |Williamstadt.
Cuba | 1,500,000| 43,383|Capt. Gen.|Havana.
Dominica | 26,882| 290|Lt. Gov. |Rosseau.
Grenada | 36,672| 133|Lt. Gov. |St. George.
Guaduloupe, etc. | 134,544| 534|---- |Basse Terre.
Hayti | 572,000| 11,718|President |Port au Prince.
Jamaica | 441,255| 6,400|Capt. Gen.|Spanish Town.
Martinique | 121,145| 322|---- |Port Royal.
Montserrat | 7,645| 47|President |Plymouth.
Nevis | 9,822| 50|Adminis. |Charlestown.
Porto Rico | 620,000| 3,895|Capt. Gen.|San Juan.
St. Bartholomew’s | 10,000| 25|---- |Gustavia.
St. Christopher, etc. | 26,940| 103|Lt. Gov. |Basse Terre.
St. John’s | 3,000| 72|---- |
St. Lucia | 29,519| 250|Adminis. |Castries.
St. Martin’s (S.) | 3,500| 11| |
St. Thomas | 13,463| 37| |
St. Vincent | 31,755| 131|Lt. Gov. |Kingston.
San Domingo | 136,500| 18,000|President |San Domingo.
Santa Cruz etc. | 35,000| 81|---- |Christianstadt.
Tobago | 15,410| 97|Lt. Gov. |Scarboro.
Trinidad | 84,438| 1,754|Governor |Port Espana.
Turk’s Island | 4,372| 450|President |Grand Turk.
Virgin Islands | 6,051| 57|President |Road Town.
| | | |
EUROPE. | | | |
| | | |
Andorra | 12,000| 149|Rep. |Andorra.
Austria | 35,677,455| 240,381|Emperor |Vienna.
Belgium | 4,984,451| 11,373|King |Brussels.
Denmark | 1,608,362| 14,734|King |Copenhagen.
Faroe and Iceland | 75,909| 40,258| |
France | 38,192,064| 209,428|President |Paris.
Germany | | | |
_Northern Confederation_| | | |
Anhalt | 197,041| 1,026|Duke |Dessau.
Bremen | 109,572| 74|Burgom |Bremen.
Brunswick | 302,792| 1,425|Duke |Brunswick.
Hamburg | 305,196| 156|Burgom |Hamburg.
Hesse Darmstadt (N.) | 257,479| 1,280|G. Duke |Darmstadt.
Lippe Detmold | 111,352| 438|Prince |Detmold.
Lippe Schaumburg | 31,186| 171|Prince |Buckburg.
Lubeck | 48,538| 107|Burgom |Lubeck.
Mecklenburg Schwerin | 560,618| 5,190|G. Duke |Schwerin.
Mecklenburg Strelitz | 98,770| 1,052|G. Duke |New Strelitz.
Oldenburg | 315,622| 2,469|G. Duke |Oldenburg.
Prussia | 24,039,668| 136,806|King |Berlin.
Reuse Greiz | 43,889| 145|Prince |Greiz.
Reuss Schleiz | 88,097| 320|Prince |Schleiz.
Saxe Altenburg | 141,426| 510|Duke |Altenburg.
Saxe Coburg Gotha | 168,851| 760|Duke |Coburg.
Saxe Meiningen | 180,335| 956|Duke |Meiningen.
Saxe Weimar | 282,928| 1,404|G. Duke |Weimar.
Saxony | 2,423,401| 5,779|King |Dresden.
Schwarzb. Rudolstadt | 75,116| 374|Prince |Rudolstadt.
Swarzb. Sondershausen | 67,533| 332|Prince |Sonderhausen.
Waldeck | 56,807| 433|Prince |Corbach.
_Southern Confederation_| | | |
Baden | 1,434,970| 5,912|G. Duke |Carlsruhe.
Bavaria | 4,824,421| 29,373|King |Munich.
Hesse Darmstadt (S.) | 565,659| 1,690|G. Duke |Darmstadt.
Lichtenstein | 8,320| 62|Prince |Lichtenstein.
Wurtemberg | 1,778,396| 7,532|King |Stuttgardt.
