[Hinds' Precedents, Volume 4]
[Chapter 101 - History and Jurisdiction of the Standing Committees - Continued]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]
HISTORY AND JURISDICTION OF THE STANDING COMMITTEES--Continued.
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1. The Committees on--
Mines and Mining. Sections 4223-4230.
Public Buildings and Grounds. Sections 4231-4238.
Pacific Railroads. Section 4239.
Levees and Improvements of the Mississippi River. Sections
4240, 4241.
Education. Sections 4242, 4243.
Labor. Sections 4244-4251.
Militia. Sections 4252, 4253.
Patents. Sections 4254-4257.
Invalid Pensions. Sections 4258,4259.
Pensions. Sections 4260, 4261.
Claims. Sections 4262-4268.
War Claim. Sections 4269-4272.
Private Land Claims. Sections 4273-4275.
District of Columbia. Sections 4276-4292.
Revision of the Laws. Sections 4293-4295.
Reform in the Civil Service. Sections 4296-4298.
Election of President, Vice-President, and Representatives in
Congress. Sections 4299-4304.
Alcoholic Liquor Traffic. Sections 4305,4306.
Irrigation of Arid Lands. Sections 4307, 4308.
Immigration and Naturalization. Sections 4309-4312.
Ventilation and Accoustics. Sections 4313, 4314.
Expenditures in the Various Departments. Sections 4315-4320.
Rules. Sections 4321-4327.
Accounts. Sections 4328-4335.
Mileage. Section 4336.
Library. Sections 4337-4346.
Printing. Sections 4347-4349.
Enrolled Bills. Section 4350.
Census. Sections 4351, 4352.
Industrial Arts and Expositions. Sections 4353, 4354.
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4223. The creation and history of the Committee on Mines and Mixing,
section 21 of Rule XI.
The rule gives to the Committee on Mines and Mining jurisdiction of
subjects relating ``to the mining interests.''
Sec. 4224
Section 21 of Rule XI provides for the reference of subjects
relating--
to the mining interests: to the Committee on Mines and Mining.
This committee consists of fifteen Members and one Delegate.
It was established on December 19, 1865,\1\ and the present form of
the rule dates from the revision of 1880.
4224. Legislative propositions relating to the work of the Geological
Survey have been reported by the Committee on Mines and Mining.--On
April 17, 1882,\2\ the Committee on Mines and Mining reported a
resolution authorizing an appropriation to enable the Geological Survey
to procure statistics in regard to mines and mining, and make analyses
of coal, iron, and oil.
In 1906 and 1907 \3\ this committee reported bills authorizing
examinations of the black sands of the Pacific coast, and providing for
investigation of the water resources of the United States.
4225. Propositions to establish departments or bureaus of mines and
of geology have been reported by the Committee on Mines and Mining.--
The Committee on Mines and Mining reported in 1892 \4\ and 1900 \5\ the
bills to create an executive department of mines and mining; in 1886
\6\ the bill (H. R. 8101) to establish a bureau of mines and mining;
and in 1906 \7\ on the subject of a bureau of geology and mining.
4226. The Committee on Mines and Mining has reported bills for
establishing schools of mines and mining experiment stations.--The
Committee on Mines and Mining has reported bills for the establishment,
from the proceeds of the sale of public lands,\8\ of schools of mines
\9\ and mining experiment stations.\10\
4227. The Committee on Mines and Mining has reported on the subject
of alien ownership of mineral lands.--The Committee on Mines and Mining
reported in 1888,\11\ and 1890 \12\ on the subject of alien ownership
of mineral lands.
4228. The subjects of the mineral land laws and claims and entries
thereunder have been within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Mines
and Mining.--The Committee on Mines and Mining has reported:
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\1\ First session Thirty-ninth Congress, Globe, p. 83.
\2\ This report reviews the establishment of the Geological Survey,
which was authorized on an appropriation bill (First session Forty-
seventh Congress, Report No. 1065.)
\3\ First session, Fifty-ninth Congress, Report No. 7; second
session, Report No. 6408.
\4\ First session Fifty-second Congress, Report No. 1003.
\5\ First session Fifty-sixth Congress, Report No. 334.
\6\ First session Forty-ninth Congress, Report No. 1881.
\7\ First session Fifty-ninth Congress, Report No. 1184.
\8\ See also the Committee on Public Lands, section 4202 of this
volume.
\9\ First session Fifty-sixth Congress, Reports Nos. 385, 1631; first
session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 1136; First session Fifty-
seventh Congress, Report No. 604; second session Fifty-eighth Congress,
Report No. 666.
\10\ Second session Fifty-eighth Congress., Report No. 1966; first
session Fifty-ninth Congress, Report No. 1066.
\11\ First session Fiftieth Congress, Report No. 703.
\12\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 1140.
Sec. 4229
In 1891,\1\ 1894, and 1895,\2\ on legislation relating to the mineral
land laws and claims and entries thereunder.
In 1882 \3\ on the bill (H. R. 4170) authorizing claimants to mines
to make certain affidavits.
In 1904 and 1905,\4\ on suits in mining claims, mineral veins within
boundaries of placer claims, and exploration and purchase of mines
within boundaries of private land claims.
4229. Bills relating to the welfare of men working in mines have been
reported by the Committee on Mines and Mining.--The Committee on Mines
and Mining reported in 1890 \5\ a bill relating to the protection of
the lives of miners; and in 1901 \6\ as to miners in the Territories.
4230. The subject of mining debris in California has been within the
jurisdiction of the Committee on Mines and Mining.--In 1888,\7\
1892,\8\ 1896,\9\ 1905,\10\ and 1906 \11\ the Committee on Mines and
Mining reported on the subject of mining debris in California and as to
the California Debris Commission.
4231. The creation and history of the Committee on Public Buildings
and Grounds, section 22 of Rule XI.
The rule gives to the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds
jurisdiction of subjects relating ``to the public buildings and
occupied or improved grounds of the United States, other than
appropriations therefor.''
Section 22 of Rule XI provides for the reference of subjects
relating--
to the public buildings and occupied or improved grounds of the United
States, other than appropriations therefor: to the Committee on Public
Buildings and Grounds.
There are sixteen Members on this committee.
The committee was first established on September 15, 1837,\12\ with
jurisdiction of ``subjects relating to the public edifices and grounds
within the city of Washington.'' On March 10, 1871,\13\ on motion of
Mr. Henry L. Dawes, of Massachusetts, this jurisdiction was extended to
include ``all the public buildings constructed by the United States.''
The present form of the rule comes from the revision of 1880.\14\
4232. The Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds has jurisdiction
of bills authorizing the purchase of sites and construction of post-
offices, custom-houses, and Federal court-houses in various portions of
the country.
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\1\ Second session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 3484.
\2\ Fifty-third Congress, second session, Reports Nos. 1283, 1338;
third session, Report No. 1875.
\3\ First session Forty-seventh Congress, Report No. 270.
\4\ Fifty-eighth Congress, second session, Reports Nos. 1885, 2510;
third session, Report No. 4095.
\5\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 2588.
\6\ First session Fifty-seventh Congress, Report No. 148.
\7\ First session Fiftieth Congress, Report No. 408.
\8\ First session Fifty-second Congress, Reports Nos. 165, 937.
\9\ First session Fifty-fourth Congress, Report No. 876.
\10\ Third session Fifty-eighth Congress, Report No. 4202.
\11\ First session Fifty-ninth Congress, Report No. 1110.
\12\ First session Twenty-fifth Congress, Globe, p. 34.
\13\ First session Forty-second Congress, Globe, p. 53; Journal, p.
27.
\14\ Second session Forty-sixth Congress, Record, p. 205.
Sec. 4233
Legislation relating to the office of the Supervising Architect of
the Treasury is within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Public
Buildings and Grounds.
The Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds exercises a general
jurisdiction over bills authorizing the construction of buildings for
post-offices, custom-houses, and Federal courts in various portions of
the country,\1\ as in 1907 the bill (H. R. 25758) amending an act
entitled ``An act to increase the limit of cost of certain public
buildings, to authorize the purchase of sites for public buildings, to
authorize the erection and completion of public buildings, and for
other purposes,'' and for other purposes. These bills carry only the
authorizations. The actual appropriations are within the jurisdiction
of the Committee on Appropriations.\2\
In 1885 \3\ the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds reported
the bill (H. R. 7523) defining the duties of the Supervising Architect,
who controls the plans, etc., of buildings authorized by Congress.
4233. Government buildings within the District of Columbia are within
the jurisdiction of the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds.
The bill authorizing the acquisition of a site and erection of the
Government Printing Office was placed within the jurisdiction of the
Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds.
On September 6, 1893,\4\ the joint resolution relating to the
acquisition of a site and the erection of a Government Printing Office
was changed from the Committee on Printing to the Committee on Public
Buildings and Grounds.
The Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds has also reported:
In 1885,\5\ in relation to an underground cable for telegraphic
communication between the various Departments of the Government.
In 1890,\6\ on the subject of fire alarm for public buildings in
District of Columbia.
In 1894,\7\ on the subject of municipal building in District of
Columbia.
In 1906,\8\ an act to provide a site and building for the Departments
of State, Justice, and Commerce and Labor.
4234. The bill for the purchase of the house in which Abraham Lincoln
died was reported by the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds.--On
January 29, 1883,\1\ the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds
reported the bill (H. R. 7463) for the purchase of the house in which
Abraham Lincoln died.
4235. Subjects relating to the Zoological Park in the District of
Columbia have been within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Public
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\1\ See Fifty-ninth Congress, first session, Report No. 5011; second
session, Report No. 8041; also prior Congresses.
\2\ These appropriations are usually carried in the sundry civil
bill. See 34 Stat. L., p. 697.
\3\ Second session Forty-eighth Congress, Report No. 2445.
\4\ First session Fifty-third Congress, Record, p. 1801.
\5\ First session Forty-eighth Congress, Report No. 2395.
\6\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 2078.
\7\ Second session Fifty-third Congress, Report No. 1205.
\8\ First session Fifty-ninth Congress, Report No. 5095.
\9\ Second session Forty-seventh Congress, Report No. 1899.
Sec. 4236
Buildings and Grounds.--In 1889\1\ the Committee on Public Buildings
and Grounds reported the bill (H. R. 11810) for the establishment of
the Zoological Park in the District of Columbia; and in 1890\2\ and
1899\3\ on bills to provide for the organization, improvement,
maintenance, seclusion, and readjustment of boundaries of this park.
4236. Subjects relating to public reservations and parks within the
District of Columbia, including Rock Creek Park, are within the
jurisdiction of the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds.--On
April 2, 1906,\4\ reference of the bill (H. R. 6000) to rectify the
boundary line of Rock Creek Park was changed from the Committee on the
District of Columbia to the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds.
In 1907 \5\ the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds reported
the bill (S. 5201) ``to acquire certain land in the District of
Columbia as an addition to Rock Creek Park and in Hall and Elvan's
subdivision of Meridian Hill for a public park.'' \6\
On March 28, 1906,\7\ the House changed the reference of bill (H. R.
17412) for acquiring by condemnation for Government reservations
certain triangles on Sixteenth street, in the city of Washington, from
the Committee on the District of Columbia to the Committee on Public
Buildings and Grounds.
On February 3, 1906,\8\ on motion of the chairman of the committee on
the District of Columbia, the bills (H. R. 9325) to acquire certain
ground for a Government reservation (H. R. 6031), to acquire certain
grounds in the District of Columbia for a Government reservation, and
(H. R. 72) to acquire certain ground for a Government reservation, were
referred to the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds.
4237. Subjects relating to the House restaurant and kitchen have been
within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds.--On April 8, 1869,\9\ the Committee on Revisal and Unfinished
Business, which had charge of the House restaurant, had been
discontinued, and the care of the restaurant was given by resolution of
the House to the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds.
On December 15, 1893,\10\ the House directed the Committee on Public
Buildings and Grounds to investigate the condition of the kitchen of
the House restaurant.
In 1894 \11\ Public Buildings and Grounds reported on the subject of
the House restaurant and kitchen, and on the sale of intoxicating
liquors in the Capitol.
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\1\ Second session Fiftieth Congress, Report No. 3907.
\2\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 305.
\3\ Third session Fifty-fifth Congress, Report No. 2329.
\4\ First session Fifty-ninth Congress, Record, p. 4624.
\5\ Second session Fifty-ninth Congress, Report No. 7642.
\6\ In 1891 (first session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 870)
however, the Committee on the District of Columbia reported the bill to
establish Rock Creek Park, and in 1887 (second session Forty-ninth
Congress, Report No. 3820) a bill providing for condemnation of land
for this park.
\7\ First session Fifty-ninth Congress, Record, p. 4423.
\8\ First session Fifty-ninth Congress, Record, p. 2039.
\9\ First session Fortieth Congress, Journal, p. 201; Globe, p. 644.
\10\ Second session Fifty-third Congress, Record, p. 254.
\11\ First session Fifty-fourth Congress, Reports Nos. 74, 1831.
Sec. 4238
4238. Subjects relating generally to the Capitol building, especially
the House wing, have been reported by the Committee on Public Buildings
and Grounds.--On January 18, 1882,\1\ the Committee on Public Buildings
and Grounds reported the bill (H. R. 3181) directing the architect to
make certain repairs in the House wing of the Capitol, especially in
the House restaurant.
The same committee also reported:
In 1890,\2\ on the subject of shelving for the document room of the
House.
In 1891,\3\ on the subject of flags on the Capitol building
4239. The creation and history of the Committee on Pacific Railroads,
section 23 of Rule XI.
The rule gives to the Committee on Pacific Railroads jurisdiction of
subjects relating ``to the railroads and telegraph lines between the
Mississippi River and the Pacific coast.''
Section 23 of Rule XI provides for the reference of subjects
relating--
to the railroads and telegraphic lines between the Mississippi River
and the Pacific coast, to the Committee on Pacific Railroads.
This committee consists of fifteen members.
It was at first a select committee, and was made a standing committee
on March 2, 1865.\4\ The present form of the rule dates from 1880.\5\
4240. The creation and history of the Committee on Levees and
Improvements of the Mississippi River, section 24 of Rule XI.
The rule gives to the Committee on Levees and Improvements of the
Mississippi River jurisdiction of subjects relating ``to the levees of
the Mississippi River.''
Section 24 of Rule XI provides for the reference of subjects
relating--
to the levees of the Mississippi River, to the Committee on Levees and
Improvements of the Mississippi River
This committee has thirteen Members.
Originally this was a select committee, to whom were referred matters
relating to the levees of the Mississippi River. On December 9, 1875,
Mr. Randall L. Gibson, of Louisiana, presented a resolution, which was
agreed to, establishing as a standing committee the ``Committee on
Mississippi Levees.'' \6\ In the next Congress the name was changed to
its present form, and the committee reported and secured the passage of
the bill establishing the Mississippi River Commission.\7\ Up to the
time of the revision in 1880 there had been no rule defining the
jurisdiction of the committee. While the rules were under discussion at
that time an attempt was made to define the jurisdiction by the words
``improvement of the Mississippi
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\1\ First session Forty-seventh Congress, Report No. 23.
\2\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 1753.
\3\ Second session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 3796.
\4\ Second session Thirty-eighth Congress, Journal, p. 387; Globe, p.
1312.
\5\ Second session Forty-sixth Congress, Record, p. 205.
\6\ First session Forty-fourth Congress, Record, p. 191.
\7\ Second session Forty-sixth Congress, Record, p. 452, remarks of
Mr. Robertson.
Sec. 4241
River and its tributaries,'' but this was defeated, and the words of
the present rule were adopted.\1\
4241. Subjects relating to the Mississippi River Commission are
within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Levees and Improvements of
the Mississippi River.--In 1880 \2\ the bill creating the Mississippi
River Commission was reported by the Committee on Levees and
Improvements of the Mississippi River; and in 1900 \3\ the same
committee reported a bill to amend that law.
In 1906 \4\ it reported again on this subject.
In 1891 \5\ this committee reported on the subject of levees.
4242. The creation and history of the Committee on Education, section
25 of Rule XI.
The rule gives to the Committee on Education jurisdiction of subjects
relating ``to education.''
Section 25 of Rule XI provides for the reference of subjects
relating--
to education, to the Committee on Education.
There are thirteen members in this committee.
Mr. Joseph Richardson, of Massachusetts, proposed a standing
committee on Education on December 15, 1829,\6\ but the proposition was
successfully opposed on the ground that the jurisdiction of the subject
of education belonged to the several States, Mr. Richardson's motion
being disagreed to, by a vote of 127 to 52. On March 21, 1867,\7\ Mr.
