[Deschler-Brown Precedents, Volume 17, Chapters 34 - 40]
[Ch. 38. Death]
[Â§ 11. Services in the Capitol]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[Page 699-707]
 
                               CHAPTER 38
 
                                 Death
 
Sec. 11. Services in the Capitol

    Funerals and memorial services in the Capitol are not common. 
Generally, the observance will be conducted in the hometown of the 
Member, and a funeral committee appointed to attend.(1)
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 1. See Sec. 8, supra.
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    When a funeral is to be held in the Chamber of the Senate or the 
House, the other body has customarily been requested to attend by 
resolution.(2)
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 2. For details surrounding early funerals in the Hall of the House, 
        see 5 Hinds' Precedents Sec. Sec.  7107-7223.

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[[Page 700]]

    At one time, the rules of the House provided for the holding of 
memorial services for Members of the House of Representatives or Senate 
who died during the year.(3)
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 3. See Rule XI clause 9(n)(1), House Rules and Manual Sec. 693 
        (1971).                          -------------------
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Invitations to Funeral in Hall of the House

Sec. 11.1 Form of resolution extending invitations to attend the 
    funeral of Speaker Joseph W. Byrns in the Hall of the House of 
    Representatives.

    On June 5, 1936,(1) a resolution inviting the President, 
Vice President, and other dignitaries to attend the funeral of Speaker 
Byrns in the Hall of the House was offered and agreed to. The 
proceedings were as follows:
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 1. 80 Cong. Rec. 9123, 74th Cong. 2d Sess. See also 86 Cong. Rec. 
        12232, 76th Cong. 3d Sess., Sept. 16, 1940, for a House 
        resolution inviting the Senate and various dignitaries to 
        attend the funeral of Speaker William B. Bankhead (AL) in the 
        House Chamber (H. Res. 603).
            See also Sec. 6.10, supra, for resolution of sorrow adopted 
        on the death of Speaker Byrns, and Sec. 2.3, supra, for the 
        Clerk's announcement of Speaker Byrns' death.
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        Mr. [John J.] O'CONNOR [of New York]. Mr. Speaker, I offer a 
    resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.
        The Clerk read as follows:

                              House Resolution 545

            Resolved, That the Clerk of the House is hereby directed to 
        invite the Vice President and the Senate to attend the funeral 
        of the late Speaker, the Honorable Joseph W. Byrns, in the 
        House of Representatives at 12 o'clock meridian on Friday, June 
        5, 1936.
            Resolved, That invitations be extended to the President of 
        the United States and the members of his Cabinet, the Chief 
        Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the 
        United States, the Diplomatic Corps (through the Secretary of 
        State), the Chief of Staff of the Army, the Chief of Naval 
        Operations of the Navy, the Major General Commandant of the 
        Marine Corps, and the Commandant of the Coast Guard to attend 
        the funeral in the Hall of the House of Representatives.

        The resolution was agreed to.

Invitations to Rotunda Memorial Service

Sec. 11.2 While the Rotunda of the Capitol is under the joint control 
    of the House and the Senate, and while use thereof is normally 
    authorized by concurrent resolution, a memorial service in the 
    Rotunda for a Member of the Senate has been arranged by passage of 
    a Senate resolution inviting the House to attend the services and 
    by acceptance of such invitation

[[Page 701]]

    by the House, also by resolution.

    On Sept. 8, 1969,(1) Speaker John W. McCormack, of 
Massachusetts, laid before the House Senate Resolution 254, inviting 
the House to attend a memorial service for the Senate Minority Leader, 
Everett McKinley Dirksen, of Illinois. The proceedings were as follows:
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 1. 115 Cong. Rec. 24653, 91st Cong. 1st Sess.
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        The SPEAKER laid before the House the following resolution from 
    the Senate of the United States, which was read:

                                  S. Res. 254

            Resolved, That the Secretary invite the Members of the 
        House of Representatives to attend memorial services for the 
        Honorable Everett McKinley Dirksen in the rotunda of the 
        Capitol on Tuesday, September 9, 1969, at 12 o'clock noon; and 
        be it further
            Resolved, That invitations be extended to the President of 
        the United States and the members of the Cabinet, the Chief 
        Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the 
        United States, the Diplomatic Corps (through the Secretary of 
        State), the Chief of Staff of the Army, the Chief of Naval 
        Operations of the Navy, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, 
        the Major General Commandant of the Marine Corps, and the 
        Commandant of the Coast Guard to attend the memorial services 
        in the rotunda of the Capitol.