Great Britain | 31,817,108| 120,769|Queen |London.
Gibraltar | 24,175| 2|Governor |Gibraltar.
Heligoland | 2,300| |Governor |Heligoland.
Malta | 143,003| 115|Governor |Malta.
Greece | 1,096,810| 18,347|King |Athens.
Ionian Islands | 251,712| 1,006| |
Italy | 25,766,217| 114,389|King |Rome.
Monaco | 1,887| 15|Prince |
Netherlands | 3,652,070| 12,685|King |Hague.
Luxemburg | 199,958| 991| |
Portugal | 3,829,618| 36,494|King |Lisbon.
Azores and Madeira | 363,658| 1,483| |
Russia | 78,400,000|7,862,568|Czar |St.
| | | | Petersburgh.
San Marino | 5,770| 22|Repub |San Marino.
Spain | 16,302,625| 195,607|Repub |Madrid.
Sweden | 4,158,757| 128,776|King |Stockholm.
Norway | 1,712,628| 120,295| |
Switzerland | 2,510,494| 15,722|President |Berne.
Turkey | 10,510,000| 131,295|Sultan |Constantinople.
Montenegro | 196,238| 1,709|Prince |Cettinge.
Roumania | 3,864,848| 46,710|Prince |Bucharest.
Servia | 1,078,281| 21,218|Prince |Belgrade.
| | | |
ASIA. | | | |
| | | |
Anam (C. China) | 9,000,000| 198,043|Emperor |Hue.
Arabia | 4,000,000|1,026,040| |Muscat.
Borneo | 25,000,000| 300,000| |
British India |192,012,137|1,545,336|Gov. Gen. |Calcutta.
Burmah | 4,000,000| 190,517|Comm. |Ava.
Ceylon | 2,081,395| 24,454|Governor |Colombo.
China |477,500,000|4,695,334|Emperor |Pekin.
Japan | 35,000,000| 149,399|Mikado |Yeddo.
Java | 14,168,416| 51,336|Gov. Gen. |Batavia.
Persia | 11,000,000| 562,344|Schah |Teheran.
Siam | 6,298,990| 309,024|King |Bangkok.
Tartary | 7,870,000| 640,516| |Bokhara.
Turkey in Asia | 16,463,000| 660,870| |
| | | |
AFRICA. | | | |
| | | |
Abyssinia | 3,000,000| 148,392|Emperor |Gondar.
Algeria | 2,921,846| 259,313|Gov. Gen. |Algiers.
Cape of Good Hope | 566,158| 200,610|Governor |Cape Town.
Egypt | 7,465,000| 659,081|Viceroy |Cairo.
Gambia | 6,939| 21|Adminis. |Bathurst.
Gold Coast | 262,000| 6,000|Adminis. |Cape C’st
| | | | Castle.
Lagos | 110,000| | |Lagos.
Liberia | 717,500| 9,567|President |Monrovia.
Madagascar | 5,000,000| 232,315|Queen |Antinarivo.
Morocco | 2,750,000| 672,300|Sultan |Fez.
Natal | 193,103| 16,150|Lt. Gov. |Port Natal.
Sierra Leone | 41,497| 468|Governor |Freetown.
St. Helena | 6,444| 47|Governor |James Town.
Tripoli | 750,000| 61,760|Bey |Tripoli.
Tunis | 2,000,000| 50,000|Bey |Tunis.
Zanzibar | 380,000| 1,600|Sultan |Zanzibar.
| | | |
AUSTRALIA. | | | |
| | | |
New South Wales | 447,620| 323,437|Governor |Sydney.
Queensland | 109,897| 678,600|Capt. Gen.|Port Denison.
South Australia | 176,298| 383,328|Governor |Adelaide.
Tasmania | 98,455| 26,215|Governor |Hobart Town.
Victoria | 703,817| 86,831|Capt. Gen.|Melbourne.
Western Australia | 21,065| 978,000|Governor |
| | | |
POLYNESIA. | | | |
| | | |
Feejee Islands | 200,000| 8,033|King |
New Guinea | 1,000,000| 275,518| |
New Zealand | 220,092| 106,261|Governor |Auckland.