Nathaniel P. Banks, of Massachusetts, from the Committee on Rules,
reported a proposition for the establishment of a standing Committee on
Labor, which had been proposed by Mr. Jehu Baker, of Illinois, so
amended as to establish a Committee ``on Education and Labor,'' the
recent creation of the Bureau of Education rendering such a step
desirable. On December 19, 1883,\8\ the two jurisdictions were divided,
leaving the rule in its present form.
4243. Illustrations of the general jurisdiction of the Committee on
Education.--The Committee on Education has reported on the following
subjects:
In 1884,\9\ the bill (H. R. 4980) relating to the aid of the General
Government for the support of common schools.
In 1890,\10\ the bill (H. R. 634) to aid in the establishment and
temporary support of common schools.
In 1901,\11\ the bill (H. R. 1221) to provide for the education of
the blind.
In 1899,\12\ the bill (H. R. 9) to provide homes for teaching
articulate speech to deaf children.
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\1\ Second session Forty-sixth Congress, Record, pp. 732-735, 822-
824.
\2\ First, session Forty-sixth Congress, H. R. 1847.
\3\ First session Fifty-sixth Congress, Report No. 1651.
\4\ First session Fifty-ninth Congress, Reports Nos. 2759, 4774.
\5\ Second session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 3598.
\6\ First session Twenty-first Congress, Journal, pp. 42, 55;
Debates, pp. 475-477.
\7\ First session Fortieth Congress, Globe, p. 264.
\8\ First session Forty-eighth Congress, Record, pp. 195, 196.
\9\ First session Forty-eighth Congress, Report No. 495.
\10\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 2605.
\11\ Second session Fifty-sixth Congress, Report No. 2424.
\12\ First session Fifty-sixth Congress, Report No. 5.
Sec. 4244
In 1890,\1\ the bill (S. 3714) ``to apply a portion of the public
lands to the more complete endowment and support of the colleges \2\
for the benefit of agriculture and the mechanic arts.''
In 1884,\3\ on the investigation of the agricultural colleges.
In 1891,\4\ on the subject of an Alaskan agricultural college.
In 1906,\5\ on the incorporation of the National Educational
Association.
4244. The creation and history of the Committee on Labor, section 26
of Rule XI.
The rule gives to the Committee on Labor jurisdiction of subjects
``relating to and affecting labor.''
Section 26 of Rule XI provides for the reference of subjects
relating--
to and affecting labor: to the Committee on Labor.
This committee is composed of 13 members.
It was created December 19, 1883, when the jurisdiction of the old
Committee ``on Education and Labor'' was divided.\6\
4245. The Committee on Labor has exercised general jurisdiction of
propositions to make investigations as to the conditions of laboring
people, labor troubles,\7\ etc.--The Committee on Labor has exercised
jurisdiction over proposition to make investigations of subjects
relating to the condition of labor, and has reported:
In 1896,\8\ on the subject of a commission on labor, agriculture, and
capital.
In 1892,\9\ on labor statistics in relation to use of machinery.
In 1886,\10\ a resolution relating to the investigation of labor
troubles.
In 1892,\11\ on an investigation of Idaho labor troubles.
In 1891,\12\ on a commission to inquire into the condition of colored
people.
In 1892,\13\ on an investigation of the slums of cities.
In 1888,\14\ on the condition of saleswomen in the District of
Columbia.\15\
In 1906,\16\ a joint resolution authorizing an investigation of the
condition of woman and child labor in the United States.
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\1\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 2697.
\2\ For this subject of the agricultural colleges, see also the
Committee on Agriculture, section--of this volume.
\3\ First session Forty-eighth Congress, Record, p. 1496.
\4\ Second session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 4414.
\5\ First session Fifty-ninth Congress, Report No. 592.
\6\ First session Forty-eighth Congress, Record, pp. 195, 196.
\7\ See also section 4072 of this volume.
\8\ First session Fifty-fourth Congress, Report No. 387.
\9\ First session Fifty-second Congress, Report No. 514.
\10\ First session Forty-ninth Congress, Report No. 1472.
\11\ First session Fifty-second Congress, Report No. 2016.
\12\ First session Fifty-seventh Congress, Report No. 2194.
\13\ First session Fifty-second Congress, Report No. 625.
\14\ First session Fiftieth Congress, Report No. 2903.
\15\ First session Fifty-ninth Congress, Report No. 2745.
\16\ The Committee on the Judiciary reported in 1894 a bill relative
to treatment of female employees in stores in the District of Columbia.
(Second session Fifty-third Congress, Report No. 1459.)
Sec. 4246
4246. The Committee on Labor has reported on the subject of
arbitration as a means of settling labor troubles.--The Committee on
Labor has reported:
In 1886,\1\ the bill (H. R. 7479) for the settlement of controversies
by arbitration.
In 1888,\2\ on boards of arbitration for labor troubles on interstate
railroads.
In 1894,\3\ on arbitration of labor troubles.
In 1901,\4\ on a board of investigation and arbitration.
In 1896,\5\ on arbitration of railroad strikes.
In 1895,\6\ on railroad labor controversies.
4247. Propositions relating to wages and hours of labor, even when a
constitutional amendment \7\ has been proposed, have been considered by
the Committee on Labor.--The Committee on Labor has reported:
In 1884,\8\ the resolution (H. Res. 74) proposing a constitutional
amendment limiting the hours of labor.
In 1901,\9\ on hours of labor on public works; and in 1906 \10\ on
the same subject.
In 1887,\11\ on the bill (H. R. 4011) providing for the payment of
wages weekly by Government contractors; also in 1890 \12\ on Government
laborers' pay.
In 1886 \13\ the bill (H. R. 5310) relating to the protection of
laborers in their wages--a lien law.
4248. Bills relating to convict labor and the entry of goods made by
convicts into interstate commerce have been reported by the Committee
on Labor.--The Committee on Labor has exercised jurisdiction of the
subject of convict labor, and has reported:
In 1884 \14\ the resolution (H. Res. 34) proposing an amendment to
the Constitution of the United States prohibiting any State contracting
the labor of prisoners; and the bill (H. R. 995) for the abolition of
contract labor so far as the prisoners of the United States are
concerned.
In 1886,\15\ and 1892 \16\ bills relative to the employment of alien
and convict labor on public works.
In 1891,\17\ on a bill to prevent the use of convict labor on public
buildings.
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\1\ First session Forty-ninth Congress, Report No. 1447.
\2\ First session Fiftieth Congress, Report No. 1725.
\3\ Second session Fifty-third Congress, Report No. 1343.
\4\ First session Fifty-seventh Congress, Report No. 2722.
\5\ First session Fifty-fourth Congress, Report No. 1058.
\6\ Third session Fifty-third Congress, Report No. 1754.
\7\ See section 4056 of this volume.
\8\ First session Forty-eighth Congress, Report No. 2044.
\9\ First session Fifty-seventh Congress, Report No. 1793.
\10\ First session Fifty-ninth Congress, Report No. 5030.
\11\ Second session Forty-ninth Congress, Report No. 4011.
\12\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 2630.
\13\ First session Forty-ninth Congress, Report No. 514.
\14\ First session Forty-eighth Congress, Reports Nos. 1064, 2043.
\15\ First session Forty-ninth Congress, Report No. 369.
\16\ First session Fifty-second Congress, Report No. 1312.
\17\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 1785.
Sec. 4249
In 1888,\1\ a bill to prevent convict-made goods from being furnished
to any Department of the Government.
In 1891,\2\ a bill to prevent the use of convict labor in any
Department of the Government.
In 1906,\3\ as to Government contracts for products of convict labor.
In 1888,\4\ on a proposition to prohibit the importation of convict-
made goods.
In 1894 \5\ and 1896,\6\ on bills to confine the sale of convict-made
goods to the States in which they are produced.
In 1900,\7\ the bill (H. R. 5440) to protect free labor from prison
competition, which was reported amended so as to provide for regulation
of interstate commerce in prison-made goods.
In 1906,\8\ the bill (H. R. 12318) ``to limit the effect of the
regulation of interstate commerce on goods, wares, and merchandise
wholly or in part manufactured by convict labor.''
4249. Propositions to regulate or prevent the importation of foreign
laborers under contract have been within the jurisdiction of the
Committee on Labor.--The Committee on Labor has exercised jurisdiction
as to the subject of contract labor, and has reported:
In 1884,\9\ the resolution (H. Res. 246) declaring in favor of the
employment of residents and citizens of the United States in the
construction of public works, and the bill (H. R. 2550) to prevent the
importation of foreign contract labor into the United States.
In 1886,\10\ the bill (H. R. 9232) to amend the act prohibiting the
importation or immigration of alien laborers under contract.
In 1890,\11\ on the subject of contract labor.
In 1899,\12\ the bill (H. R. 11247) extending the contract-labor laws
to Hawaii.
4250. Matters relating to labor employed in the various branches of
the Government service have been considered by the Committee on
Labor.--The Committee on Labor has exercised a general jurisdiction on
the subject of labor employed by the Government, having reported:
In 1884,\13\ 1886,\14\ 1887,\15\ and 1895,\16\ on leaves of absence
and wages of employees of the Government Printing Office.
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\1\ First session Fiftieth Congress, Report No. 1200.
\2\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 1786.
\3\ Second session Fifty-eighth Congress, Report No. 2448.
\4\ First session Fiftieth Congress, Report No. 1727.
\5\ Second session Fifty-third Congress, Report No. 1233.
\6\ First session Fifty-fourth Congress, Report No. 1542.
\7\ First session Fifty-sixth Congress, Report No. 1415.
\8\ First session Fifty-ninth Congress, Report No. 4782.
\9\ First session Forty-eighth Congress, Reports Nos. 444, 2045.
\10\ First session Forty-ninth Congress, Report No. 2901.
\11\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 2997.
\12\ Third session Fifty-fifth Congress, Report No. 1794.
\13\ First session Forty-eighth Congress, Report No. 2015.
\14\ First session Forty-ninth Congress, Report No. 1413.
\15\ Second session Forty-ninth Congress, Report No. 3815.
\16\ Third session Fifty-third Congress, Report No. 1562.
Sec. 4251
In 1886,\1\ and 1892,\2\ on conditions of employment in the Bureau of
Engraving and Printing.
In 1886,\3\ and 1888,\4\ on hours of labor of letter carriers.
In 1884,\5\ on a resolution providing an investigation of the
sanitary condition of places where labor is employed by the Government.
In 1886,\6\ on the bill (H. R. 8819) relating to employees in United
States navy-yards.
In 1888,\7\ concerning the employment of enlisted men of Army and
Navy.
In 1900,\8\ and 1902,\9\ the resolution (H. J. Res. 33) in reference
to the employment of enlisted men in competition with local civilians.
4251. The Committee on Labor has reported bills proposing general
legislation as to classes of claims under the eight-hour law.--In
1884,\10\ 1888,\11\ and 1890,\12\ the Committee on Labor reported
general--as distinguished from private and special--bills providing for
the adjustment of claims under the eight-hour law.
4252. The creation and history of the Committee on the Militia,
section 27 of Rule XI.
The rule gives to the Committee on the Militia jurisdiction of
subjects relating ``to the militia of the several States.''
Section 27 of Rule XI provides for the reference of subjects
relating--
to the militia of the several States; to the Committee on the Militia.
This committee consists of fourteen members.
It was established on December 10, 1835,\13\ on motion of Mr. Ransom
H. Gillet, of New York. The present form of the rule dates from the
revision of 1880.\14\
4253. Bills relating to the militia of the District of Columbia as
well as to that of the various States have been considered by the
Committee on the Militia.--The Committee on the Militia has reported:
In 1888,\15\ 1904,\16\ and 1905,\17\ on the militia of the District
of Columbia.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ First session Forty-ninth Congress, Report No. 515.
\2\ First session Fifty-second Congress, Report No. 408.
\3\ First session Forty-ninth Congress, Report No. 2722.
\4\ First session Fiftieth Congress, Report No. 265.
\5\ First session Forty-eighth Congress, Report No. 932.
\6\ First session Forty-ninth Congress, Report No. 2900.
\7\ First session Fiftieth Congress, Report No. 493.
\8\ First session Fifty-sixth Congress, Report No. 1199.
\9\ First session Fifty-seventh Congress, Report No. 428.
\10\ First session Forty-eighth Congress, Reports Nos. 1065, 1285.
\11\ First session Fiftieth Congress, Report No. 1726.
\12\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Reports Nos. 489, 2196,
2593.
\13\ First session Twenty-fourth Congress, Journal, p. 38; Globe, p.
19. A standing committee on militia was proposed as early as December
7, 1815, by Mr. Richard H. Wilde, of Georgia (first session Fourteenth
Congress, Journal, p. 29; Annals, p. 380).
\14\ Second session Forty-sixth Congress, Record, p. 205.
\15\ First session Fiftieth Congress, Reports Nos. 809, 2402, 2606,
including also the militia of the Territory of Montana.
\16\ Second session Fifty-eighth Congress, Report No. 2724.
\17\ Third session Fifty-eighth Congress, Reports Nos. 4508, 4596.
Sec. 4254
In 1904 \1\ and 1906,\2\ on promotion of efficiency of the militia
and encouragement of rifle practice.
In 1890 \3\ and 1892,\4\ on the reorganization of the militia.
In 1892,\5\ on issuance of artillery for the national guard and on
issuance of ordnance stores to the State of Nebraska to supply the
place of those destroyed by fire.
4254. The creation and history of the Committee on Patents, section
28 of Rule XI.
The rule gives to the Committee on Patents jurisdiction of subjects
relating ``to patents, copyrights, and trade-marks.''
Section 28 of Rule XI provides for the reference of subjects
relating--
to patents, copyrights, and trade-marks; to the Committee on Patents.
This committee has fourteen members.
As created on September 15, 1837,\6\ its jurisdiction related to
patents alone. At the time of the revision of 1880, when the present
form of the rule was fixed, the subjects of ``copyrights and
trademarks'' were added, on motion of Mr. John S. Newberry, of
Michigan.\7\
4255. The subjects of patent law, jurisdiction of courts in patent
cases, the Patent Office, including a building therefor, have been
considered by the Committee on Patents.
The subject of an international patent conference was considered by
the Committee on Patents.
The general jurisdiction of the subject of patents belongs to the
Committee on Patents, which has reported:
In 1890,\8\ as to an investigation of the methods and accommodations
of the Patent Office, including a revision of law and regulation and
the authorization of a commission to select a site and provide a
building for the Patent Office.
In 1896,\9\ on the classification division of the Patent Office.
In 1891,\10\ on revision of patent laws.
In 1890,\11\ on the subject of international patent conference.
In 1897,\12\ on a bill defining the jurisdiction of circuit courts in
patent cases.
4256. Bills relating to the general subject of trade-marks, including
punishment for the counterfeiting thereof, have been considered by the
Committee on Patents.--The Committee on Patents has jurisdiction of the
sub-
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Second session Fifty-eighth Congress, Reports Nos. 2775, 2845,
2872.
\2\ First session Fifty-ninth Congress, Report No. 1068.
\3\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 805.
\4\ First session Fifty-second Congress, Report No. 754.
\5\ First session Fifty-second Congress, Reports Nos. 1059, 2120.
\6\ First session Twenty-fifth Congress, Globe, p. 34.
\7\ Second session Forty-sixth Congress, Record, pp. 824, 825.
\8\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 1320.
\9\ First session Fifty-fourth Congress, Report Nos. 88, 2277.
\10\ Second session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 3281.
\11\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 298.
\12\ Second session Fifty-fourth Congress, Report No. 2905.
Sec. 4257
ject of trade-marks, and has reported general bills on that subject in
1890,\1\ 1898 \2\ and 1906,\3\ and in 1888 \4\ a bill to provide for
punishing the counterfeiting of trademarks.
This committee also reported in 1901 \5\ the bill (H. R. 13109)
relating to the registration of persons, etc., engaged in
transportation business.
In 1907 \6\ the Committee on Patents reported ``A bill to amend
sections 5 and 6 of an act entitled `An act to authorize the
registration of trade-marks used in commerce with foreign nations or
among the several States or with Indian tribes, and to protect the
same.' '' \7\
4257. The Committee on Patents has jurisdiction of general and
special legislation relating to copyrights, although its title to the
jurisdiction of international copyright is not entirely clear.--The
Committee on Patents has general jurisdiction of the subject of
copyrights, and has reported numerous bills \8\ revising or amending
the general copyright laws, including those relating to music
publications.\9\ This committee has also reported special bills, as one
in 1906,\10\ to protect the copyright matter in a work entitled ``Rules
and specifications for grading lumber.''
On the subject of international copyright, however, the Committee on
the Judiciary has shared the jurisdiction, but not to the extent of
complete possession.\11\
4258. The creation and history of the Committee on Invalid Pensions,
section 29 of Rule XI.