    Immediately after Senate Resolution 254 was read, Mr. Carl Albert, 
of Oklahoma, offered House Resolution 531, accepting the Senate's 
invitation:(2)
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 2. Id.
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        Mr. ALBERT. Mr. Speaker, I offer a resolution and ask for its 
    immediate consideration.
        The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                                  H. Res. 531

            Resolved, That the House of Representatives accepts the 
        invitation of the Senate to attend memorial services for the 
        Honorable Everett McKinley Dirksen in the rotunda of the 
        Capitol on Tuesday, September 9, 1969, at 12 o'clock noon.
            Resolved, That the Clerk communicate these resolutions to 
        the Senate.

        The resolution was agreed to.
        A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

    Similarly, On Aug. 1, 1953,(3) Mr. Charles A. Halleck, 
of Indiana, offered House Resolution 385, accepting the invitation of 
the Senate(4) to attend memorial services for Mr. Robert A. 
Taft, of Ohio.
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 3. 99 Cong. Rec. 10948, 10949, 83d Cong. 1st Sess.
 4. Id. at p. 10767 (S. Res. 158).
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        Mr. HALLECK. Mr. Speaker, I offer a resolution (H. Res. 385) 
    and ask for its immediate consideration.
        The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

            Resolved, that the House of Representatives accepts the 
        invitation of

[[Page 702]]

        the Senate to attend memorial services for the Honorable Robert 
        A. Taft in the rotunda of the Capitol on Monday, August 3, 
        1953, at 12 o'clock noon.
            Resolved, That the Clerk communicate these resolutions to 
        the Senate.

        The resolution was agreed to, and a motion to reconsider was 
    laid on the table.

    On Aug. 3, 1953,(5) the complete memorial services held 
in the Rotunda of the Capitol were ordered printed in the Congressional 
Record by unanimous consent. The Senate proceedings, in part, were as 
follows:
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 5. Id. at p. 10984.
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        Mr. [William F.] KNOWLAND [of California]. Mr. President, I ask 
    unanimous consent that there be printed at this point in the Record 
    the complete memorial services held today at 12 o'clock in the 
    rotunda of the Capitol, which will, of course, include the prayer, 
    the invocation, the memorial address by the Senator from Ohio [Mr. 
    Bricker], and the benediction.
        The Acting PRESIDENT Pro Tempore.(6) Is there 
    objection?
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 6. Homer E. Capehart (IN).
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        There being no objection, the proceedings were ordered printed 
    in the Record, as follows:

         MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR THE LATE SENATOR ROBERT A. TAFT, OF OHIO

        At 12 o'clock meridian the Senate proceeded to the rotunda of 
    the Capitol to attend the memorial services for the late Senator 
    Robert A. Taft, of Ohio.
        The casket containing the body of the deceased Senator had been 
    previously brought into the rotunda and placed on the catafalque, 
    draped with the American flag, and surrounded by many floral 
    tributes. An honor guard made up of one representative of each of 
    the Armed Services, the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and the 
    Marine Corps, under command of an officer of the Army, was posted 
    around the catafalque.
        The Members of the Senate, preceded by the Vice President and 
    the Secretary of the Senate, entered the rotunda and were seated on 
    the left of the catafalque.
        The Members of the House of Representatives, preceded by the 
    Speaker and its Clerk (Lyle O. Snader), entered the rotunda and 
    were escorted to seats on the right of the catafalque.
        The members of the Diplomatic Corps entered the rotunda and 
    were seated to the left.
        The Chief Justice of the United States and Associate Justices 
    of the Supreme Court of the United States entered the rotunda and 
    were seated in the area to the left.
        The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Chief of Staff 
    of the Army, the Chief of Naval Operations, the Chief of Staff of 
    the Air Force, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and the 
    Commandant of the Coast Guard entered the rotunda and were seated 
    in the area to the left.
        Mrs. Taft and the family of the late Senator were escorted to 
    the seats assigned to them.
        The members of the Cabinet entered the rotunda and were seated 
    in the area to the left.