Philippine Islands | 2,250,000| 56,000| |Manilla.
Sandwich Islands | 62,959| 7,633|King |Honolulu.
Society Islands | 15,000| 700|Queen |Tahiti.
------------------------+-----------+---------+----------+---------------
STATISTICS OF THE RACE.
The earth is inhabited by about 1,380,000,000 of inhabitants, namely:
380,000,000 of the Caucasian race,
580,000,000 of the Mongolian,
200,000,000 of the Ethiopian,
220,000,000 of the Malay races, and
1,000,000 of the American Indian.
All these respectively speak 3064 languages, and possess 1,000 different
religions.
The amount of deaths per annum is 33,333,333, or 91,954 per day, 3730 per
hour, 60 per minute, or one per second. This loss is compensated by an
equal number of births.
The average duration of life throughout the globe is thirty-three years.
One-fourth of its population dies before the seventh year, and one-half
before the seventeenth. Out of 10,000 persons only one reaches his
hundredth year; only one in 500 his eightieth; and only one in 100 his
sixty-fifth.
Married people live longer than unmarried ones, and a tall man is likely
to live longer than a short one. Until the fiftieth year women have a
better chance of life than men; but beyond that period the chances are
equal.
Sixty-five persons out of one thousand marry. The months of June and
December are those in which marriages are most frequent.
Children born in spring are generally stronger than those born in other
seasons.
Births and deaths chiefly occur at night.
The number of men able to bear arms is but one-eighth of the population.
AFRICANS IN AMERICA.
It is estimated that there are some 14,580,000 persons of African descent
on this continent. In the United States they number 4,880,000; Brazil
4,200,000; Cuba and Porto Rico 1,500,000; South and Central American
Republics 1,100,000; Hayti 1,350,000; British Possessions 800,000;
French, 250,000; Dutch and Mexican 400,000.
CREEDS OF THE WORLD.
The population of the world is religiously distributed very nearly in the
following proportions:
Christians 388,600,000
Buddhists 360,000,000
Other Asiatic religions 260,000,000
Pagans 200,000,000
Mohammedans 165,000,000
Jews 7,000,000
In Europe, America, Australia, and many of the Polynesian Islands,
_Christianity_ is the prevailing creed of every State. In Africa the
only independent Christian States are Abyssinia and Liberia, while
Christianity prevails in several European colonies. The largest empire
of Asia—Russia—is also a Christian country. India, the third country in
point of extent, is under the rule of a Christian government, and so is a
large portion of Farther India.
The _Mohammedan_ countries in Asia are Turkey, Persia, Afghanistan, and
the Khanates of Central Asia; in Africa—Morocco, the dependencies of
Turkey (Egypt, Tunis, Tripoli) and a number of interior States.
_Buddhism_ prevails in India, Farther India, in many parts of China, and
in Japan. The governments of Burmah and Siam are Buddhist; the government
of China adheres to the religion of Confucius; the religion of Japan is
_Sintooism_.
_Judaism_ is represented throughout the civilized world. The _Handbuch
der Vergleichenden Statistik_ of G. Von Kolb (Leipzig, 1868) gives the
following as the number of Jews in the countries named: Germany, 478,500;
Austria, 1,124,000; Great Britain, 40,000; France, 80,000; European
Russia, 2,277,000; Italy, 20,200; Switzerland, 4,200; Belgium 1,500;
Netherlands, 64,000; Luxemburg, 1,500; Denmark, 4,200; Sweden, 1,000;
Greece, 500; European Turkey, 70,000. The Jews in Portugal are estimated
at 3,000; in Syria and Asiatic Turkey, 52,000; in Morocco and North
Africa, 610,000; in Eastern Asia, 500,800; in America, 500,000.
SUPPLEMENT.
BY JUDGE J. C. POWER OF THE FIRST DISTRICT OF IOWA.
LEGAL FORMS.
FORM OF WILL.
In the name of God, Amen.
I, (give name of testator) of (residence), being of sound mind and
memory, do hereby make, publish, and declare this to be my last Will and
Testament, hereby revoking and making void all former Wills by me at any
time heretofore made.