The rule gives to the Committee on Invalid Pensions jurisdiction as
``to the pensions of the civil war.''
Section 29 of Rule XI provides for the reference of subjects
relating--
to the pensions of the civil war: to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.
This committee consists of sixteen members.
On December 22, 1813,\12\ the standing Committee on ``Pensions and
Revolutionary Claims ``was established on motion of Mr. Stevenson
Archer, of Maryland. On December 9, 1825,\13\ a committee on
Revolutionary pensions was created, and a few days later \14\ its name
was changed to the ``Committee on Military Pensions,'' on motion of Mr.
Daniel Webster, of Massachusetts, while at the same time the
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 27.
\2\ Second session Fifty-fifth Congress, Reports Nos. 549, 691, 692.
\3\ First session Fifty-ninth Congress, Report No. 2668.
\4\ First session Fiftieth Congress, Report No. 2707.
\5\ Second session Fifty-sixth Congress, Report No. 2737.
\6\ Second session Fifty-ninth Congress, Report No. 7637.
\7\ In 1896 (First session Fifty-fourth Congress, Report No. 884),
however, the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce reported a
bill relating to registration of trade-marks on vessels, bottles,
boxes, etc., used in interstate and foreign commerce.
\8\ First session Fifty-ninth Congress, Report No. 4955; second
session Fifty-eighth Congress, Reports, Nos. 1287, 2857; first session
Fiftieth Congress, Report No. 3434.
\9\ Second session Fifty-fifth Congress, Report No. 1289.
\10\ First session Fifty-ninth Congress, Report No. 4978.
\11\ See section 4075 of this volume.
\12\ Second session Thirteenth Congress, Journal, pp. 178, 182
Annals, p. 803.
\13\ Is First session Nineteenth Congress, Journal, pp. 27, 32.
\14\ Journal, p. 46.
Sec. 4259
name of the Committee on ``Pensions and Revolutionary Claims'' was
changed to the ``Committee on Revolutionary Claims.''
On January 10, 1831,\1\ on motion of Mr. James Trezvant, of Virginia,
a rule was adopted establishing the Committee on Invalid Pensions as a
standing committee, with jurisdiction of ``matters respecting invalid
pensions.'' The old Military Pensions Committee--successor to the
Revolutionary Pensions Committee of 1825--was at the same time
abolished, and the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions was established
anew, with jurisdiction of ``pensions for services in the Revolutionary
war other than invalid pensions.'' By this arrangement pensions from
the war of 1812 went in practice, if not by express rule, to the
Invalid Pensions Committee, until March 26, 1867, when the latter
committee became overburdened, and they were transferred to the
Committee on Revolutionary Pensions.\2\ In the revision of 1880 the
present form of rule was adopted, both for the Invalid Pensions
Committee and for the Pensions Committee, which thenceforth took the
place of the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions.\3\
This committee may report general pension bills at any time.\4\
4259. The Committee on Invalid Pensions reports general and special
bills authorizing payments of pensions to soldiers of the civil war,
but the actual appropriations therefor are reported by the Committee on
Appropriations.--On December 6, 1888,\5\ the resolutions distributing
the President's message referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions
so much as related to ``pension laws and their modification and
revision.''
In general, this committee has reported all general pension
legislation relating to veterans of the civil war; \6\ and it also
reports private and special acts for the relief of soldiers of that
war.\7\
But the actual appropriation of the money to meet the requirements of
both general and special pension laws is within the jurisdiction of the
Committee on Appropriations, which reports in the general pension
appropriation bill.\8\
4260. The creation and history of the Committee on Pensions, section
29 of Rule XI.
The rule gives to the Committee on Pensions jurisdiction of matters
relating ``to the pensions of all the wars of the United States other
than the civil war.''
Section 29 of Rule XI provides for the reference of subjects
relating--
to the pensions of all the wars of the United States other than the
civil war; to the Committee on Pensions.
This committee consists of fourteen members.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Second session Twenty-first Congress, Journal, pp. 145, 167.
\2\ First session Fortieth Congress, Journal, p. 117; Globe, p. 362.
\3\ See section 4.260 of this volume.
\4\ See section 4621 of this volume.
\5\ Second session Fiftieth Congress, Journal, p. 53.
\6\ See first session Fifty-first Congress, Reports, Nos. 13, 226,
629, 2953, 3204; second session Fifty-third Congress, Reports Nos. 583,
1212, 1213.
\7\ See Journal, first session Fifty-ninth Congress, pp. 1366-1374,
for illustration of the work of this committee.
\8\ First session Fifty-ninth Congress, Report No. 581.
Sec. 4261
The old Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, which had first been
established on December 9, 1825, on motion of Mr. Peter Little, of
Maryland,\1\ was abolished at the time of the revision of 1880,\2\ when
the present rule was adopted.\3\
4261. The Committee on Pensions reports general and special bills
authorizing the payment of pensions, but the actual appropriations are
reported by the Committee on Appropriations.--The Committee on Pensions
reports private and special bills for the relief of soldiers of all
wars except the civil war,\4\ and also bills proposing general pension
legislation for all wars except the civil war.\5\
The actual appropriations authorized by laws reported from this
committee are reported from the Committee on Appropriations in the
general pension appropriation bill.\6\
4262. The creation and history of the Committee on Claims, section 31
of Rule XI.
The rule gives to the Committee on Claims jurisdiction of subjects
relating ``to private and domestic claims and demands other than war
claims against the United States.''
The Committee on Claims, in exercising its jurisdiction, reports
bills which make appropriations from the Treasury.
Section 31 of Rule XI provides for the reference of subjects
relating--
to private and domestic claims and demands other than war claims
against the United States; to the Committee on Claims.
The Committee on Claims consists of fifteen members.
It divides with Elections the honor of being the oldest standing
committee of the House. They were established on the same day, November
13, 1794,\7\ and to Claims was given the jurisdiction of all ``matters
or things touching claims and demands on the United States.'' The
present form of the rule was fixed by the revision of 1880.\2\ The
jurisdiction of the committee has not continued so broad as when first
established, as war claims have generally gone to another committee.\8\
The Committees on Claims and War Claims, in dealing with individual
claims, not only authorize the payments, but actually make the
appropriations of money from the Treasury, in this respect exercizing a
function not permitted to other committees that are not endowed by the
rules expressly with the power of reporting appropriations.
4263. The Committee on Claims has reported general--as distinguished
from special--bills providing for disposition of classes of claims,
like the French spoliation claims, by the Court of Claims.--The
Committee
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ First session Nineteenth Congress, Journal, p. 32.
\2\ Second session Forty-sixth Congress, Record, p. 205.
\3\ For general history of the various pension committees, see
section 4558 of this chapter.
\4\ See Journal First session Fifty-ninth Congress, pp. 1376-1378,
for illustration of work of this committee.
\5\ Second session Fifty-fourth Congress, Report No. 2635.
\6\ First session Fifty-ninth Congress, Report No. 581.
\7\ Third and Fourth Congresses, Journal, p. 229 (Gales & Seaton
ed.).
\8\ See section 4269 of this volume.
Sec. 4264
on Claims reports private and special bills for the satisfaction of all
claims other than war claims.\1\ It also exercises a general, but not
exclusive,\2\ jurisdiction over propositions of general legislation
regulating the disposition of claims. Thus it has reported:
In 1886 \3\ the Committee on Claims reported the bill (S. 2643) to
afford assistance to Congress and the Executive Departments in the
investigation of claims and demands against the Government. This was a
general measure conferring jurisdiction on the Court of Claims for
certain cases.
In 1894 \4\ a general bill providing for the disposition of claims
for supplies and the French spoliation claims.
4264. The jurisdiction of French spoliation claims belongs to the
Committee on Claims.--On January 23, 1906,\5\ the Speaker \6\ said:
The Chair lays before the House a request coming from the Committee
on Claims and also the Committee on War Claims, taking from the
Committee on Claims certain Executive documents touching findings of
the Court of Claims in the matter of the French spoliation claims, and
asking that the reference be changed from the Committee on Claims to
the Committee on War Claims. The effect of this, if done, would be to
change the jurisdiction of the respective committees as that
jurisdiction has been heretofore exercised. If the change should be
made, about which the Chair does not intimate any opinion as to the
propriety thereof, the Chair will feel justified in the future, if not
incidentally authorized when similar communications come, to refer the
same to the Committee on War Claims instead of to the Committee on
Claims. With the explanation given, is there objection to the request?
Objection being made, the matter went over and did not come up
thereafter.
4265. Appropriations for payment of French spoliation claims being
included in a private bill reported by the Committee on War Claims, the
chairman of the Committee of the Whole House ordered them stricken out
as belonging to the jurisdiction of the Committee on Claims.--On
January 4, 1907,\7\ the Committee of the Whole House was considering
the bill (H. R. 19003) for the allowance of certain claims for stores
and supplies reported by the Court of Claims under the provisions of
the act approved March 3, 1883, and commonly known as the Bowman Act,
and to provide for the payment of French spoliation claims recommended
by the Court of Claims, under the provisions of the acts approved
January 20, 1885, and March 3, 1891, and for other purposes.
After the bill had been read Mr. James R. Mann, of Illinois, made a
point of order, saying:
I wish to make a point of order on this bill, or so much of it as
relates to the French spoliation claims, on the ground that the
Committee on War Claims has no jurisdiction to report a bill of this
sort, it being a private bill and subject to a point of order at this
time.\8\
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ See Journal First session Fifty-ninth Congress, p. 1364.
\2\ See sections 4078, 4168 of this work.
\3\ Second session Forty-ninth Congress, Report No. 3497.
\4\ Second session Fifty-third Congress, Report No. 1051.
\5\ First session Fifty-ninth Congress, Record, p. 1459.
\6\ Joseph G. Cannon, of Illinois, Speaker.
\7\ Second session Fifty-ninth Congress, Record, pp. 636, 637.
\8\ General appropriation bills, being public bills and referred to
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union in open House,
are not subject to points of order of this nature unless a reservation
is made at the time of reference (see secs. 6921-6926 of Volume V of
this work); but private bills, which are reported by laying them on the
Clerk's table, must, manifestly, be subject to such points of order
without the reservation.
Sec. 4266
I may say, Mr. Chairman, that the rules provide that all bills
carrying private or domestic claims and demands, other than war claims
against the United States, shall be referred to the Committee on
Claims. Bills providing for claims arising from any wax in which the
United States has been engaged shall be referred to the Committee on
War Claims.
It has been the universal custom and practice in the House that bills
providing for the payment of French spoliation claims shall be referred
to the Committee on Claims and not to the Committee on War Claims. Now,
I insist that the Committee on War Claims can not enlarge its
jurisdiction in violation of the rules of the House because a bill may
be introduced carrying one claim properly referable to that committee,
but including a large number of claims properly referable to the
Committee on Claims. If that could be allowed, any committee dealing
with private bills could obtain jurisdiction of any kind of a bill by
putting one section in the bill properly referable to that committee,
and including in the bill a number of things properly referable to some
other committee.
The Chairman \1\ held:
In the opinion of the Chair there is no question that such portion of
the bill as relates to the French spoliation claims belongs properly to
the jurisdiction of the Committee on Claims, and for that reason the
Chair will sustain the point of order of the gentleman from Illinois
[Mr. Mann] and order those portions of the bill relating to French
spoliation claims to be stricken from the bill.
4266. Bills for the redemption of lost bonds, checks, and coupons are
reported by the Committee on Claims.--On April 21, 1902,\2\ a bill for
replacing certain Government bonds lost by Clara H. Fulford was
returned by the Committee on Ways and Means and referred to the
Committee on Claims. And in general, special bills for the payment of
lost coupons and for replacing lost checks drawn on the Treasury of the
United States belong to the jurisdiction of Claims rather than Ways and
Means.\3\
4267. The Committee on Claims has shared in jurisdiction over public
bills for adjusting accounts between the United States and the several
States and Territories.--Bills to adjust the claims of States,
Territories, and the District of Columbia against the United States are
classified as public bills rather than private and special, and the
jurisdiction over such bills has not been exercised exclusively by any
particular committee,\4\ but on February 4, 1885,\5\ the Committee on
Claims reported the bill (H. R. 6047) to adjust certain accounts
between the United States and the several States and Territories and
the District of Columbia. This was a bill to return the direct tax of
1861.
4268. A private bill providing for a rehearing and readjudication in
the Court of Claims belongs to the jurisdiction of a Claims Committee
and not to the Committee on the Judiciary.--On February 15, 1901,\6\
the House was in Committee of the Whole House considering, business on
the Private Calendar, the first bill being the following:
A Bill (H. R. 6038) for the relief of Joseph H. Penny, John W. Penny,
Thomas Penny, and Harvey Penny, surviving partners of Penny & Sons.
Be it enacted, etc., That the Court of Claims is hereby authorized to
grant a new trial in the case of Penny & Sons v. The United States and
the Sioux Indians, numbered in said court as Indian depredation No.
4634, and to rehear said case in accordance with the act of March 3,
1891, relative to Indian depredation claims, the same as if no judgment
had been entered therein.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ William A. Rodenburg, of Illinois, Chairman.
\2\ First session Fifty-seventh Congress, Record, p. 4503.
\3\ Second session Fifty-fifth Congress, Record, p. 6716; House
Report No. 277.
\4\ See section 4080 of this work.
\5\ Second session Forty-eighth Congress, Report No. 2486.
\6\ Second session Fifty-sixth Congress, Record, pp. 2481-2484.
Sec. 4269
The Committee on Claims had reported the bill with an amendment in
the nature of a substitute, providing:
That the Court of Claims is hereby given jurisdiction to rehear and
reconsider and determine the motion filed in said court by the
claimants on the 15th day of April, 1898, for a rehearing and new trial
of the case of Penny & Sons v. The United States and Sioux Indians,
numbered in said court as Indian depredations No. 4634; and to that end
the bar of the statute of limitations against said motion is hereby
removed, and the said court is given jurisdiction to rehear and
redetermine said motion in the same manner and with like effect as if
said motion had been filed and presented within the time authorized by
law and the rules of said court; and if said motion shall be sustained
by said court, then, and in that event, the court shall proceed to
retry and readjudicate the matter involved in said suit the same as if
no former judgment had been entered therein.
Mr. George W. Ray, of New York, made the point of order that the
subject should have been referred to the Committee on the Judiciary,
and was therefore improperly before the Committee of the Whole.
After debate the Chairman \1\ said:
The question before the Chair is as to the jurisdiction of the
committee reporting this bill; which seeks to give the Court of Claims
the power to rehear and reconsider and determine a motion filed for a
new trial; and further, if the Court of Claims should grant the new
trial of this case, to give that court the right to readjudicate the
claim, or, in other words, to adjudicate it. Now, under subdivision 3
of Rule XXI no bill for the payment or adjudication of any private
claim against the Government shall be referred, except by unanimous
consent, to any other than the following-named committees: The
Committee on Invalid Pensions, the Committee on Pensions, the Committee
on Claims, the Committee on War Claims, the Committee on Private Land
Claims, or the Committee on Accounts.
Now, this is a private claim. This rule says that no bill for the
adjudication of private claims shall be referred to any other committee
than the committees named. In the opinion of the Chair, this bill was
properly referred to the Committee on Claims, and the point of order
made by the gentleman from New York is not well taken. Consequently the
point of order is overruled.
4269. The creation and history of the Committee on War Claims,
section 32 of Rule XI.
The rule gives to the Committee on War Claims jurisdiction of it
``claims arising from any war in which the United States has been
engaged.''
The Committee on War Claims may report, within the limits of its
jurisdiction, bills making appropriations of money.
Section 32 of Rule XI provides for the reference of subjects
relating--
to claims arising from any war in which the United States has been
engaged: to the Committee on War Claims.
This committee consists of 13 members.
War claims were formerly considered by the old committee ``on
Revolutionary Claims,'' \2\ which dated from December 22, 1813. On
December 2, 1873,\3\ the name of this committee was changed to ``War
Claims,'' and its jurisdiction was specified to be ``all claims growing
out of any war in which the United States has been engaged.''
The Committee on War Claims, like the Committee on Claims,\4\
exercises the power of reporting appropriations for the payment of
individual claims.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ James A. Hemenway, of Indiana, Chairman.
\2\ Originally the Committee on ``Pensions and Revolutionary
Claims.'' (See sec. 4258 of this volume.)
\3\ First session Forty-third Congress, Record, p. 23.
\4\ See section 4262 of this volume.
Sec. 4270
4270. The Committee on War Claims has exercised a general but not
exclusive jurisdiction over general bills providing for the
adjudication or settlement of classes of war claims.--Besides reporting
on private and special bills for the satisfaction of claims arising out
of wars, the Committee on War Claims has exercised a general
jurisdiction \1\ over propositions of general legislation relating to
the disposition of such claims, and has reported:
In 1899,\2\ the bill (H. R. 12084) to reimburse those who had had
sent to their homes for burial the dead bodies of officers, soldiers,
and sailors who died away from home while members of the Army or Navy
of the United States since January 1, 1898. (Spanish War.)
