such matters respecting invalid pensions as shall be referred to them by the House.-(January 10, 1831.)

97. 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.-(December 15, 1831.)

98. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Patents to consider all subjects relating to patents which may be referred to them; and report their opinion thereon, together with such propositions relative thereto as may seem to them expedient. (September 15, 1837.)

99. 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.-(September 15, 1837.)

100. 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 (December 14, 1795.)

101. 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.-(December 17, 1805;) also, to audit and settle all accounts which may be charged thereon; and also to audit the accounts of the members for their travel to and from the seat of government, and their attendance in the House. -(December 23, 1811.)

102. 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.-(September 15, 1837.)

103. There shall be appointed a standing committee of this House, to consist of three members, to be called the Committee on Engraving, to whom shall be referred by the Clerk 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 on 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.— (March 16, 1844.)

104. Six 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.-(March 30, 1816.)

1. A committee on so much of the public accounts and expenditures as )

relate to the Department of State;

2. A committee on so much of the public accounts and expenditures as relate to the Treasury Department;

3. A committee on so much of the public accounts and expenditures as relate to the Department of War;

4. A committee on so much of the public accounts and expenditures as relate to the Department of the Navy;

5. A committee on so much of the public accounts and expenditures as relate to the Post Office; and

6. A committee on so much of the public accounts and expenditures as

relate to the Public Buildings;

To consist of five members each.

105. 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 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 neces ary 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 depart ments, 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.-(March 30, 1816.)

It shall be the duty of the several Committees on Public Expenditures to inquire whether any

offices 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 offices 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.-(February 19, 1817.)

106. The several standing committees of the House shall have leave to report by bill or otherwise. (March 13, 1822.)

107. No committee shall sit during the sitting of the House, without special leave.—(November 13, 1794.)

108. 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 of him to be made, and the time when the report may be expected.-(March 13, 1822.)

109. 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.-(November 13, 1794.)

110. 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.—(December 23, 1811.)

111. 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.-(February 17, 1792, and December 30, 1793.) 112. All questions relating to the priority of business to be acted on, shall be decided without debate. (February 21, 1803.)

Of Bills.

113. 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; 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.-(April 7, 1789, and September 15, 1837.)

114. Every bill shall receive three several readings in the House, previous to its passage; and bills shall be despatched 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.— (April 7, 1789.)

115. 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.-(April 7, 1789.) 116. 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-(November 13, 1794;) 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 in the general file on the Speaker's table, to be taken up in its order (September 14, 1837.) But, if the bill be ordered to be engrossed, the House shall appoint the day when it shall be read the third time.-(November 13, 1794.)

117. Not more than three bills, originating in the House, shall be committed to the same Committee of the Whole; and such bills shall be analogous in their nature, which analogy shall be determined by the Speaker.-(December 29, 1817.)

118. 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.-(March 13, 1822.)

119. After commitment and report thereof to the House, or at any time before its passage, a bill may be recommitted.-(April 7, 1789.)

120. All bills ordered to be engrossed shall be executed in a fair round hand.-(April 7, 1789.) 121. No amendment by way of rider shall be received to any bill on its third reading.—(April 8, 1814)

122. When a bill shall pass, it shall be certified by the Clerk, noting the day of its passage at the foot thereof.--(April 7, 1789.)

Of Committees of the Whole House.

123. It shall be a standing order of the day, throughout the session, for the House to resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.-(April 7, 1789.)

124. 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.-(April 7, 1789.)

125. 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.— (April 7, 1789.)

126. All amendments made to an original motion in committee shall be incorporated with the motion, and so reported.—(April 7, 1789.)

127. 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.-(April 7, 1789.)

128. All questions, whether in Committee or in the House, shall be propounded in the order in which they were moved, except that, in filling up blanks, the largest sum and longest time shall be first put.-(April 7, 1789.)

129. No motion or proposition for a tax or charge upon the people shall be discussed the day in which it is made or offered; and every such proposition shall receive its first discussion in a Committee of the Whole House.-(November 13, 1794.)

130. 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.— (November 13, 1794.)

131. All proceedings touching appropriations of money shall be first discussed in a Committee of the Whole House.-(November 13, 1794.)

132. 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, (April 7, 1789;) but no member shall speak twice to any question, until every member choosing to speak shall have spoken.-(December 17, 1805.)

133. No standing rule or order of the House shall be rescinded or changed without one day's notice being given of the motion therefor―(November 13, 1794;) nor shall any rule be suspended, except by a vote of at least two-thirds of the members present-(March 13, 1822;) 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.-(April 26, 1828.) 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 from the further consideration of any bill referred to it, after acting, without debate, on all amendments pending, and that may be offered.-(March 11, 1844.)