_First_—I order and direct my Executors, as soon after my decease
as practicable, to pay off and discharge all the debts, dues, and
liabilities that may exist against me at the time of my decease.
_Second_—I give and bequeath unto my wife (name). (Here state property
bequeathed.)
_Third_—I give and bequeath unto my son (name). (Here state property
bequeathed.)
Same form for each legacy.
_Fourth_—I hereby nominate and appoint. (Here give name of person or
persons selected as Executors.)
In Witness Whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this ____ day of
____ A. D.
____ Name.
The above and foregoing instrument was at the date thereof signed,
sealed, published, and declared, by the said (name of testator), as and
for his last Will and Testament, in presence of us, who, at his request,
and in his presence, and in the presence of each other, have subscribed
our names as witnesses.
Name. ____ ____ Residence.
Name. ____ ____ Residence.
_Note._—Must be signed by the testator before acknowledged by him to
be his will—and must be signed by testator in presence of witnesses—or
acknowledged by him in presence of witnesses. Two witnesses are necessary.
ARTICLES OF CO-PARTNERSHIP.
This agreement, made and entered into this ____ day of ____, 187_, by and
between ____ of ____, and ____, of ____
Witnesseth: that the said parties hereby agree to become partners in the
business of ____ at ____ for the term of ____ years from the date hereof,
under the firm name of ____.
Said parties have each contributed the sum of ____ dollars as the capital
stock of said firm.
Both parties are to devote their entire time and skill for the common
benefit.
All expenses of the business and all losses are to be borne in common,
and the profits are to be equally divided.
Books of account are to be kept, in which shall be entered all money
received or paid, all purchaser and sales of goods, and all matters of
account relating to the business of the firm, which shall at all times be
accessible to both.
No money or other property shall be withdrawn by either partner, or
applied to his own use, except with the written consent of the other
partner; and in every such case the same shall be charged, and his share
of the profits shall be reduced in proportion to the amount withdrawn.
Once in each year a correct account shall be taken and stated on the
ledger of all stock property and assets of the firm, and of all debts and
liabilities.
At the close of the partnership a like account shall be taken and stated,
and the stock and property, and the debts, shall be equally divided after
payment of the liabilities of the firm.
No debt or claim of the firm shall be released or settled without payment
in full, unless by consent of both partners.
Neither partner shall have power to bind the firm as surety in any case;
and neither partner shall become surety for another without the written
consent of the other partner.
Witness our hands and seals this the day and date above written.
Name ____ [SEAL.]
Name ____ [SEAL.]
AGREEMENT TO CONTINUE A CO-PARTNERSHIP.
As the partnership existing between the undersigned will expire on the
____ day of ____, 187_, it is hereby agreed that said co-partnership
shall continue upon the same terms and conditions as provided in the
original articles of co-partnership for the further term of ____ from
the date of the expiration of said co-partnership as fixed by the said
articles.
Witness our hands (as in articles, giving date).
AGREEMENT for DISSOLUTION of CO-PARTNERSHIP.
The undersigned hereby agree that the co-partnership existing between
them, as is witnessed by the Articles of Co-partnership signed by us,
be, and the same is hereby, dissolved, except for the purpose of final
settlement of the business thereof, which may be settled by ____. And
upon such settlement, then said co-partnership shall be wholly dissolved.
Witness, etc. (as above).
POWER OF ATTORNEY.
Know all men by these presents, that I ____ of ____, hereby make,
constitute, and appoint ____ of ____, my true and lawful Attorney, for
me, and in my name, place, and stead, to (here state duty of Attorney)
granting unto my said Attorney full power and authority to do and perform
each and every thing necessary and proper to be done in the performance
of his duty, as fully as I might or could do if personally present,
hereby ratifying and confirming all the lawful acts of my said Attorney,
done under and by virtue hereof.
Witness my hand and seal this ____ day of ____ A. D. 187_.
Name ____ [SEAL.]
_Note._—To be signed and acknowledged as a deed for the conveyance of
real estate.