[[Page 703]]

        Gov. Frank J. Lausche, of Ohio, and General of the Army Douglas 
    MacArthur and Mrs. MacArthur were escorted to the seats assigned to 
    them.
        Mr. Lawrence Richey, representing former President Herbert 
    Hoover, was escorted to the seat assigned to him.
        The President of the United States and Mrs. Eisenhower entered 
    the rotunda, escorted by the Secretary of the Senate (J. Mack 
    Trice) and the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate (Forest A. Harness), 
    and were escorted to seats on the right.
        The Senator from Ohio [Mr. Bricker]; the Chaplain of the 
    Senate, Rev. Frederick Brown Harris, D.D.; and the Chaplain of the 
    House of Representatives, Rev. Bernard Braskamp, D.D., were 
    escorted to the platform at the head of the catafalque.
        The Marine Band, under the direction of Lt. Col. William F. 
    Santelmann, played America the Beautiful.
        The Chaplain of the Senate pronounced the . . . invocation[.] . 
    . .

Invitations to Service in Senate Chamber

Sec. 11.3 Form of resolution accepting the invitation of the Senate to 
    attend the funeral services of a Senator in the Senate Chamber.

    On Jan. 22, 1940,(1) a message was received from the 
Senate announcing the adoption of the following resolution:
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 1. 86 Cong. Rec. 531-533, 76th Cong. 3d Sess.
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                             Senate Resolution 220
                               In the Senate of the United States,
                                                 January 20, 1940.

            Resolved, That the Senate has heard with profound sorrow 
        and deep regret the announcement of the death of Hon. William 
        E. Borah, late a Senator from the State of Idaho.
            Resolved, That a committee of 10 Senators be appointed by 
        the President of the Senate to take order for superintending 
        the funeral of the deceased Senator, to be held in the Senate 
        Chamber on Monday, January 22, 1940, at 12 o'clock and 30 
        minutes p.m., and that the Senate attend the same.
            Resolved, That the Secretary communicate these resolutions 
        to the House of Representatives, transmit a copy thereof to the 
        family of the deceased, and invite the House of Representatives 
        to attend the funeral in the Senate Chamber, and to appoint a 
        committee to act with the committee of the Senate.
            Resolved, That invitations be extended to the President of 
        the United States and the Members of the Cabinet, the Chief 
        Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the 
        United States, the Diplomatic Corps (through the Secretary of 
        State), the Chief of Staff of the Army, the Chief of Naval 
        Operations of the Navy, the Major General Commandant of the 
        Marine Corps, and the Commandant of the Coast Guard to attend 
        the funeral in the Senate Chamber.
            Resolved, That, as a further mark of respect to the memory 
        of the deceased, the Senate do now adjourn until 12 o'clock and 
        15 minutes p.m., Monday, January 22, 1940. . . .

                           the late william e. borah

        Mr. [Henry C.] DWORSHAK [of Idaho]. Mr. Speaker, it is with 
    profound sorrow and a sense of keen personal loss that I announce 
    at this time the passing, on January 19, of the distinguished 
    senior Senator from Idaho,

[[Page 704]]

    William E. Borah. For 33 years he served with devotion and loyalty 
    the country he loved so intensely. His record and his achievements 
    are known to all Americans.
        Mr. Speaker, later I shall speak at length upon the services of 
    this distinguished American. At this time I offer a resolution and 
    ask for its immediate consideration.
        The Clerk read as follows:

                              House Resolution 362

            Resolved, That the House has heard with profound sorrow of 
        the death of Hon. William E. Borah, a Senator of the United 
        States from the State of Idaho.
            Resolved, That the Clerk communicate these resolutions to 
        the Senate and transmit a copy thereof to the family of the 
        deceased Senator.
            Resolved, That a committee of 10 Members be appointed on 
        the part of the House to join the committee appointed on the 
        part of the Senate to attend the funeral.

        The resolution was agreed to.
        The SPEAKER.(2) The Chair appoints as members of the 
    funeral committee, Mr. Boehne, Mr. Hill, Mr. Lemke, Mr. Murdock of 
    Utah, Mr. White of Idaho, Mr. Hull, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Case of South 
    Dakota, Mr. Dworshak, and Mr. Thorkelson.
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 2. Sam Rayburn (TX).
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        Mr. [Sam] RAYBURN [of Texas]. Mr. Speaker, I offer a 
    resolution.
        The Clerk read as follows:

                              House Resolution 363

            Resolved, That the House of Representatives accepts the 
        invitation of the Senate to attend the funeral services of the 
        late Honorable William E. Borah, to be held in the Senate 
        Chamber Monday, January 22, 1940, at 12:30 o'clock p.m., and 
        that the committee appointed by the Speaker of the House to 
        attend the funeral shall act in conjunction with the committee 
        of the Senate to make the necessary arrangements.
            Resolved, That upon the return of the House to its Chamber 
        following the services in the Senate Chamber, the Speaker 
        shall, as a further mark of respect to the memory of the 
        deceased Senator, declare the House adjourned.
            Resolved, That the Clerk communicate these resolutions to 
        the Senate.