In 1901,\3\ a general bill to provide for the reimbursement of
officers and men of the Army for medical expenses incurred during leave
or furlough.
In 1900,\4\ the bill (H. R. 7662) to carry into effect the
stipulations of the treaty with Spain in relation to claims arising
since the beginning of the recent insurrection in Cuba and prior to the
ratification of the treaty of 1898; also the bill (H. R. 1212) to
authorize the Secretary of War to cause to be investigated and to
provide for the payment of all claims presented in behalf of churches,
schools, etc., arising out of use or damage by soldiers during the
civil war.
In 1888,\5\ the bill (H. R. 3366) authorizing the Court of Claims to
adjudicate claims for property seized under the act relating to
captured or abandoned property; also in 1900 \6\ the bill (H. R. 4615)
to revive and amend an act to provide for the collection of abandoned
property and the prevention of frauds in insurrectionary districts.
In 1888,\7\ the bill (H. R. 3367) to enable the President to appoint
a board of claims commissioners.
In 1892,\8\ on war of 1812 claims.
4271. The war claims of States and Territories against the United
States have been considered, although not exclusively, by the Committee
on War Claims.--Bills for the payment and adjudication of the war
claims of States and Territories against the United States are
classified as public rather than private and special. The Committee on
War Claims does not have exclusive \9\ jurisdiction over such bills,
but has often reported them:
In 1884,\10\ the bill (H. R. 2463) to reimburse the several states
for interest paid on war loans.
In 1899,\11\ the bill (S. 5260) relating to the reimbursements of
States and Territories for expenses incurred by them in aiding the
United States to raise, organize, and equip the volunteer army of the
United States in the war with Spain.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ This jurisdiction is not exclusive. (See sec. 4079 of this
volume.)
\2\ Third session Fifty-fifth Congress, Report No. 2093.
\3\ Second session Fifty-sixth Congress, Report No. 2617.
\4\ First session Fifty-sixth Congress, Reports Nos. 212, 597.
\5\ First session Fiftieth Congress, Report No. 538.
\6\ First session Fifty-sixth Congress, Report No. 214.
\7\ First session Fiftieth Congress, Report No. 537.
\8\ First session Fifty-second Congress, Report No. 220.
\9\ See section 4080 of this volume.
\10\ First session Forty-eighth Congress, Report No. 1102.
\11\ Third session Fifty-fifth Congress, Report No. 2192.
Sec. 4272
In 1898,\1\ the bill (H. R. 8003) to refund to the State of New York
certain duties paid in 1863.
In 1900,\2\ the bill (H. R. 1066) to indemnify Pennsylvania for money
expended in 1864 for militia called into service by the governor.
4272. The Committee on War Claims has reported in a few instances
bills relating to claims arising out of Indian hostilities.--The
Committee on War Claims has reported these bills:
In 1895,\3\ on Indian war claims in Oregon, Idaho, and Washington.
In 1900,\4\ the bill (S. 2384) to reimburse certain persons for
expenses incurred during incursions of Indians in Nevada.
4273. The creation and history of the Committee on Private Land
Claims, section 33 of Rule XI.
The rule gives to the Committee on Private Land Claims jurisdiction
as ``to private claims to land.''
Section 33 of Rule XI provides for the reference of subjects
relating--
to private claims to land: to the Committee on Private Land Claims.
This committee consists of thirteen Members and one Delegate.
It was established as a standing committee on April 29, 1816, on
motion of Mr. Thomas B. Robertson, of Louisiana.\5\
4274. A bill for the establishment of a land court was reported by
the Committee on Private Land Claims.--On March 31, 1888,\6\ the bill
of the House (H. R. 7643) to establish a United States land court and
to provide for a judicial investigation and settlement of private land
claims in the Territories of Arizona and New Mexico, and in the State
of Colorado, was called up under instructions from the Committee on
Private Land Claims, having been reported from that committee.
4275. The Committee on Private Land Claims has exercised jurisdiction
over general as well as special bills relating to the adjudication and
settlement of private claims to land.--The Committee on Private Land
Claims, besides reporting bills for the settlement of individual claims
to public lands,\7\ has also reported bills proposing general
legislation:
In 1890,\8\ a bill to establish a land court and provide for the
settlement of land claims in certain Territories.
In 1898,\9\ the bill (H. R. 10290) to amend an act to establish a
court of private land claims and to provide for the settlement of
private land claims in certain States and Territories.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Second session Fifty-fifth Congress, Report No. 1412.
\2\ First session Fifty-sixth Congress, Report No. 222.
\3\ Third session Fifty-third Congress, Report No. 1538.
\4\ First session Fifty-sixth Congress, Report No. 782.
\5\ First session Fourteenth Congress, Journal, p. 753; Annals, p.
1456.
\6\ First session Fiftieth Congress, Journal, p. 1391; Record, pp.
2577, 2578.
\7\ See Second session Fifty-seventh Congress, Report No. 3918; Third
session Fifty-eighth Congress, Reports Nos. 3766, 4886.
\8\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 1797.
\9\ Second session Fifty-fifth Congress, Report No. 1292.
Sec. 4276
In 1884 \1\ and 1888,\2\ bills to provide for ascertaining and
settling private land claims in certain States and Territories.
In 1886,\3\ the bill (H. R. 3235) relating generally to private land
grants of a certain class in Arizona.
In 1892,\4\ on the subject of Mexican land grants.
In 1905,\5\ on land titles in the city of Mobile.
4276. The creation and history of the Committee for the District of
Columbia, section 34 of Rule XI.
The rule gives to the Committee for the District of Columbia
jurisdiction of subjects relating ``to the District of Columbia other
than appropriations therefor.''
Section 34 of Rule XI provides for the reference of subjects
relating--
to the District of Columbia, other than appropriations therefor; to the
Committee for the District of Columbia.
This committee shall consist of eighteen Members.
It was established as a standing committee on January 27, 1808, in
order to simplify the District business, to save the forming of many
committees, and to promote consistency and uniformity in the laws
relating to the District.\6\ Mr. Philip Barton Key, of Maryland, on
whose motion the committee was established, was its first chairman. The
present form of the rule was adopted in the revision of 1880.\7\ This
committee has two days in the month for presentation of its
business.\8\
4277. The Committee for the District of Columbia reports bills
proposing legislation as to the general municipal affairs of the
District.--The Committee for the District of Columbia has a general and
usually an exclusive \9\ jurisdiction of bills proposing legislation
relating to the affairs of the District of Columbia, and reports on
such subjects as extension of streets,\10\ affairs of the schools and
teachers,\11\ control of railroads,\12\ police and fire department,\13\
etc.\14\ This committee has also reported on the subject of claims
against the District.\15\
All appropriations for the District are reported by the Committee on
Appropriations in the District of Columbia general appropriation bill.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ First session Forty-eighth Congress, Report No. 985.
\2\ First session Fiftieth Congress, Report No. 675.
\3\ First session Forty-ninth Congress, Report No. 192.
\4\ First session Fifty-second Congress, Report No. 1253.
\5\ Third session Fifty-eighth Congress, Report No. 3484.
\6\ First session Tenth Congress, Journal, p. 146; Annals, Vol. II,
p. 1512.
\7\ Second session Forty-sixth Congress, Record, p. 825.
\8\ See section 3304 of this volume.
\9\ In 1894 (Second session Fifty-third Congress, Report, No. 607),
however, the Committee on the Judiciary reported on the subject of
representation by a Delegate in Congress.
\10\ First session Fifty-ninth Congress, Reports, Nos. 241, 2760,
etc.
\11\ Report No. 3395.
\12\ Report No. 4429.
\13\ Report No. 1678.
\14\ See Journal, first session Fifty-ninth Congress, page 1364, for
summary of subjects within this jurisdiction.
\11\ First session Fifty-second Congress, Report No. 2129; first
session Fifty-fourth Congress, Report No. 1923; third session Fifty-
fifth Congress, Report No. 2059.
Sec. 4278
4278. The Committee for the District of Columbia has exercised
jurisdiction generally of the subject of insurance in the District.--
The Committee for the District of Columbia has exercised jurisdiction
as to the subject of insurance in the District of Columbia,\1\ and
reported:
In 1889,\2\ the bill (H. R. 12137) relating to deposit of securities
by insurance companies in the District.
In 1891,\3\ on the subject of an insurance bureau.
In 1900,\4\ the bill (H. R. 9283) to regulate insurance in the
District of Columbia.
4279. The subject of tax sales and taxes in the District is within
the jurisdiction of the Committee for the District of Columbia.--The
Committee for the District of Columbia reported:
In 1896,\5\ on the subject of tax sale certificates in the District.
In 1897,\6\ a bill in relation to taxes and tax sales in the District
of Columbia.
In 1899,\7\ the bill (S. 4700) relating to interest on arrearages of
taxes in the District of Columbia.
4280. The subject of adulteration of food, drugs, etc., in the
District is within the jurisdiction of the Committee for the District
of Columbia.--The Committee for the District of Columbia reported:
In 1898 \8\ and 1900,\9\ bills providing for the inspection of flour
in the District.
In 1888 \10\ and 1898,\11\ bills to prevent the manufacture or sale
of adulterated foods and drugs in the District.
In 1898,\12\ on the subject of adulteration of candy in the District.
4281. The Committee for the District of Columbia has exercised
general jurisdiction of bills for the regulation of the sale of
intoxicating liquors in the District.--The Committee for the District
of Columbia has reported:
In 1885,\13\ 1893,\14\ and 1894,\15\ bills relating to the
manufacture and sale of spirituous and malt liquors in the District of
Columbia.
In 1887,\16\ the bill (S. 1380) regulating the sale of liquors in the
District of Columbia.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ In 1906 the subject of Federal control of insurance arose, and
the House committed the general subject of insurance to the Judiciary
Committee, with the result that bills relating to the District of
Columbia particularly also went to the Committee on the Judiciary. See
section 4059 of this volume.
\2\ Second session Fiftieth Congress, Report, No. 3931.
\3\ Second session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 4015.
\4\ First session Fifty-sixth Congress, Report No. 691.
\5\ First session Fifty-fourth Congress, Report No. 1182.
\6\ Second session Fifty-fourth Congress, Report No. 2529.
\7\ Third session Fifty-fifth Congress, Report No. 1799.
\8\ Second session Fifty-fifth Congress, Report No. 1654.
\9\ First session Fifty-sixth Congress, Report No. 1429.
\10\ First session Fiftieth Congress, Report No. 3265.
\11\ Second session Fifty-fifth Congress, Report No. 218.
\12\ Second session Fifty-fifth Congress, Report No. 351.
\13\ Second session Fifty-eighth Congress, Report No. 2581.
\14\ Second session Fifty-second Congress, Report No. 2323.
\15\ Second session Fifty-third Congress, Report No. 195.
\16\ Second session Forty-ninth Congress, Report No. 4014.
Sec. 4282
In 1890,\1\ a bill prohibiting the granting of liquor licenses within
one mile of Soldiers' Home.
In 1907,\2\ a bill prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors to
minors by unlicensed persons.\3\
4282. Bills for the protection of fish and game within the District
of Columbia have been reported by the Committee for the District of
Columbia.--The Committee for the District of Columbia reported in 1892
\4\ and 1898 \5\ bills for the protection of fish in the District of
Columbia; \6\ and in 1901 \7\ the bill (H. R. 11881) ``for the
protection of birds, preservation of game, and for the prevention of
its sale during certain close seasons in the District of Columbia;''
also in 1906 \8\ a bill relating to game.
4283. Bills relating to holidays in the District have been reported
by the Committee for the District of Columbia.--The Committee for the
District of Columbia has reported:
In 1888,\9\ the bill (H. R. 8843) making inauguration day a legal
holiday.
In 1892,\10\ a bill relating to holidays in the District.
4284. Subjects relating to the health of the District, sanitary and
quarantine regulations, etc., have been within the jurisdiction of the
Committee for the District of Columbia.--The Committee for the District
of Columbia has reported:
In 1897,\11\ a bill to prevent the spread of contagious diseases in
the District of Columbia.
In 1895,\12\ on sanitary and quarantine regulations for the District.
4285. The Government Hospital for the Insane and Congressional
Cemetery have been within the jurisdiction of the Committee for the
District of Columbia.--The Committee for the District of Columbia has
exercised legislative jurisdiction as to the Government Hospital for
the Insane,\11\ and the Congressional Cemetery.\14\
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 3048.
\2\ Second session Fifty-ninth Congress, Report No. 6213.
\3\ While the jurisdiction of bills relating to the traffic in
intoxicating liquors in the District of Columbia is with the Committee
for the District of Columbia, there have been variations from this in
the past. Thus, in 1888 (first session Fiftieth Congress, Record, pp.
1117, 1118) four such bills were taken from the Committee f or the
District of Columbia by the House and referred to the Committee on
Alcoholic Liquor Traffic. And in 1891 (second session Fifty-first
Congress, Report No. 3509), and even as late as 1896 (first session
Fifty-fourth-Congress, Report No. 1813) stray bills of this class were
reported from the Committee on Alcoholic Liquor Traffic.
\4\ First session Fifty-second Congress, Record, p. 4172.
\5\ Second session Fifty-fifth Congress, Report No. 143.
\6\ See, however, section 4147 of this volume.
\7\ Second session Fifty-second Congress, Report No. 2280.
\8\ First session Fifty-ninth Congress, Report No. 4207.
\9\ First session Fiftieth Congress, Report No. 1797.
\10\ Second session Fifty-second Congress, Report No. 2324.
\11\ Second session Fifty-fourth Congress, Report No. 2524.
\12\ Third session Fifty-third Congress, Report No. 1944.
\13\ First session Fifty-seventh Congress, Report, No. 494.
\14\ Second session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 3645; second
session Fifty-fifth Congress, Report No. 413; first session Fifty-ninth
Congress, Report No. 2223.
Sec. 4286
4286. Harbor regulations for the District and the bridge over the
Eastern Branch have been within the jurisdiction of the Committee for
the District of Columbia.--The Committee for the District of Columbia
reported, in 1894 \1\ and 1896,\2\ on the subject of harbor regulations
in the District, and in 1886,\3\ 1888,\4\ and 1906,\5\ on bills
relating to the construction of a bridge across the Eastern Branch of
the Potomac.
4287. Bills for framing a municipal code and amending the criminal
laws and corporations laws in the District have been within the
jurisdiction of the Committee for the District of Columbia.--On January
11, 1882,\6\ the Committee for the District of Columbia reported the
bill (H. R. 1295) to establish a municipal code for the District of
Columbia; and in 1891,\7\ 1900,\8\ and 1902 \9\ on the subject of this
code. In 1898 \10\ the committee reported the bill (H. R. 8064) to
amend the criminal laws of the District.
Also in 1889 \11\ and 1891 \12\ the Committee for the District of
Columbia reported bills relating to the incorporation laws of the
District.
4288. The Committee for the District of Columbia has reported bills
for the incorporation of organizations and societies.--The Committee
for the District of Columbia has reported bills creating corporations
such as would have their location in the District of Columbia, as the
National Congress of Mothers,\13\ National Society of Daughters of
1812, and National White Cross of America,\14\ Daughters of the
American Revolution,\15\ National Society Sons of the American
Revolution,\16\ General Federation of Women's Clubs,\17\ etc.\18\
4289. The Committee for the District of Columbia has exercised
jurisdiction as to bills relating to executors, administrators, wills,
and divorce in the District.--The Committee for the District of
Columbia has reported:
In 1886,\19\ the bill (H. R. 2373) to allow foreign executors and
administrators to sue in the District of Columbia.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Second session Fifty-third Congress, Report No. 563.
\2\ First session Fifty-fourth Congress, Report No. 1578.
\3\ First session Forty-ninth Congress, Report No. 2703.
\4\ First session Fiftieth Congress, Report No. 1807; also first
session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 2841.
\5\ First session Fifty-ninth Congress, Report No. 1119.
\6\ First session Forty-seventh Congress, Report No. 8.
\7\ Second session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 3491.
\8\ First session Fifty-sixth Congress, Report No. 1017.
\9\ First session Fifty-seventh Congress, Report No. 2192.
\10\ Second session Fifty-fifth Congress, Report No. 555.
\11\ Second session Fiftieth Congress, Report No. 3921.
\12\ Second session Fifty-first Congress Report No. 3740.
\13\ Second session Fifty-fifth Congress, Report No. 1531.
\14\ First session Fifty-sixth Congress, Reports Nos. 1019, 1441.