FORM OF SUBMISSION TO ARBITRATION.
Know all men by these presents, that whereas a controversy is now
existing between (name), of (residence), and (name), of (residence),
touching (here state nature of controversy):
Now, therefore, we, the said (here give names of parties), do hereby
submit said controversy to the decision and arbitration of (here
give names of three persons selected as arbitrators), of (here state
residences), and do covenant each with the other that we will faithfully
keep and abide by the decision and award that they, or any two of them,
may make in writing—said award to be made and signed on or before (here
give date).
And it is agreed by the parties hereto, that the party that shall fail to
abide by and observe said award, made in accordance with the foregoing
submission, shall forfeit and pay to the other the sum of (here insert
amount).
Witness our hands this ____ day of ____ A. D. ____.
____ Name.
____ Name.
AWARD OF ARBITRATORS.
The undersigned to whose arbitration was submitted the matters in
controversy between (here give names of parties) as more fully appears by
their written submission hereto attached, Report that on the day of ____
A. D. 18__, after having been duly sworn according to law, and having
given both parties ____ day’s notice in writing of the time and place of
our meeting to consider said matter, we proceeded to the discharge of
our duty; said (name of party) appearing in person (if by Att’y also so
state,) and said (name of party) appearing in person (if by Att’y also
so state.) And having heard the allegations and proofs of said parties,
and the witnesses introduced by them, and having examined the matter in
controversy submitted by them, do make and declare this as and for our
award.
Here state findings of Arbitrators.
Witness our hands this ____ day of ____ A. D. ____.
____ Name.
____ Name.
____ Name.
GENERAL FORM FOR AGREEMENT.
This Agreement made this ____ day of ____ 187_, by and between ____
of ____ and ____ of ____. Witnesseth: That the said ____ for the
consideration of (here state nature of consideration) to be (if money
paid,) (if work or labor or delivery of property) to be performed or
delivered as hereafter provided, hereby agrees that (state agreement of
this party fully.)
And for the consideration above mentioned the said ____ hereby agrees,
that (state agreement of this party fully.)
In witness whereof, we hereto subscribe our names and affix our seal this
day and date first above written.
Name ____ [SEAL.]
Name ____ [SEAL.]
AGREEMENT FOR SALE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
This Agreement, made this ____ day of ____ 187_, between ____ of ____
and ____ of ____. Witnesseth: That the said ____ in consideration of the
agreements on the part of ____ hereafter named, agrees to and with the
said ____ that on or before the ____ day of ____, 187_, he will deliver
to the said ____ at (state place of delivery,) the following property
(state kind of property).
And the said ____ in consideration of the aforesaid agreements and
promises on the part of the said ____, hereby promises and agrees to and
with the said ____, that he will pay to him (state price to be paid) said
payments to be made as follows (state how and when.)
In witness whereof, we hereto subscribe our names and affix our seals
this the day and year first above written.
Name ____ [SEAL.]
Name ____ [SEAL.]
AGREEMENT FOR THE SALE OF REAL ESTATE.
This Agreement, made this ____ day of ____ 187_, by and between ____
of ____ and ____ of ____. Witnesseth: That for and in consideration of
the sum of ____ dollars, to be paid by the said ____ to the said ____
as follows (state manner of payment), the said ____ hereby promises and
agrees to convey by (state nature of conveyance, whether warranty or quit
claim), the following described real estate situate in ____ county, State
of ____. (Give description of land.) And the said ____ hereby promises to
pay said ____ the sum of ____ dollars as above provided.
And upon the payment in full of said amount, then said conveyance is to
be executed and delivered.
In witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe our names and affix our seals
this the day and date above written.
Name ____ [SEAL.]
Name ____ [SEAL.]
_Note._—To be executed and acknowledged as a deed for real estate.
FORM OF LEASE.
Agreement of Lease, made this ____ day of ____, between ____ of and ____
of ____, Witnesseth: That the said ____ agrees to pay to ____, ____
dollars per ____ for the rent of the house and premises on (description
of land.)