134. It shall be in order for the Committee on Enrolled Bills to report at any time. (March 13, 1822.)

135. 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 the Joint Rules of the Senate and House of Representatives. (September 15, 1837.)

136. 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.-(May 19, 1804)

137. 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 travelling home when the witness has been summoned at the place of trial.-(June 5, 1832.)

138. 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 to the same.-(June 18, 1832.)

139. 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(December 22, 1826.)

140. 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.— (February 9, 1831.)

141. 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 orders and proceedings; which statement shall be printed for the use of the members.-(April 21, 1836.)

142. 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.-(July 4, 1832.)

143. The unappropriated rooms in that part of the Capitol assigned to the House shall be subject to the order and disposal of the Speaker, until the further order of the House.-(May 26, 1824.)

144. Maps accompanying documents shall not be printed, under the general order to print, without the special direction of the House.-(March 2, 1837 ; September 11, 1837.).

145. No committee sha'l be permitted to employ a clerk at the public expense, without first obtaining leave of the House for that purpose.-(December 14, 1838.)

146. No extra compensation shall be allowed to any officer, 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.-(March 8, 1842.)

JOINT RULES AND ORDERS OF THE TWO HOUSES.

1. In every case of an amendment of a bill agreed to in one house, and dissented to in the other, if either house shall request a conference, and appoint a committee for that purpose, and the other house shall also appoint a committee to confer, such committees shall, at a converter hour, to be agreed on by their chairmen, meet in the conference chamber, and state to each other, verbally or in writing, as either shall choose, the reasons of their respective houses for and against the amendment, and confer freely thereon.-(November 13, 1794.)

2. When a message shall be sent from the Senate to the House of Representatives, it shall be announced at the door of the House by the doorkeeper, and shall be respectfully communicated to the Chair by the person by whom it may be sent.-(November 13, 1794.)

3. The same ceremony shall be observed when a message shall be sent from the House of Representatives to the Senate.-(November 13, 1794.)

4. Messages shall be sent by such persons as a sense of propriety in each house may determine to be proper.-(November 13, 1794.)

5. While bills are on their passage between the two houses, they shall be on paper, and under the signature of the Secretary or Clerk of each house, respectively.-(November 13, 1794.)

6. After a bill shall have passed both houses, it shall be duly enrolled on parchment by the Clerk of the House of Representatives, or the Secretary of the Senate, as the bill may have originated in the one or the other house, before it shall be presented to the President of the United States.-(November 13, 1794.)

7. When bills are enrolled, they shall be examined by a joint committee of two from the Senate and two from the House of Representatives, appointed as a standing committee for that purpose, who shall carefully compare the enrollment with the engrossed bills, as passed in the two houses, and, correcting any errors that may be discovered in the enrolled bills, make their report forthwith to their respective houses.-(November 13, 1794, and February 1, 1827.)

8. After examination and report, each bill shall be signed in the respective houses, first by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, then by the President of the Senate.-(November 13, 1794.)

9. After a bill shall have been thus signed in each house, it shall be presented, by the said committee, to the President of the United States, for his approbation, (it being first endorsed on the back of the roll, certifying in which house the same originated; which endorsement shall be signed by the Secretary or Clerk, as the case may be, of the house in which the same did originate,) and shall be entered on the journal of each House. The said committee shall report the day of presentation to the President; which time shall also be carefully entered on the journal of each house. (November 13, 1794.)

10. All orders, resolutions, and votes, which are to be presented to the President of the United States, for his approbation, shall also, in the same manner, be previously enrolled, examined, and signed; and shall be presented in the same manner, and by the same committee, as provided in the cases of bills.-(November 13, 1794.)

11. When the Senate and House of Representatives shall judge it proper to make a joint address to the President, it shall be presented to him in his audience chamber by the President of the Senate, in the presence of the Speaker and both houses.—(November 13, 1794.)

12. When a bill or resolution which shall have passed in one house is rejected in the other, notice thereof shall be given to the house in which the same shall have passed.

13. When a bill or resolution which has been passed in one house shall be rejected in the other, it shall not be brought in during the same session, without a notice of ten days, and leave of twothirds of that house in which it shall be renewed.

14. Each house shall transmit to the other all papers on which any bill or resolution shall be founded.

15. After each house shall have adhered to their disagreement, a bill or resolution shall be lost. 16. No bill that shall have passed one house shall be sent for concurrence to the other on either of the three last days of the session.-(January 30, 1822.)

17. No bill or resolution that shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall be presented to the President of the United States, for his approbation, on the last day of the session.-(January 30, 1822.)

18. When bills which have passed one house are ordered to be printed in the other, a greater number of copies shall not be printed than may be necessary for the use of the house making the order. (February 9, 1829.)

19. No spirituous liquors shall be offered for sale, or exhibited, within the Capitol, or on the public grounds adjacent thereto.-(September 18, 1837.)