\15\ Second session Fifty-seventh Congress, Report No. 3845.
\16\ First session Fifty-ninth Congress, Report No. 1635.
\17\ Second session Fifty-eighth Congress, Report No. 2862.
\18\ In 1892 (first session Fifty-second Congress, Report No. 256)
and 1896 (first session Fifty-fourth Congress, Reports Nos. 179, 5365)
the Committee on the Library reported bills incorporating the National
Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the National
Society of Colonial Dames.
\19\ First session Forty-ninth Congress, Report No. 2373.
Sec. 4290
In 1888,\1\ the bill (11. R. 1514) relating to the record of wills in
the District. In 1901,\2\ the bill (H. R. 12331) to amend the act
conferring on the supreme court of the District of Columbia
jurisdiction to take proof of the execution of wills affecting real
estate.\3\
In 1904 \4\ as to divorce proceedings in the District.
4290. The Committee for the District of Columbia has exercised
jurisdiction as to the police and juvenile courts and justices of peace
in the District.--The Committee for the District of Columbia has
exercised jurisdiction of legislation relating to the juvenile court
\5\ and the police court \6\ of the District, and in 1906 \7\ reported
on the subject of the justices of the peace, although in 1893 \8\ and
1895 \9\ the Judiciary Committee had exercised jurisdiction over bills
relating to those officers.
4291. The jurisdiction of the Committee for the District of Columbia
as to matters affecting the higher courts of the District has been
exceptional rather than general.--The jurisdiction of the Committee for
the District of Columbia over the District courts higher than the
juvenile and police court has not been extensive, and such cases as
have occurred seem exceptions to the rule that gives the general
jurisdictions as to the courts to the Judiciary Committee.
In 1887 \10\ and 1891 \11\ the Committee for the District of Columbia
reported bills relating to the reporter for the supreme court of the
District, and even a bill for the regulation of the court itself; but
in 1880 \12\ the Committee on the Judiciary had jurisdiction of the
bill (H. R. 1809) to enable the courts to take cognizance of a case in
which a citizen of the District of Columbia is a party.
Committee for the District of Columbia reported, in 1889,\13\ the
bill (H. R. 12292) to amend the statutes relating to the jury law of
the District.
And in 1898,\14\ the bill (H. R. 7541) to require the marshal of the
District to execute certain writs.
4292. Bills for preserving public order, etc., within the District at
times of inaugurations have been reported by the Committee for the
District of Columbia.--The Committee for the District of Columbia has
exercised
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ First session Fiftieth Congress, Report No. 1805.
\2\ Second session Fifty-sixth Congress, Report No. 2748.
\3\ But in 1891 (second session Fifty-first Congress, Record, p. 445)
the Committee on the Judiciary reported as to acknowledgment of wills
in the District of Columbia.
\4\ Second session Fifty-eighth Congress, Report No. 2085.
\5\ First session Fifty-ninth Congress, Report No. 2169.
\6\ First session Forty-ninth Congress, Report No. 2301; second
session Fiftieth Congress, Report No. 3919.
\7\ First session Fifty-ninth Congress, Report No. 236.
\8\ Second session Fifty-second Congress, Reports Nos. 2389, 2490.
\9\ Third session Fifty-third Congress, Report No. 1744.
\10\ Second session Forty-ninth Congress, Reports Nos. 3792, 3819.
\11\ Second session Fifty-first Congress, Reports Nos. 3324, 3837.
\12\ First session Fiftieth Congress, Report No. 129.
\13\ Second session Fiftieth Congress, Report No. 3794.
\14\ Second session Fifty-fifth Congress, Report No. 341.
Sec. 4293
jurisdiction over certain legislation relating to the ceremonies of
inauguration, reporting:
In 1885 \1\ and 1892,\2\ bills relating to inauguration day and
inauguration police.
In 1889,\3\ the bill (S. 3869) to secure the maintenance of public
order during the inauguration.
In 1901,\4\ the resolution (H. Res. 287) authorizing the use of
certain reservations or public spaces in the city of Washington for the
purposes of the inauguration.
4293. The creation and history of the Committee on Revision of the
Laws, section 35 of Rule XI
The rule gives to the Committee on Revision of the Laws jurisdiction
of subjects relating ``to the revision and codification of the statutes
of the United States.''
Section 35 of Rule XI provides for the reference of subjects
relating--
to the revision and codification of the statutes of the United States:
to the Committee on the Revision of the Laws.
The committee consists of thirteen Members.
It dates from July 25, 1868. In reporting the resolution for its
establishment \5\ Mr. Elihu B. Washburne, of Illinois, explained that
the new committee was intended to take the place of the old standing
committee ``on Revisal and Unfinished Business,'' which had existed
since the early days \6\ and had become obsolete, while the Select
Committee on Revision of the Laws had become of importance sufficient
to warrant establishing it as a standing committee.
At first there was no rule defining the jurisdiction of the
committee. The present form of the rule dates from 1880.\7\
4294. Examples of jurisdiction of the Committee on Revision of the
Laws over bills embodying codifications.\8\--The Committee on Revision
of the Laws has exercised a general jurisdiction over bills revising
the laws, and has reported:
In 1900,\9\ on the following subjects: The bill (S. 3419) providing a
civil code for Alaska; the bill (H. R. 7844) providing for the revision
and codification of the general and permanent laws of the United
States.
In 1894 \10\ and 1896,\11\ on codification of pension laws; also in
1894 and in 1896,\12\ on the revision and codification of the statute
laws of the United States.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Second session Forty-eighth Congress, Record, pp. 328, 348, 1146.
\2\ Second session Fifty-second Congress, Report No. 2258.
\3\ Second session Fiftieth Congress, Report No. 3920.
\4\ Second session Fifty-sixth Congress, Report No. 2211.
\5\ Second session Fortieth Congress, Globe, p. 4495.
\6\ The Committee on Revisal and Unfinished Business was established
in 1795, and was especially useful in the early years when business
unfinished fell with the end of a session.
\7\ Second session Forty-sixth Congress, Record, p. 205.
\8\ The Committee on the Post-Office and Post-Roads reported a bill
codifying the postal laws (see section 4192 of this volume), and the
Committee for the District of Columbia has reported bills relating to
the municipal code of Washington city. (See Section 4287 of this
volume).
\9\ First session Fifty-sixth Congress, Reports Nos. 1153, 1502.
\10\ Second session Fifty-third Congress, Report No. 866.
\11\ First session Fifty-fourth Congress, Report No. 219.
\12\ First session Fifty-fourth Congress, Report No. 392.
Sec. 4295
In 1893,\1\ on revision of the criminal and penal laws.
In 1901,\2\ the code of civil government for Alaska.
4295. In exceptional cases the Committee on Revision of the Laws has
exercised jurisdiction over bills embodying changes of law rather than
revisions or codifications.--On December 6, 1882,\3\ the resolutions
distributing the President's message provided that the Committee on
Revision of the Laws should have jurisdiction of subjects relating to:
The transfer of the Light-House Service, the Coast Survey, and the
Revenue Marine Service as now organized from the Treasury Department to
the Navy Department.
The Committee on Revision of the Laws has also reported:
In 1892,\4\ a proposition to establish the office of Congressional
correspondence and Department business; a bill amending the laws
relating to contracts for Government supplies; and a bill to continue
publication of the Revised Statutes.\5\
In 1888,\6\ on the following subjects: Alien land ownership; clerks
for Members of Congress; for punishing those setting fires to wood and
grass on the public lands.
In 1892 \7\ on the franking privilege to commissioners of United
States courts.
4296. Creation and history of the Committee on Reform in the Civil
Service.
The rule gives to the Committee on Reform in the Civil Service
jurisdiction of subjects relating ``to reform in the civil service.''
Section 36 of Rule XI provides for the reference of subjects
relating--
to reform the civil service: to the Committee on Reform in the Civil
Service.
This committee consists of thirteen Members.
It was made a standing committee on August 18, 1893,\8\ having been a
select committee prior to that date.
4297. The Committee on Reform in the Civil Service has exercised a
general jurisdiction over bills relating to the status of officers,
clerks, and employees in the civil branches of the Government.--The
Committee on Reform in the Civil Service has exercised a general
jurisdiction over projects of legislation relating to the officers,
clerks, and employees in the civil branches of the Government, having
reported:
In 1896,\9\ 1899,\10\ and 1900,\11\ bills giving preference to
soldiers, sailors, and marines in civil-service appointments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Second session Fifty-seventh Congress, Report No. 3679; and also
second session Fifty-eighth Congress, Report No. 225.
\2\ Second session Fifty-sixth Congress, Report No. 2854.
\3\ Second session Forty-seventh Congress, Journal, p. 41; Record, p.
56.
\4\ First session Fifty-second Congress, Report No. 479, 1417, 1955.
\5\ On May 13, 1879 (first session Forty-sixth Congress, Record, pp.
1301, 1302), a discussion occurred as to the respective jurisdictions
of the Committees on Revision of the Laws and Judiciary.
\6\ First session Fiftieth Congress, Reports Nos. 1454, 1455, 1481.
\7\ First session Fifty-second Congress, Report No. 696.
\8\ First session Fifty-third Congress, Journal, p. 13; Record, pp.
477, 478.
\9\ First session Fifty-fourth Congress, Report No. 517.
\10\ Third session Fifty-fifth Congress, Report No. 2056.
\11\ First session Fifty-sixth Congress, Report No. 6784.
Sec. 4298
In 1884 \1\ and 1887 \2\ bills to repeal the tenure of office act;
and in 1888 \3\ the bill (H. R. 1571) fixing a tenure of office of four
years for certain Government officials.
In 1892,\4\ a bill to regulate the appointment of fourth-class
postmasters; and a bill to exclude political influence in the
appointment of laborers.
In 1896,\5\ a bill relating to deposit of the revenues by officers
receiving them.
In 1888,\6\ the bill (H. R. 1787) relating to the apportionment of
appointments in the civil service among the several States on the basis
of population; and the bill (H. R. 1884) to establish a retired list
for persons employed in the civil service.\7\
In 1886,\8\ the bill (H. R. 6855) to secure an equitable
classification \9\ and compensation of certain officers of the United
States.
4298. Matters relating to the Civil Service Commission and alleged
violations of the law have been reported by the Committee on Reform in
the Civil Service.--The Committee on Reform in the Civil Service has
reported on the following subjects:
In 1886,\10\ on the investigation of certain employees of the House
alleged to have attempted to influence legislation.
In 1892,\11\ on violations of the civil-service law in Alabama, and
on the investigation of the Baltimore post-office.
In 1890,\12\ on an investigation of the Civil Service Commission.
In 1893,\13\ on certain reinstated employees.
In 1896,\14\ on a bill relating to delinquent officials.
In 1905,\15\ on the dismissal of letter carriers.
4299. The creation and history of the Committee on the Election of
President, Vice-President, and Representatives in Congress, section 37
of Rule XI.
The rule gives to the Committee on Election of President, Vice-
President, and Representatives in Congress jurisdiction of subjects
relating to the election of the officials enumerated in the
designation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ First session Forty-eighth Congress, Report No. 1955.
\2\ Second session Forty-ninth Congress, Report No. 3539.
\3\ First session Fiftieth Congress, Report No. 807.
\4\ First session Fifty-second Congress, Reports Nos. 821, 1403.
\5\ First session Fifty-fourth Congress, Report No. 385.
\6\ First session Fiftieth Congress, Reports Nos. 328, 329, 1457.
\7\ Also in 1903 and 1904 this committee reported bills relating to
retirement and superannuation. Second session Fifty-seventh Congress,
Reports Nos. 2753-2760; and second session Fifty-eighth Congress,
Report No. 2750.
\8\ First session Forty-ninth Congress, Report No. 1303.
\9\ Also in 1904 on reclassification of employees in the civil
service. (Second session Fifty-eighth Congress, Report No: 2751.)
\10\ First session Forty-ninth Congress, Report No. 2337.
\11\ First session Fifty-second Congress, Reports Nos. 1669, 1747.
\12\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 2445.
\13\ Second session Fifty-second Congress, Report No. 2408.
\14\ First session Fifty-fourth Congress, Report No. 386.
\15\ Third session Fifty-eighth Congress, Report No. 3540.
Sec. 4300
Section 37 of Rule XI provides for the reference of subjects
relating--
to the election of the President, Vice-President, or Representatives in
Congress: to the Committee on election of President, Vice-President,
and Representatives in Congress.
This committee consists of thirteen Members.
It was made a standing committee on August 18, 1893,\1\ having been a
select committee prior to that date.
4300. The Committee on Election of President, Vice-President, and
Representatives in Congress has reported proposed constitutional
amendments providing for election of Senators by the people and the
disqualification of polygamists as Representatives.--The Committee on
Election of President, Vice-President, and Representatives in Congress
reported in 1892,\2\ 1896,\3\ 1898,\4\ and 1900 \5\ on joint
resolutions proposing an amendment to the Constitution providing for
the election of United States Senators by direct vote of the people.\6\
This committee also reported in 1899\7\ and 1900\8\ joint resolutions
proposing amendments to the Constitution prohibiting polygamy within
the United States, and disqualifying polygamists for election as
Senators or Representatives in Congress.
4301. The Committee on Election of President, Vice-President, and
Representatives in Congress has reported bills relating to the national
election laws and the enforcement thereof.--The standing Committee on
Election of President, Vice-President, and Representatives in Congress
dates from 1893, but before that date select committees exercised
jurisdiction and reported:
In 1888,\9\ the bill (H. R. 6672) defining the necessary and proper
expenses incident to the nomination and election or appointment of
Senators and Representatives, and authorizing the payment thereof.
In 1890,\10\ the bill (H. R. 7712) ``to regulate in part the time and
manner of holding elections of Representatives in Congress, and for
other purposes;'' and the bill (H. R. 11045) ``to amend and supplement
the election laws of the United States and to provide for the more
efficient enforcement of such laws and for other purposes.'' \11\
In 1893,\12\ the bill (H. R. 2331) to repeal the Federal election
laws, including those relating, to the duties of United States deputy
marshals.\13\
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ First session Fifty-third Congress, Record, pp. 477, 478;
Journal, p. 13.
\2\ First session Fifty-second Congress, Report No. 368.
\3\ First session Fifty-fourth Congress, Report No. 994.
\4\ Second session Fifty-fifth Congress, Report No. 125.
\5\ First session Fifty-sixth Congress, Report No. 88.
\6\ In 1888 (first session Fiftieth Congress, Report No. 1456) the
Committee on Revision of the Laws reported a resolution of this nature.
\7\ Third session Fifty-fifth Congress, Report No. 2307.
\8\ First session Fifty-sixth Congress, Report No. 348.
\9\ First session Fiftieth Congress, Report No. 1786. But in 1882
(first session, Forty-seventh Congress, Report No. 912) the Committee
on the Judiciary reported the bill (H. R. 5352) in relation to
elections in West Virginia.
\10\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Reports Nos. 1882, 2493.
\11\ But at this time the Committee on the Judiciary reported as to
the subject of abridgment of the suffrage under the fourteenth
amendment. (Second session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 4009.)
\12\ First session Fifty-third Congress, Report No. 18; also second
session Fifty-second Congress, Report No 2310.
\13\ The Committee on the Judiciary also reported a bill relating to
the deputy marshals. (First session Fifty-third Congress, Report No.
14.)
Sec. 4302
In 1898,\1\ the bill (H. R. 10550) providing for the voting of
solders at Congressional elections.
In 1899,\2\ the bill (H. R. 11356) to permit the use of voting
machines at elections of Representatives in Congress.\3\
In 1906,\4\ on bills relating to frauds in elections, publicity of
election expenses, and election and terms of Representatives in
Congress.
4302. Proposed changes of the Constitution as to the term of Congress
and the President and the time of annual meeting of Congress have been
considered by the Committee on Election of President, Vice-President,
and Representatives in Congress.--The standing Committee on Election of
President, Vice-President, and Representatives in Congress, and the
select committees which preceded it, have reported:
In 1888,\5\ the resolution (H. Res. 33) proposing an amendment to the
Constitution fixing the terms of Members of the House, and the date for
the holding of the annual meeting of Congress; also on a proposed
amendment changing the time for the commencement and limitation of the
terms of the President, Vice-President, and Members of Congress.
In 1892,\8\ on the subject of the terms of Congress and of the
President.
In 1894,\7\ on the bill (H. R. 6938) ``to appoint the first Tuesday
after the fourth day of March for the first annual meeting of Congress
and the first Monday after the first day of January as the day for the
second annual meeting.
In 1898,\8\ the joint resolution (H. Res. 6) proposing an amendment
to the Constitution making the term of Members of the House of
Representatives four years.