The said ____ agrees to use said premises for no other purpose than ____,
and not underlet the same without the written consent of ____. This lease
to commence on the ____ day of ____ 187_, and continue until the ____
day of ____ 187_. The rent to be paid (_state how_) to the said ____ at
____. A failure to pay the rent as agreed, or to comply with any of the
stipulations of their lease by ____, shall authorize the said ____ to
consider the same forfeited; and he may take possession of the premises
without notice and without process of law, or he may bring his action as
allowed by law to recover possession.
In witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe our names and affix our seals
this the day and date first above written.
Name ____ [SEAL.]
Name ____ [SEAL.]
FORM OF DEED.
This Deed, made this ____ day of ____ 187_, Witnesseth: That for the
consideration of ____ dollars, we ____ of ____ county, State of ____,
hereby sell and convey unto ____ of ____ county, State of ____, all the
following described real estate, situate in ____ county, State of Iowa.
(Here give a description of the land) together with all the estate,
title, and interest, dower, and right of dower of the said grantors, or
either of them.
And we hereby warrant the title to said premises against all persons
whomsoever (or if quit claim say), and we hereby quit claim all our
right, title and interest in and to said premises to the grantees herein.
Witness our hands and seals this the day and date above written.
Name ____ [SEAL.]
Name ____ [SEAL.]
The State of ____}
____ County. }ss.
Be it Remembered, That on this ____ day of ____ 187_, before me a ____
within and for said county and State, personally appeared ____, who
personally known to me to be the identical person whose name ____ affixed
to the foregoing deed as grantor, and she acknowledged the same to be her
voluntary act and deed, and the said ____, having been made acquainted
with the contents hereof, and the nature of the above instrument having
been fully explained to her, and having been examined by me separate and
apart from her husband, acknowledged that she signed and executed the
said deed freely and voluntarily, and without compulsion, and that she
does not desire to retract the same.
In witness whereof, I hereto set my hand and ____ seal this the day and
date last above written.
Name ____ [SEAL.]
_Note._—It is better in all cases to have two witnesses to the
signatures, as the fact that such signatures are witnessed will never
invalidate the conveyance; and in some States the instrument is void
without such witnesses.
MORTGAGE DEED.
This Deed, made this ____ day of ____, 187_, Witnesseth: That for the
consideration of ____ dollars, we ____ of ____ county, State of ____,
hereby sell and convey unto ____ of ____ all the following described real
estate, situate in ____ county, State of ____ to-wit: (Here describe real
estate.)
And we hereby warrant the title to said premises against all persons
whomsoever.
This deed to be void, however, on condition ____ pay. (State nature of
indebtedness, time and manner of payment.)
(If homestead say), and the property conveyed being our homestead, we
hereby expressly waive all benefit of the homestead and exemption laws,
and consent that said property shall be liable for the payment of said
indebtedness. Otherwise of force and virtue.
Witness our hands and seals this the day and date above written.
Name ____ [SEAL.]
Name ____ [SEAL.]
NEGOTIABLE NOTE.
CHICAGO, Ill., May 1st, 1873.
$200
One year after date, I promise to pay to the order of Felix Welty,
two hundred dollars, with ten per cent. interest from date, for value
received.
Name ____
NON-NEGOTIABLE NOTE.
CHICAGO, Ill., May 1st., 1873.
$200
One year after date. I promise to pay Felix Welty, two hundred dollars,
with ten per cent. interest from date, for value received.
Name ____
NOTE TRANSFERABLE BY DELIVERY.
CHICAGO, May 1st, 1873.
$200
One year after date, I promise to pay Felix Welty or bearer, two hundred
dollars, with ten per cent. interest from date, for value received.
_Note._—If joint note say “we.” If joint and several say “we or either of
us.”
Name ____
DUE BILL.
Due Felix Welty, two hundred dollars, value received. May 1st, 1873.
Name ____
RECEIPT.
CHICAGO, Ill., May 1st, 1873.
Received of Willis Moran one hundred dollars, in full of all claims or
demands, of each and every kind held by me against him.
Name ____
_Note._—If in satisfaction or payment of any particular claim, to state.
End of Project Gutenberg's The Footprints of Time, by Charles Bancroft