        The resolution was agreed to.

    On Apr. 11, 1939,(3) the Senate, by resolution, invited 
Members of the House to attend the funeral of Mr. James Hamilton Lewis, 
of Illinois. The following proceedings occurred:
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 3. 84 Cong. Rec. 4116, 4121, 4122, 76th Cong. 1st Sess.
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                            message from the senate

        A message from the Senate, by Mr. Frazier, its legislative 
    clerk, announced that the Senate had adopted the following 
    resolution:

                             Senate Resolution 119

            Resolved, That the secretary invite the Members of the 
        House of Representatives to attend the funeral of Hon. James 
        Hamilton Lewis in the Senate Chamber on Wednesday, April 12, 
        1939, at 2:30 o'clock p.m., and to appoint a committee to act 
        with the committee of the Senate; and be it further
            Resolved, That invitations be extended to the president of 
        the United States and the members of the Cabinet, the Chief 
        Justice and Associate

[[Page 705]]

        Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States, the 
        Diplomatic Corps (through the Secretary of State), the Chief of 
        Staff of the Army, the Chief of Naval Operations of the Navy, 
        the Major General commandant of the Marine Corps, and the 
        Commandant of the Coast Guard to attend the funeral in the 
        Senate Chamber. . . .

           attendance at funeral service of the late honorable james 
                                 hamilton lewis

        Mr. [Sam] RAYBURN [of Texas]. Mr. Speaker, I offer the 
    following resolution.

    The Clerk read as follows:

                              House Resolution 158

            Resolved, That the House of Representatives accepts the 
        invitation of the Senate to attend the funeral services of the 
        late Honorable James Hamilton Lewis to be held in the Senate 
        Chamber Wednesday, April 12, 1939, at 2:30 o'clock p.m., and 
        that the committee appointed by the Speaker of the House to 
        attend the funeral shall act in conjunction with the committee 
        of the Senate to make the necessary arrangements.
            Resolved, That the Clerk communicate these resolutions to 
        the Senate.

        The resolution was agreed to.

    On July 16, 1937,(4) Speaker William B. Bankhead, of 
Alabama, offered the following statement in the Congressional Record 
regarding arrangements made for the procession and attendance of the 
House at the funeral of Senator Joseph T. Robinson, of Arkansas, in the 
Senate Chamber:
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 4. 81 Cong. Rec. 7203, 75th Cong. 1st Sess.
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                 attendance upon services in the senate chamber

        The SPEAKER. The Chair suggests to the Members, in view of the 
    fact that certain seats have been reserved in the Senate Chamber 
    for the committee appointed to attend the funeral of the late 
    Senator Robinson, that the committee immediately follow the Speaker 
    and that the Members then follow the committee in the procession to 
    the Senate Chamber. The Speaker will take his place at the door, 
    the members of the committee will fall in behind him, and the other 
    members will follow in order.
        Thereupon, at 11:55 o'clock a.m., the Members of the House 
    proceeded to the Senate Chamber.
        At 12:43 o'clock p.m., the Members of the House returned to the 
    House Chamber.(5)
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 5. See 81 Cong. Rec. 7195, 75th Cong. 1st Sess., July 15, 1937, for 
        the form of resolution accepting the invitation of the Senate 
        to attend funeral services of Senator Robinson in the Senate 
        Chamber (H. Res. 279).
            For a summary of the funeral services of Senator Robinson, 
        see 81 Cong. Rec. 7201-203, 75th Cong. 1st Sess., July 16, 
        1937.
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Sec. 11.4 The House attended funeral services in the Senate Chamber for 
    the Secretary of the Navy, Claude A. Swanson, who was also a former 
    Member of the Senate and of the House of Representatives.

[[Page 706]]

    On July 10, 1939,(1) the House adopted the following 
resolutions:
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 1. 84 Cong. Rec. 8776, 76th Cong. 1st Sess.
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                              House Resolution 246

        Resolved, That the House has heard with profound sorrow and 
    deep regret the announcement of the death of Hon. Claude A. 
    Swanson, late the Secretary of the Navy, and formerly a Senator and 
    Representative in Congress from the State of Virginia.
        Resolved, That a committee of 16 Members be appointed on the 
    part of the House to join with the committee appointed on the part 
    of the Senate to attend the funeral.
        Resolved, That the Clerk communicate these resolutions to the 
    Senate and transmit a copy thereof to the family of the deceased.
        The resolution was agreed to.