4303. Changes in the law regarding the electoral count and
resolutions regulating the actual count by the House and Senate are
within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Election of President,
Vice-president, and Representatives in Congress.--Before the creation
of the present standing Committee on Election of President, Vice-
President, and Representatives in Congress, on December 6, 1882,\9\ the
resolutions distributing the President's message gave to the Select
Committee on Laws Respecting the Election of President and Vice-
President ``so much as relates to legislation in reference to counting
and declaring the vote for President and Vice-President of the United
States.''
The select committee also reported:
In 1884,\10\ the bill (S. 25) to provide for the meeting of the
electors of President and Vice-President, the counting of the electoral
vote, etc.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Second session Fifty-fifth Congress, Report No. 1502.
\2\ Third session Fifty-fifth Congress, Report No. 1816.
\3\ The Committee on the Judiciary reported in 1893 a bill fixing the
qualification of voters in Cherokee Outlet, in Oklahoma. (First session
Fifty-third Congress, Report No. 91.)
\4\ First session Fifty-ninth Congress, Reports Nos. 3165, 3927,
5082.
\5\ First session Fiftieth Congress, Reports Nos. 219, 841.
\6\ First session Fifty-second Congress, Report No. 543.
\7\ Second session Fifty-third Congress, Report No. 889.
\8\ Second session Fifty-fifth Congress, Report No. 706.
\9\ Second session Forty-seventh Congress, Journal, p. 41 Record, p.
56.
\10\ First session Forty-eighth Congress, Report No. 1117.
Sec. 4304
In 1886,\1\ the bill (S. 9) regulating the electoral count.
After the creation of the standing committee it reported:
In 1897 \2\ and 1898,\3\ bills relating to a change in the mode of
transmission of votes of electors for President and Vice-President from
the several States of the Union to the seat of Government.
In 1897,\4\ a resolution relating to the electoral vote of South
Carolina and the abridgment of the political rights of a portion of the
citizens of that State.
In 1885 \5\ and 1889,\6\ the select committees reported the
concurrent resolution providing for the count of the electoral vote in
the presence of the two Houses; and in 1893 \7\ the standing committee
reported a similar resolution. In 1897 \8\ and 1901 \9\ this resolution
was reported by the Committee on Rules; but in 1905 \10\ the
jurisdiction was returned to the Committee on Election of President,
Vice-President, and Representatives in Congress.
4304. Subjects relating to the succession of the office of President
in case of his death, disability, etc., have been within the
jurisdiction of the Committee on Election of President, Vice-President,
and Representatives in Congress.--In 1882,\11\ before the creation of
the standing Committee on the Election of President, Vice-President,
and Representatives in Congress, the resolutions distributing the
President's message referred to the Select Committee on Laws Respecting
the Election of President and Vice-President so much as related ``to
the intendment of the Constitution in its provisions for devolving
Executive functions upon the Vice-President in the event of disability
of the President.''
In 1884,\12\ the select committee which preceded the present standing
committee reported the bill (S. 22) providing for the performance of
the duties of President and Vice-President in case of removal, death,
or resignation.
In 1886,\13\ the same select committee reported the bill (S. 471)
changing the law in regard to the succession to the Presidential
office, and the bill (H. R. 61) proposing an amendment to the
Constitution relating to the creation of the office of Second Vice-
President.
In 1895 \14\ the standing committee reported on the resolution (H.
Res. 249) proposing an amendment to the Constitution making the
President ineligible to succeed himself.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ First session Forty-ninth Congress, Report No. 1638.
\2\ Second session Fifty-fourth Congress, Report No. 3044.
\3\ Second session Fifty-fifth Congress, Report No. 145.
\4\ Second session Fifty-fourth Congress, Report No. 3065.
\5\ Second session Forty-eighth Congress, Record, pp. 1037, 1053.
\6\ Second session Fiftieth Congress, Record, p. 1254.
\7\ Second session Fifty-second Congress, Record, p. 642.
\8\ Second session Fifty-fourth Congress, Record, p. 1462.
\9\ Second session Fifty-sixth Congress, Record, p. 1736.
\10\ Third session Fifty-eighth Congress, Record, p. 918.
\11\ Second session Forty-seventh Congress, Journal, p. 41; Record,
p. 56.
\12\ First session Forty-eighth Congress, Report No. 1323.
\13\ First session Forty-ninth Congress, Reports Nos. 26, 2493.
\14\ Third session Fifty-third Congress, Report No. 1658.
Sec. 4305
4305. The creation and history of the Committee on Alcoholic Liquor
Traffic, section 38 of Rule XI.
The rule gives to the Committee on Alcoholic Liquor Traffic
jurisdiction of subjects relating ``to alcoholic liquor traffic.''
Section 38 of Rule XI provides for the reference of subjects
relating--
to alcoholic liquor traffic; to the Committee on Alcoholic Liquor
Traffic.
This committee consists of 11 Members.
It was made a standing committee on August 18, 1893,\1\ having been a
select committee from May 16, 1879,\2\ when it was created on motion of
Mr. William P. Frye, of Maine.
4306. Illustrations of the jurisdiction of the Committee on Alcoholic
Liquor Traffic.--The Committee on Alcoholic Liquor Traffic has reported
bills as follows:
On February 17, 1885,\3\ the bill (H. R. 2693) to regulate the
manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors in the Territories.
In 1898 \4\ the Committee on Alcoholic Liquor Traffic reported the
bill (H. R. 7937) to prevent the sale of intoxicating liquors on
reservations and in buildings controlled by the United States.
In 1896,\5\ a bill to provide for a commission on the subject of the
alcoholic liquor traffic.
In 1901 \6\ and 1902,\7\ bills relating to the sale of firearms,
opium, and intoxicants to native races in the South Sea Islands.
In 1890,\8\ the bill (H. R. 5978) to prohibit the transportation of
intoxicating liquors into any State or Territory in violation of law;
but this jurisdiction does not accord with the later practice of the
House, which has referred bills relating to the interstate commerce
features of the liquor traffic to the Committee on the Judiciary.\9\
On February 10, 1888,\10\ in the House Mr. James E. Campbell, of
Ohio, moved that the Committee on Alcoholic Liquor Traffic be
discharged from the consideration of a bill relating to special taxes
on liquor dealers under the internal-revenue laws and that the bill be
referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. This motion was agreed to,
ayes 95, noes 46.
4307. The creation and history of the Committee on Irrigation of Arid
Lands, section 39 of Rule XI.
The rule gives to the Committee on Irrigation of Arid Lands
jurisdiction of subjects relating ``to the irrigation of Arid lands.''
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ First session Fifty-third Congress, Journal, p. 13, Record, pp.
477, 478.
\2\ First session Forty-sixth Congress, Record, p. 1394 Journal, p.
314.
\3\ Second session Forty-eighth Congress, Report No. 2586.
\4\ Second session Fifty-fifth Congress, Report No. 1629.
\5\ First session Fifty-fourth Congress, Report No. 1789.
\6\ Second session Fifty-sixth Congress, Report No. 2887.
\7\ First session Fifty-seventh Congress, Report No. 261.
\8\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 1697.
\9\ See section 4061 of this work.
\10\ First session Fiftieth Congress, Record, p. 1118.
Sec. 4308
Section 39 of Rule XI provides for the reference of subjects
relating--
to the irrigation of arid lands; to the Committee on Irrigation of Arid
Lands.
This committee consists of twelve Members.
It was made a standing committee on August 18, 1893,\1\ having been a
select committee prior to that date.
4308. Examples of the general jurisdiction of the Committee on
Irrigation of Arid Lands.--The Committee on Irrigation of Arid Lands
reported in 1902 \2\ the bill ``appropriating the receipts from the
disposal and sale of public lands in certain States and Territories to
the construction of irrigation works for the reclamation of arid
lands'' and also has reported:
In 1904,\3\ on the use of earth, stone, and timber on forest
reservations and public lands for irrigation works.
In 1905,\4\ on dams across the Yellowstone River, and on the
reclamation fund.
4309. The creation and history of the Committee on Immigration and
Naturalization, section 40 of Rule XI.
The rule gives to the Committee on Immigration and Naturalization
jurisdiction of subjects relating ``to immigration or naturalization.''
Section 40 of Rule XI provides for the reference of subjects
relating--
to immigration or naturalization; to the Committee on Immigration and
Naturalization.
This committee consists of fourteen Members.
It was made a standing committee on August 18, 1893,\1\ having been a
select committee prior to that date.
4310. The Committee on Immigration and Naturalization exercises a
general but not exclusive jurisdiction over the subject of immigration
and has reported bills relating to contract labor.--The Committee on
Immigration and Naturalization, since its establishment as a standing
committee in 1893, and before that as a special committee, has
exercised generally jurisdiction over the subject of immigration,
although there are a few notable exceptions.\5\ Measures reported by
the Committee on Immigration and Naturalization have been:
In 1906,\6\ the general revision of the immigration laws.
In 1891,\7\ on the immigration laws.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ First session Fifty-third Congress, Record, pp. 477, 478;
Journal, p. 13.
\2\ First session Fifty-seventh Congress, Report No. 794; 32 Stat.
L., p. 388.
\3\ Second session Fifty-eighth Congress, Report No. 2584.
\4\ Third session Fifty-eighth Congress, Reports Nos. 4833, 48314.
\5\ In 1892 (Fifty-first session Fifty-second Congress, Report No.
255) and in 1891 (second session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 4048)
this committee reported on the subject of Chinese immigration; but in
1882 (second session Fortyseventh Congress, Journal, p. 40; Record, p.
56) the House in distributing the President's message referred to the
Judiciary Committee ``the construction of the law restricting
immigration of laborers from China;'' and the broad question of Chinese
immigration has long rested with the Committee on Foreign Affairs (See
sec. 4172 of this volume). The Judiciary Committee also reported in
1894 (second session Fifty-third Congress, Report No. 1460) on
exclusion and deportation of alien anarchists, and the same year on
inspection of immigrants by consuls (Report No. 416).
\6\ First session Fifty-ninth Congress, Reports Nos. 3021, 3635,
4558, 4912.
\7\ Second session Fifty-first Congress, Reports Nos. 3472, 3807.
Sec. 4311
In 1892,\1\ on the immigration and contract labor laws.
In 1893,\2\ on immigration laws.
In 1894,\3\ the bill (H. R. 7415) for the protection of American
labor and to establish additional regulations concerning immigration to
the United States.
4311. In the later practice the Committee on Immigration and
Naturalization has confirmed its jurisdiction over the subject of
naturalization.--The Committee on Immigration and Naturalization, which
has been a standing committee since 1893, has established its claim to
jurisdiction over the subject of naturalization, having in 1906 \4\
reported important legislation on that subject; but up to 1893 the
Committee on the Judiciary exercised a general and frequent
jurisdiction over this subject, reporting general bills relating to
naturalization \5\ 1 and even in 1894,\6\ on naturalization of
Japanese. The Judiciary Committee also reported in 1886,\7\ 1888,\8\
and 1890 \9\ on bills relating to the ownership of lands within the
United States by aliens.
4312. Authorizations for sites and buildings for immigrant stations
are within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Immigration and
Naturalization.--The Committee on Immigration and Naturalization has
jurisdiction over the authorizations of immigrant stations at the ports
of the United States, and the construction of buildings therefor; and
has reported:
In 1891,\10\ on the immigrant depot at New York.
In 1906,\11\ the bill (H. R. 19468) to increase the limit of cost of
the construction of the immigrant station at Angel Island, in the
harbor of San Francisco, Cal.
In 1907,\12\ bills providing for the establishment of immigrant
stations, the selection of sites and the erection of buildings thereon,
at Galveston, Charleston, and New Orleans.
4313. The creation and history of the Committee on Ventilation and
Acoustics, section 41 of Rule XI.
The rule gives to the Committee on Ventilation and Acoustics
jurisdiction of subjects relating ``to ventilation and acoustics.''
Section 41 of Rule XI provides for the reference of subjects
relating--
to ventilation and acoustics; to the Committee on Ventilation and
Acoustics.
This committee consists of seven Members.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ First session Fifty-second Congress, Report No. 1573. See,
however, the jurisdiction of the Labor Committee as to contract labor
legislation. (See sec. 4249 of this volume.)
\2\ Second session Fifty-second Congress, Reports Nos. 2197, 2206,
2542.
\3\ First session Fifty-fourth Congress, Report No. 1597.
\4\ First session Fifty-ninth Congress, Reports Nos. 1789, 3632.
\5\ First session Forty-eighth Congress, Report No. 1030; first
session Forty-ninth Congress, Report No. 731; second session Fiftieth
Congress, Report No. 4145; second session Fifty-second Congress, Report
No. 2180; first session Fifty-third Congress, Report No. 139.
\6\ Second session Fifty-third Congress, Report No. 1385.
\7\ First session Forty-ninth Congress, Report No. 1951.
\8\ First session Fiftieth Congress, Report No. 255.
\9\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 2388.
\10\ Second session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 3857.
\11\ First session Fifty-ninth Congress, Report No. 4640.
\12\ Second session Fifty-ninth Congress, Reports Nos. 8026, 8028,
8061.
Sec. 4314
It was made a standing committee on August 18, 1893,\1\ having been a
select committee prior to that date.\2\
4314. Subjects relating to the Hall of the House have been considered
by the Committee on Ventilation and Acoustics.--The Committee on
Ventilation and Acoustics reported in 1891 \3\ on the enlargement of
the Hall of the House; and in 1899 \4\ on a plan for remodeling of the
Hall and a rearrangement of the seats therein.
4315. Creation and history of the ten Committees on Expenditures in
the Various Departments of the Government, sections 42 to 52 of Rule
XI.
The rule gives to the several Committees on Expenditures jurisdiction
of the pay of officers, abolition of useless offices, and the economy
and accountability of officers.
The examination of the accounts of the Departments, proper
application of public moneys, enforcement of payment of money due the
Government, and economy and retrenchment generally are within the
jurisdiction of the several Committees on Expenditures.
There are ten Committees on Expenditures in the various Departments
of the Government, provided for by sections 42 to 52 of Rule XI:
42. The examination of the accounts and expenditures of the several
Departments of the Government and the manner of keeping the same; the
economy, justness, and correctness of such expenditures; their
conformity with appropriation laws; the proper application of public
moneys; the security of the Government against unjust and extravagant
demands; retrenchment; the enforcement of the payment of moneys due to
the United States; the economy and accountability of public officers;
the abolishment of useless offices; the reduction or increase of the
pay of officers, shall all be subjects within the jurisdiction of the
nine standing committees on the public expenditures in the several
Departments, as follows:
43. In the Department of State; to the Committee on Expenditures in
the State Department.
44. In the Treasury Department; to the Committee on Expenditures in
the Treasury Department.
45. In the War Department; to the Committee on Expenditures in the
War Department.
46. In the Navy Department; to the Committee on Expenditures in the
Navy Department.
47. In the Post-Office Department; to the Committee on Expenditures
in the Post-Office Department.
48. In the Interior Department; to the Committee on Expenditures in
the Interior Department.
49. In the Department of Justice; to the Committee on Expenditures in
the Department of Justice.
50. In the Department of Agriculture; to the Committee on
Expenditures in the Department of Agriculture.
51. In the Department of Commerce and Labor; to the Committee on
Expenditures in the Department of Commerce and Labor.
52. On public buildings; to the Committee on Expenditures on Public
Buildings.
Each of these committees consists of seven Members.
On February 26, 1814,\5\ Mr. John W. Eppes, of Virginia, in order to
relieve the Committee on Ways and Means of some of its duties, moved
the creation of a Com-
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ First session Fifty-third Congress, Record, pp. 477, 478;
Journal, p. 13.
\2\ In the old Hall of the House, now Statuary Hall, the acoustics
were a source of constant trouble because of the echoes, and several
investigations were made, resulting in reports of considerable
interest. (First session Twenty-first Congress, Reports Nos. 83 and
123.)
\3\ Second session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 4021.
\4\ Third session Fifty-fifth Congress, Report No. 2206.
\5\ Second session Thirteenth Congress, Journal, pp. 311, 314:
Annals, p. 1695.
Sec. 4316
mittee on Public Expenditures. The House agreed to the motion, and made
it the duty of the new committee ``to examine into the state of the
several public departments, and particularly into the laws making
appropriations of moneys, and to report whether the moneys had been
disbursed conformably with such laws,'' and also to report measures to
add to the economy of the Departments and the accountability of
officers. This committee seems to have been industrious at times, at
least, for on August 23, 1840,\1\ a motion to abolish it failed, it
being urged in its behalf that it entered into careful scrutiny of
expenditures, even examining the furnishings of the White House. This
committee was continued until the revision of the rules in 1880,\2\
when it was dropped.
The several Committees on Expenditures, which are to be distinguished
from that committee, date from March 30, 1816,\3\ when, the spirit of
inquiry being aroused by ``clamors and suspicions'' that had gone
forth, Mr. Henry St. George Tucker, of Virginia, proposed these
committees, which had been found useful in England and in Virginia. The
House created them at that time, and on February 19, 1817,\4\ when Mr.
Charles H. Atherton, of New Hampshire, proposed to add to the
jurisdiction of the Committee on Public Expenditures the subject of
abolition of useless offices and regulation of pay of officers, the
House preferred rather to add this new jurisdiction to the several
expenditures committees. Long before the custom of appointing standing
committees for the whole Congress instead of for a session had been
established an exception was made of these committees, and they were
appointed for the whole Congress.\5\ As adopted in 1816 the rule did
not include the committees for the Departments of Interior, Justice,
Agriculture, and Commerce and Labor, which had not been created at that
time. The committees for these Departments date, respectively, from
March 16, 1860,\6\ January 16, 1874,\7\ December 20, 1889,\8\ and
December 11, 1905.\9\ Although usually having little to do, these
committees at times attain great importance and prominence.\10\
4316. The several Expenditures Committees may make investigations
with or without specific direction from the House, but authority must
be obtained of the House for compelling testimony.--The several
Committees on Expenditures in the Departments of the Government, being
charged by the rules with the duty of making investigations, have
assumed the right to do so without further specific direction of the
House. Such investigations were made in 1885 \11\ by the Committee on
Expenditures in the Department of Justice and in 1893 \12\ by the
Committee on Expenditures in the Department of State. As these
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ First session Twenty-sixth Congress, Globe, p. 352.
\2\ It appears last in the rules of first session Forty-sixth
Congress, Journal, p. 625.
\3\ First session Fourteenth Congress, Journal, p. 550; Annals, p.
1298.
\4\ Second session Fourteenth Congress, Journal, p. 425; Annals, p.
996.
\5\ Third session Twenty-seventh Congress, Journal, pp. 37, 742. In
1842 a Committee on Retrenchment was active. (Second session Twenty-
seventh Congress, Journal, pp. 486, 491.)
\6\ First session Thirty-sixth Congress, Globe, p. 1209.
\7\ First session Forty-third Congress, Record, p. 677.
\8\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Record, p. 336.
\9\ First session Fifty-ninth Congress, Journal, p. 120.
\10\ See section 2444 of Volume III of this work.
\11\ Second session Forty-eighth Congress, Report No. 2645.
\12\ Second session Fifty-second Congress, Report No. 2616.
Sec. 4317
committees have not the power to compel testimony except by special
grant by the House, these investigations taken under authority of the
rules are merely inquiries undertaken with the cooperation or
acquiescence of the officers of the Departments affected. And when, in
1884,\1\ the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of Justice
proposed, in its investigation of charges against the First Comptroller
of the Treasury, to go further and compel testimony, it was fortified
by this resolution of the House:
Resolved, That the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of
Justice, in making the investigation required by the rules of the
House, be authorized to send for persons and papers.
In accordance with this authority the committee took testimony, which
it reported to the House.\2\
In other cases these committees have proceeded on direction of the
House that they investigate, as in investigations made by the Committee
on Expenditures in the Department of Justice and by the Committee on
Expenditures in the War Department in 1886,\3\ and by the Committee on
Expenditures in the Department of Agriculture in 1906.\4\
4317. Legislative propositions relating to the fees and salaries of
officers and employees of the Government have been considered by the
various Committees on Expenditures.--The Committees on Expenditures in
the various Departments have exercised a general jurisdiction over
bills relating to the salaries and compensation of officers and
employees of the Government, and have reported:
In 1886,\5\ the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of
Justice the bill (H.R. 6977) abolishing the fee system and establishing
salaries in the offices connected with the circuit and district courts
of the United States.
In 1888,\6\ the Committee on Expenditures in the Treasury Department
on the subject of an inquiry into irregularities in the compensation of
officers and employees of the Executive Departments; the Committee on
Expenditures in the Interior Department on the bill (H.R. 1549)
relating to fees to pension examining surgeons and the bill (H.R. 9422)
relating to compensation of chiefs of division in the General Land
Office; and the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of Justice
on the bill (H.R. 9908) relating to the compensation of United States
district attorneys, etc.
1890,\7\ the Committee on Expenditures in the Treasury Department on
the bill (H.R. 8106) to increase the pay of watchmen in the Treasury
Department; the Committee on Expenditures in the Interior Department on
the bill (H.R. 9283) providing increases of salaries of certain
officials in the Indian Bureau; and the
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ First session Forty-eighth Congress, Journal, p. 273.
\2\ Second session Forty-eighth Congress, Report No. 2675.
\3\ First session Forty-ninth Congress, Reports Nos. 521, 2023.
\4\ First session Fifty-ninth Congress, Record, pp. 5607, 6324, 6406,
6573; second session Fifty-ninth Congress, Report No. 8147.
\5\ First session Forty-ninth Congress, Report No. 1132.
\6\ First session Fiftieth Congress, Reports Nos. 1198, 2078, 2190,
2424.
\7\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Reports Nos. 797, 1411, 2542.
Sec. 4318
Committee on Expenditures in the Post-Office Department on the bill
(H.R. 803) to pay employees of the Post-Office Department additional
compensation for extra hours of duty in the year 1885.
In 1891,\1\ the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of
Justice on the subject of the fees of court officers; and the Committee
on Expenditures in the Treasury Department on the compensation in the
Life-Saving Service.
In 1892,\2\ the Committee on Expenditures in the Treasury Department
on increases of salaries of the Supervising Architect and the chief
clerks in his department.\3\
4318. The Committees on Expenditures in the several Departments have
reported bills creating and abolishing offices and employments.--The
Committee on Expenditures in the Interior Department reported:
In 1888,\4\ the bill (H.R. 1548) increasing the medical board of the
Pension Department.
In 1890,\5\ the resolution (H. Res. 135) empowering the Secretary of
the Interior to appoint six additional members of the board of pension
appeals.
The Committee on Expenditures in the Treasury Department reported, in
1894,\6\ on the subject of the discontinuance of the offices of
collectors of customs at several ports.\7\
4319. Bills relating to leaves of absence of officers and clerks of
the Government have been considered by the several Committees on
Expenditures.--The Committees on Expenditures in the various
Departments of the Government have had general jurisdiction of
legislation relating to the leaves of absence of officers and clerks,
reporting:
The Committee on Expenditures in the Treasury Department, in 1888,\8\
1890,\9\ 1892,\10\ and 1894,\11\ on leaves of absence in the customs
service; and, in 1892,\12\ on leaves of absence in the Treasury
Department proper.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Second session Fifty-first Congress, Reports Nos. 3530, 3740.
\2\ First session Fifty-second Congress, Reports Nos. 1211, 1212.
\3\ In very recent years these Committees on expenditures have grown
inactive, and have permitted bills plainly within the jurisdiction
conferred on them by the rules to be taken by some of the larger
committee. Thus, in 1907 (second session Fifty-ninth Congress, Report
No. 6722), the Committee on Ways and Means reported the bill (H.R.
12222) authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to fix the
compensation of inspectors of customs; also the same year the Committee
on the Judiciary reported the bill in relation to salaries of district
attorneys and assistant district attorneys for the northern district of
Illinois (Report No. 7557); and the Committee on Patents the bill (H.R.
22678) to provide increased force and salaries in the Patent Office.
\4\ First session Fiftieth Congress, Report No. 1197.
\5\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 1361.
\6\ Second session Fifty-third Congress, Report No. 1033.
\7\ But in 1906 (first session Fifty-ninth Congress, Report No. 583)
the Committee on Ways and Means reported the bill (H.R. 7114) to
provide for the consolidation and reorganization of the customs
collection districts.
\8\ First session Fiftieth Congress, Report No. 2616.
\9\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 648.
\10\ First session Fifty-second Congress, Report No. 1213.
\11\ Second session Fifty-third Congress, Report No. 713.
\12\ First session Fifty-second Congress, Report No. 6529.
Sec. 4320
The Committee on Expenditures in the Navy Department, in 1892,\1\ on
leaves of absence for navy-yard employees.
4320. Bills relating to the efficiency and integrity of the public
service have been considered by the several Committees on
Expenditures.--The Committees on Expenditures in the various
Departments of the Government have exercised a general jurisdiction
over matters relating to the efficiency and integrity of the public
service, and have reported:
In 1888,\2\ the Committee on Expenditures in the Interior Department,
the bill (H. R. 7434) relating to the payment of pensions to pensioners
who are incompetent to handle the money, such as those under
guardianship; and the Committee on Expenditures in the Treasury
Department the bill (H. R. 9623) to provide for printing Government
securities in the highest style of the art.
In 1890,\3\ the Committee on Expenditures in the Treasury Department,
the bill (S. 2237) providing for the maintenance of discipline among
customs officers.
In 1892,\4\ the Committee on Expenditures in the Treasury Department,
on the protection of persons engaged in public works or in furnishing
materials to the Government.
In 1904,\5\ the Committee on Expenditures in the State Department, on
the use of official carriages.
4321. The creation and history of the Committee on Rules, section 53
of Rule XI.
The rule gives to the Committee on Rules jurisdiction of ``all
proposed action touching the rules, joint rules, and order of
business.''
Section 53 of Rule XI provides:
All proposed action touching the rules, joint rules, and order of
business shall be referred to the Committee on Rules.
This committee consists of five members.
From the First Congress, in 1789, there has always been a Committee
on Rules, but it was for many years simply a select committee
authorized at the beginning of each Congress to report a system of
rules. In 1841 it was decided that the committee, which was still a
select committee, might report from time to time.\6\ At first the
Speaker was not a member of the committee, but on June 14, 1858,\7\ a
resolution was agreed to authorizing the appointment of a committee on
rules, of whom the Speaker\8\ was to be one, to revise the rules and
report at the next session. The committee
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ First session Fifty-second Congress, Report No. 1036.
\2\ First session Fiftieth Congress, Reports Nos. 806, 3220.
\3\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 800.
\4\ First session Fifty-second Congress, Report No. 2124.
\5\ Second session Fifty-eighth Congress, Report No. 1138.
\6\ First session Twenty-seventh Congress, Journal, p. 204; Globe, p.
153.
\7\ First session Thirty-fifth Congress, Journal, p. 1141; First
session Thirty-sixth Congress, Journal, p. 167.
\8\ At that time James L. Orr, of South Carolina. (For the membership
of the Committees on Rules from 1789 to 1893, see Record, first session
Fifty-third Congress, p. 1042.)
Sec. 4322
continued to be a select committee \1\ until the revision of 1880,\2\
when it was made a standing committee, with its membership fixed at
five, in accordance with the previous usage. In 1891 the right to
report at any time was conferred upon the committee,\3\ and in 1893 it
was given the right to sit during sessions of the House.\4\
4322. Orders or resolutions directing committees of the House to make
investigations are considered by the Committee on Rules.
Resolutions or orders for the creation of select committees to make
investigations are within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Rules.
Forms of resolutions for directing a standing committee to make an
investigation or for creating a select committee for that purpose.
On January 11, 1882,\5\ Mr. Godlove S. Orth, of Indiana, proposed
this resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on Reform of the Civil Service is hereby
instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing a mode different
from the present, for the appointment of the committees of this House.
Mr. Orth moved its reference to the Committee on Reform in the Civil
Service, although the Speaker \6\ expressed the opinion that it should
be referred to the Committee on Rules. Mr. Orth's motion was disagreed
to, yeas 86, nays 141. The resolution was then referred to the
Committee on Rules.
Two reasons would account for the reference to rules: The fact that a
change of the method of appointing committees would imply a change of
rules; and that the making of a direction to a committee to do
something that it would not otherwise have the authority to do, would
involve the adoption of a new rule.
The second reason has caused the jurisdiction of resolutions
directing committees to make investigations to rest with the Committee
on Rules in the later practice of the House.\7\ Thus on January 18,
1906,\8\ the Committee on Rules reported the following:
Resolved, That the Committee on Naval Affairs is hereby directed to
investigate the present condition of the U.S.S. Constitution to
determine whether in the opinion of that committee an appropriation is
justified for the continued maintenance of that ship; and if so, what
amount will be required annually for this purpose; and further to
report the amount which has been expended annually in maintaining the
Constitution since she was put out of commission.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ For years at the beginning of a Congress the House at its
organization would adopt the rules of the preceding House, and
authorize a select committee on rules, with right to report at any
time. Thus on October 16, 1877. (First session Forty-fifth Congress,
Journal, p. 20; Record, p. 69.)
\2\ Second session Forty-sixth Congress, Record, p. 205.
\3\ See section 4621 of this work. The committee had actually
exercised the privilege before this.
\4\ See section 62 of Rule XI. Section 4546 of this volume.
\5\ First session Forty-seventh Congress, Record, p. 358.
\6\ J. Warren Keifer, of Ohio, Speaker.
\7\ Formerly resolutions directing investigations to be made by
certain committees were referred to the committee which it was proposed
to charge with the investigation. On January 18, 1892, the House
discharged the Committee on Rules from the consideration of a
resolution proposing to direct the Committee on Manufactures to make an
investigation of the ``sweating system'' and referred the resolution to
the Committee on Manufactures. (First session Fifty-second Congress,
Record, p. 370.) See also First session Forty-ninth Congress, Journal,
pp. 829, 830. In 1877 a very important resolution directing general
investigations by committees of the House was reported by the Committee
on Ways and Means. (Second session Forty-fifth Congress, Journal, p.
132; Record, p. 228.)
\8\ First session Fifty-ninth Congress, Record, p. 1239.
Sec. 4323
Resolutions proposing the appointment of select Committees to make
investigations have been within the jurisdiction of the Committee on
Rules,\1\ which in 1906 \2\ reported the following:
Resolved, That the Speaker of the House of Representatives be, and he
is hereby, directed to appoint from the membership of the House a
committee of the House with full power, and whose duty it shall be to
make a full and complete investigation of the management of the
Government Hospital for the Insane and report their findings and
conclusions to the House; said committee to be empowered to send for
persons and papers, to summon and compel the attendance of witnesses,
to administer oaths \3\ to take testimony and reduce the same to
writing, and to employ such clerical and stenographic help as may be
necessary, all expenses to be paid out of the contingent fund of the
House.\4\
4323. Direction to a committee to make an investigation, being an
addition to its duties and therefore a change of the rules, should be
referred to the Committee on Rules.--On October 1, 1890,\5\ Mr. Charles
H. Grosvenor, of Ohio, claiming the floor for a privileged report,
presented a preamble and resolution relating to obstructions to the
navigation of the Ohio River, and authorizing the River and Harbor
Committee, or a subcommittee thereof, to investigate the same, employ
an additional clerk and stenographer, and sit during the recess, such
expenses to be paid out of the contingent fund of the House.
Mr. W. C. P. Breckinridge, of Kentucky, raised the question of order,
that the report was not a privileged question.
The Speaker \6\ sustained the question of order, on the ground that
clause 51, Rule XI,\7\ conferred on the Committee on Rivers and Harbors
the right to report at any time only ``bills for the improvement of
rivers and harbors,'' and further held, that as the preamble and
resolution proposed a change of the rules by increasing the duties and
powers of the Committee on Rivers and Harbors, the same should have
been referred to the Committee on Rules.
The record of debates shows that the Speaker specified the
particulars in which the resolution would increase the duties and
powers of the committee--by authorizing it to make the investigation.
4324. On December 19, 1898,\8\ Mr. Joseph W. Bailey, of Texas,
presented, as affecting the privileges of the House, the following
resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be, and it is hereby,
instructed to ascertain and report to the House:
First. Whether any Member of the House has accepted any office under
the United States; and
Second. Whether the acceptance of such office under the United States
has vacated the seat of the Member accepting the same.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ First session Forty-ninth Congress, Report No. 1621.
\2\ First session Fifty-ninth Congress, Journal, p. 892.
\3\ As the statutes empower the Speaker, chairman of Committee of the
Whole, chairmen of select and standing committees and Members to
administer oaths to witnesses, this provision seems superfluous. (Rev.
Stat., sec. 101; 23 Stat. L., p. 60.)
\4\ This branch of the subject is within the jurisdiction of the
Committee on Accounts. (See see. 4328 of this volume.)
\5\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Journal, p. 1116; Record, pp.
10777, 10778.
\6\ Thomas B. Reed, of Maine, Speaker.
\7\ Now section 61. (See sec. 4621 of this volume.)
\8\ Third session Fifty-fifth Congress, Record, pp. 310, 353.
Sec. 4325
In accordance with Mr. Bailey's request this resolution was referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary.