    After Speaker pro tempore Sam Rayburn, of Texas, appointed members 
of the committee on the part of the House to join the committee 
appointed on the part of the Senate to attend the funeral, the 
following resolution was offered:(2)
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 2. Id.
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                              House Resolution 247

        Resolved, that the House of Representatives accepts the 
    invitation of the Senate to attend the funeral services of the late 
    Hon. Claude A. Swanson to be held in the Senate Chamber Monday, 
    July 10, 1939, at 1 o'clock p.m., and that the committee appointed 
    by the Speaker of the House to attend the funeral shall act in 
    conjunction with the committee of the Senate to make the necessary 
    arrangements.
        Resolved, That the Clerk communicate this resolution to the 
    Senate.
        The resolution was agreed to.(3)
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 3. For Senate proceedings of the funeral proceedings for Mr. Swanson, 
        see 84 Cong. Rec. 8768-70, 76th Cong. 1st Sess., July 10, 1939.
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Annual Memorial Service for Deceased Members

Sec. 11.5 A resolution was offered and agreed to fixing a special date 
    for the offering of memorial exercises in the House Chamber.

    On Apr. 2, 1953,(1) a privileged resolution was offered 
providing for the House to set aside a memorial day for deceased 
Members. The proceedings were as follows:
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 1. 99 Cong. Rec. 2730, 83d Cong. 1st Sess.
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        Mr. [William C.] COLE [of Missouri]. Mr. Speaker, I offer a 
    privileged resolution (H. Res. 199) and ask for its immediate 
    consideration.
        The Clerk read as follows:

            Resolved, That on Wednesday, May 6, 1953, immediately after 
        the approval of the Journal, the House shall stand in recess 
        for the purpose of holding memorial services as arranged by the 
        Committee on House Administration under the provision of clause 
        9(n)(1) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of 
        Representatives. The order of exercises and proceedings of the 
        service shall be printed in the Congressional Record,

[[Page 707]]

        and all Members shall have leave for 30 legislative days to 
        extend their remarks in the Congressional Record on the life, 
        character, and public service of the deceased Members. At the 
        conclusion of the proceedings, the Speaker shall call the House 
        to order and then as a further mark of respect to the memories 
        of the deceased he shall declare the House adjourned. The 
        necessary expenses connected with such memorial services shall 
        be paid out of the contingent fund of the House upon vouchers 
        signed by the chairman of the Committee on House 
        Administration.

        The resolution was agreed to.
        A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

    Similarly, on Apr. 18, 1946,(2) the following 
proceedings took place in the House:
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 2. 92 Cong. Rec. 3998, 79th Cong. 2d Sess.
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        Mr. [John R.] MURDOCK [of Arizona]. Mr. Speaker, at the request 
    of the gentleman from New Mexico [Mr. Fernandez], chairman of the 
    committee, and by direction of the Committee on Memorials, I offer 
    House Resolution 604, relative to the holding of memorial exercises 
    for our departed colleagues during the past year and fixing 
    Tuesday, the 28th day of May, for that purpose, and ask for its 
    immediate consideration.
        The Clerk read the resolution as follows:

            Resolved, That on Tuesday, the 28th day of May, 1946, 
        immediately after the approval of the Journal, the House shall 
        stand at recess for the purpose of holding the memorial 
        services as arranged by the Committee on Memorials, under the 
        provisions of clause 40a of rule XI. The order of exercises and 
        proceedings of the service shall be printed in the 
        Congressional Record, and all Members shall have leave for 
        sixty legislative days to extend their remarks in the 
        Congressional Record, on the life, character, and public 
        service of the deceased members. At the conclusion of the 
        proceedings, the Speaker shall call the House to order and then 
        as a further mark of respect to the memories of the deceased, 
        he shall declare the House adjourned: And be it further
            Resolved, That the necessary expenses connected with the 
        memorial services herein authorized shall be paid out of the 
        contingent fund of the House upon vouchers signed by the 
        chairman of the Committee on Memorials and approved by the 
        Committee on Accounts.

        The resolution was agreed to.(3)
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 3. For additional examples of resolutions providing for annual 
        memorial services in the House for deceased Members, see 97 
        Cong. Rec. 4281, 82d Cong. 1st Sess., Apr. 24, 1951 (H. Res. 
        205); 94 Cong. Rec. 2846, 80th Cong. 2d Sess., Mar. 15, 1948 
        (H. Res. 502).
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