On December 20 Mr. David B. Henderson, of Iowa, chairman of the
Judiciary Committee, moved that the reference be changed to the
Committee on Rules, on the ground that the resolution properly belonged
to the latter committee.
The change of reference was made, and on December 21 the resolution
was reported by the Committee on Rules.
4325. Propositions relating to the hour of daily meeting and the days
on which the House shall sit are considered by the Committee on
Rules.--The Committee on Rules has jurisdiction of orders or
resolutions providing for the hour of meeting and adjourning,\1\ and
also designating the days of the week on which the House shall sit.\2\
4326. Special orders providing for the consideration of individual
bills or classes of bills are reported by the Committee on Rules.--The
Committee on Rules has jurisdiction of all special orders providing
specially for the consideration of bills or classes of bills.\3\
4327. Orders relating to the use of the galleries of the House during
the electoral count are within the jurisdiction of the Committee on
Rules.--Orders or resolutions providing for reservations of the
galleries of the House during the counting of the electoral vote are
within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Rules.\4\
4328. The creation and history of the Committee on Accounts, section
54 of Rule XI.
The rule gives to the Committee on Accounts jurisdiction of subjects
``touching the expenditure of the contingent fund of the House, the
auditing and settling of all accounts which may be charged therein by
order of the House.''
A temporary committee on accounts, authorized by law, performs the
functions of the committee during the time between the expiration of
one Congress and the organization of the next.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ First session Forty-ninth Congress, Report No. 2212; Second
session Fiftieth Congress, Record, pp. 744, 2209; second session Fifty-
second Congress, Record, p. 1102; second session Fifty-fifth Congress,
Report No. 17.
\2\ First session Fifty-fifth Congress, Record, pp. 876, 933.
\3\ See, for instance, first session Fifty-ninth Congress, Journal,
p. 1378, for summary of instances wherein this jurisdiction has been
exercised. The Committee on Rules did not always exercise this
jurisdiction, but it had established its claim before 1890, and in 1893
the Committee on the Library gave up, in favor of the Committee on
Rules, the jurisdiction of a resolution providing a time for the
consideration of bills reported from the Library Committee. (Second
session Fifty-second Congress, Record, p. 509.) See also Chapter
LXXXVIII, section 3152, etc., of this volume.
\4\ Second session Fifty-second Congress, Record, p. 1102; second
session Fifty-fourth Congress, Record, p. 1462; second session Fifty-
sixth Congress, Record, p. 1391. At the count in 1905 the resolution
relating to the galleries was not referred to any committee, but was
offered from the floor in connection with the adoption of the
concurrent resolution providing for the proceedings of the count, which
had been reported by the Committee on Election of President, Vice-
President, and Representatives in Congress. (Third session Fifty-eighth
Congress, Record, p. 918.)
Sec. 4329
Section 54 of Rule XI provides for the reference of subjects--
touching the expenditure of the contingent fund of the House, the
auditing and settling of all accounts which may be charged therein by
order of the House; to the Committee on Accounts.
This committee consists of nine Members.
It was established on December 27, 1803,\1\ and on December 17,
1805,\2\ is enumerated as a standing committee, in a rule which made it
the duty of the committee ``to superintend and control the expenditures
of the contingent fund'' of the House, and to ``audit the accounts of
Members for their travel to and from the seat of Government and their
attendance in the House.'' Previous to this the Speaker and Sergeant-
at-Arms had audited the accounts of Members. The present form of the
rule dates from the revision of 1880.\3\
The law \4\ provides that the Speaker shall, before the termination
of the last session of a Congress, appoint three Members-elect of the
next House as a temporary committee on accounts, to exercise such
functions of the committee in reference to expenditures of the
contingent fund, etc., as may need to be exercised during the recess
before the organization of the next House.
4329. The accountability of the officers of the House is within the
jurisdiction of the Committee on Accounts.--On January 17, 1845,\5\ in
a case where the Clerk of the House was charged with defalcation, the
Committee on Accounts presented their report ``in discharge of the
duties imposed upon them by one of the standing rules of the House.''
The rule (No. 102) provided at that time that it should ``be the duty
of the Committee on Accounts to superintend and control the
expenditures of the contingent fund of the House of Representatives,
also to audit and settle all accounts that may be charged thereon.''
The report of the Clerk as to the expenditures from the contingent
fund, made to the House January 7, and laid on the table, would have
given jurisdiction if referred.
In 1890 \6\ the Committee on Accounts were directed to investigate,
and did investigate, the conduct of the Postmaster of the House, and
reported a resolution for his removal.
4330. The assignment of committee and other rooms in the House wing,
custody of documents, etc., have been considered by the Committee on
Accounts.--In 1888 \7\ ``the procuring of additional committee rooms
for the use of the committees of the House was delegated to the
Committee on Accounts, which made several reports on the subject.
In 1890,\8\ also, this committee reported on the subject of rooms for
committees.
In 1901 \9\ it reported on the following subjects:
Additional rooms for the Speaker.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ First session Eighth Congress, Journal, pp. 498, 503.
\2\ First session Ninth Congress, Journal, pp. 202, 203, Annals, p.
284.
\3\ Second session Forty-sixth Congress, Record, p. 205.
\4\ 28 Stat. L., p. 768.
\5\ Second session Twenty-eighth Congress, Journal, pp. 178, 223;
Globe, p. 147.
\6\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 3242.
\7\ First session Fiftieth Congress, Record, pp. 878, 1097, 8458.
\8\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Record, p. 521.
\9\ Second session Fifty-sixth Congress, Reports Nos. 2643, 2067,
3006.
Sec. 4331
Disposal of flag formerly hanging over Speaker's desk.
Moving and cataloguing books and documents in House and Clerk's
document room.
4331. The Committee on Accounts recommends to the House resolutions
authorizing and assigning clerks to committees.--On December 17,
1897,\1\ Mr. Benjamin B. Odell, jr., of New York, as a privileged
matter, reported from the Committee on Accounts, in accordance with the
usual practice at the beginning of each session, this resolution:
Resolved, That the eighteen clerks to committees of the House during
the session provided for by the legislative, executive, and judicial
appropriation bill for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1898, be, and
they are hereby, allowed and assigned for the present Congress to the
following committees, namely:
To the Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures, a clerk.
To the Committee on Education, a clerk, etc.
And resolved, That the pay of the clerks to committees of the House
of Representatives, which have been or may be hereafter authorized by
the House, who are paid during the session only, shall begin from the
time such clerks entered upon the discharge of their duties, which
shall be ascertained and evidenced by the certificate of the chairmen
of the several committees employing clerks for the session only.
At the same time Mr. Odell presented the following resolution as a
substitute for several resolutions referred to the Committee on
Accounts:
Resolved, That an assistant clerk be allowed the Committee on Claims,
to the Committee on Naval Affairs, the Committee on Interstate and
Foreign Commerce, and the Committee on Military Affairs during the
sessions of the Fifty-fifth Congress, at a compensation of $6 per day,
to be paid out of the contingent fund of the House, and that the pay of
such clerks to the above-named committees shall begin from the time
such clerks enter upon the discharge of their duties, which shall be
ascertained and evidenced by the certificate of the chairmen of the
several committees employing clerks for the sessions only.
These authorizations and assignments are, of, course, subject to the
approval of the House.
4332. The assignment of committee clerks is within the jurisdiction
of the Committee on Accounts.--On December 17, 1869,\2\ the House
agreed to a resolution that all propositions providing for committee
clerks be referred to the Committee on Accounts before being acted on,
and this was also the practice in 1877,\3\ when the resolutions
assigning committee clerks were reported from this committee, and has
continued the practice.\4\
4333. Resolutions authorizing the employment of persons by the House
are reported by the Committee on Accounts.--The Committee on Accounts
reports resolutions authorizing the employment of persons in the
service of the House, as is illustrated by reports in 1904 \5\
authorizing an additional official reporter of debates, an assistant
stenographer to committees, and assistants and a janitor in the
document room.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Second session Fifty-fifth Congress, Record, pp. 264, 265.
\2\ First session Forty-first Congress, Journal, p. 65; Globe, p.
125.
\3\ First session Forty-fifth Congress, Journal, p. 120.
\4\ Second session Fifty-eighth Congress, Report No. 13.
\5\ Second session Fifty-eighth Congress, Reports Nos. 17, 44, 386.
Sec. 4334
4334. Bills providing clerks for Members and Senators were reported
by the Committee on Accounts.--In 1889 \1\ the Committee on Accounts
reported the bill (H. R. 11867) providing for clerks to Members and
Senators. Again in 1890 \2\ this committee reported the bill (H. R.
309) ``to authorize the appointment and prescribe the compensation of
clerks to Representatives and Delegates to Congress.''
4335. The statutes provide for a temporary Committee on Accounts, to
be appointed by the Speaker, to serve through the recess following the
expiration of a Congress.--The statutes provide that before the
termination of the last session of a Congress the Speaker shall appoint
from the Representatives-elect a temporary Committee on Accounts of
three Members, which committee shall have the same powers and perform
the same duties in reference to payments made from the contingent fund
of the House of Representatives as are authorized by law and the rules
of the House. This said temporary Committee on Accounts begins to
exercise its powers immediately upon the termination of the Congress,
and continues to exercise and discharge its duties until after the
meeting and organization of the House of Representatives of the next
Congress, and until the appointment of the regular Committee on
Accounts. And all payments made out of the contingent fund of the House
of Representatives upon vouchers approved by the temporary Committee on
Accounts shall be deemed, held, and taken as, and are declared to be,
conclusive upon all the departments and auditing officers of the
Government.\3\
4336. The creation and history of the Committee on Mileage, section
55 of Rule XI.
The rule provides that ``the ascertainment of the travel of Members
of the House shall be made by the Committee on Mileage and reported to
the Sergeant-at-Arms.
Section 55 of Rule XI provides that--
The ascertaining of the travel of Members of the House shall be made
by the Committee on Mileage and reported to the Sergeant-at-Arms.
This committee consists of five Members.
It was established on September 15, 1837,\4\ on motion of Mr. William
C. Dawson, of Georgia.\5\ The present form of the rule dates from the
revision of 1880.\6\
4337. The creation and history of the Joint Committee on the Library,
section 56 of Rule XI.
The rule gives to the Joint Committee on the Library jurisdiction
``touching the Library of Congress, statuary, and pictures.''
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Second session Fiftieth Congress, Report No. 3625.
\2\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 24.
\3\ Supplement Revised Statutes, vol. 2, pp. 413, 414; 28 Stat. L.,
p. 768. See also a modifying law of 1902, 32 Stat. L., p. 26.
\4\ First session Twenty-fifth Congress, Globe, p. 35; Journal, p.
64.
\5\ The Committee on Accounts originally audited the mileage. (Second
session Seventeenth Congress, Journal, p. 226; third session Twenty-
seventh Congress, Journal, p. 742.)
\6\ Second session Forty-sixth Congress, Record, p. 205.
Sec. 4336
The Joint Committee on the Library is a creature of the laws rather
than the rules, the statutes providing for it originally and conferring
on it several duties.
The acceptance of works of art for the Capitol and control of the
Botanic Garden are vested in the Committee on the Library.
The powers of the Joint Committee on the Library reside with the
Senate portion in the recess after the expiration of a Congress.
Section 56 of Rule XI provides for the reference of matters--
Touching the Library of Congress, statuary, and pictures; to the
Joint Committee on the Library.
This committee has five Members of the House.
As early as 1800 \1\ the two Houses of Congress took joint action
concerning the Library, and provided by law \2\ for the purchase of
books under the direction of a joint committee; and later the law of
January 26, 1802,\3\ provided for the future supervision of
expenditures by a joint committee of three from each House. In
accordance with the requirement of the statute the House and Senate, as
is shown by action in 1809 \4\ adopted a resolution by concurrent
action authorizing the appointment of a Joint Committee on the Library.
The Joint Committee on the Library was recognized by the joint rule
adopted by the House and Senate in 1843.\5\ The number of Members was
fixed at three from each House, and its duties were ``to superintend
and direct the expenditure of all moneys appropriated for the
Library,'' etc. In the revision of 1880 \6\ this committee was
recognized in the rules of the House, the joint rules having ceased to
exist in 1876. From that date the committee as a joint committee has
had no foundation in any joint rule, but has rested on the statute
alone, and in its recognition as a joint committee by the rules of the
two Houses.
For a time previous to February 14, 1888,\7\ the Committee on the
Library on the part of the House consisted of five members, although
the law prescribed for the number three. On that date the Committee on
Rules reported a proposition to reduce the number to three. The
committee in their report say that they do not discuss the question
whether or not a law may override the constitutional right of the House
to make its own rules, but waive it. The House agreed to the
recommendation of the committee; and the number was continued at three
by the rules of the House until 1902. A proposition was then pending
before the Committee on Rules, proposed by Mr. James T. McCleary, of
Minnesota,\8\ to increase the House membership from three to five, but
in view of the law this proposition was abandoned and a law was passed
providing that thereafter the joint committee should consist of five
Members of the House and five members of the Senate.\9\ The Speaker,
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ First session Sixth Congress, Journal, pp. 683, 687.
\2\ 2 Stat. L., p. 56.
\3\ 2 Stat. L., p. 129.
\4\ Journals of Eleventh Congress, pp. 71, 78, 142.
\5\ First session Twenty-eighth Congress, Globe, pp. 13, 18.
\6\ Second session Forty-Sixth Congress, Record, p. 205.
\7\ First session Fiftieth Congress, Record, p. 1187.
\8\ First session Fifty-seventh Congress, Record, p. 250.
\9\ Record pp. 1278, 1312; 32 Statutes at Large, p. 735.
Sec. 4338
without further action on the part of the House, appointed \1\ the
additional members. So the present membership of five is fixed by law
rather than by rule of the House.
The act of June 10, 1872,\2\ provides:
The Joint Committee on the Library, whenever, in their judgment, it
is expedient, are authorized to accept any work of the fine arts, on
behalf of Congress, which may be offered, and to assign the same such
place in the Capitol as they may deem suitable, and shall have the
supervision of all works of art that may be placed in the Capitol.\3\
The appropriation laws have for many years provided, in the words of
the act of 1857,\4\ that the sums for the Botanical Garden shall ``be
expended under the Library Committee of Congress;'' and the act of
March 3, 1873, provides:
There shall be a superintendent, assistants, and two additional
laborers in the Botanical Garden and greenhouses, who shall be under
the direction of the Joint Committee on the Library.
By law \5\ the Senate portion of the joint committee is endowed with
the powers of the committee during the recess between the adjournment
of one Congress and the organization of the next.
4338. On February 4, 1902,\6\ the House passed the joint resolution
of the Senate (S. Res. 49), providing as follows:
Resolved, etc., That the Joint Committee of Congress upon the
Library, authorized by section 82 of the Revised Statutes, shall
hereafter consist of five members of the Senate and five Members of the
House of Representatives.
This resolution became a law.\7\
4339. Bills authorizing the construction and providing for the care
of the Library building and the management of the Library itself have
been reported by the House branch of the Joint Committee on the
Library.--The House branch of the Joint Committee on the Library
reported:
In 1884,\8\ the bill (S. 1139) authorizing the construction of a
building for the accommodation of the Library of Congress.
In 1890,\9\ a resolution providing for ceremonies at the laying of
the corner stone of the new Library of Congress.
In 1898,\10\ a bill changing name of the Library of Congress.
In 1896,\11\ a concurrent resolution authorizing the Joint Committee
on the Library to formulate a plan for the reorganization of the
Congressional Library.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Record, p. 3306.
\2\ Section 1831 , Revised Statutes.
\3\ On January 22, 1901 (second session Fifty-sixth Congress, Record,
p. 1287), from the Joint Committee on the Library, a report was made
authorizing the acceptance of a picture for the Senate. This report, in
the form of a simple resolution, was agreed to by the Senate.
\4\ 11 Statutes at Large, p. 219; 33 Statutes at Large, p. 642; The
supervision of the Capitol police also extends over the Botanical
Garden. (Sec. 1826, Rev. Stat.)
\5\ 22 Statutes at Large, p. 592.
\6\ First session Fifty-seventh Congress, Record, p. 1312; Journal,
p. 305.
\7\ 32 Statutes at Large, p. 735.
\8\ First session Forty-eighth Congress, Report No. 471.
\9\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 2096.
\10\ Second session Fifty-fifth Congress, Report No. 34.
\11\ First session Fifty-fourth Congress, Record, p. 4791.
Sec. 4340
In 1896,\1\ on the subject of a catalogue for the law library.
4340. Bills relating to the purchase of books and manuscripts for the
Library of Congress have been reported by the House branch of the Joint
Committee on the Library.--On December 11, 1851,\2\ Mr. Speaker Boyd
laid before the House the ``Acts of the Greek House of Deputies for the
session of 1848-49,'' which had been forwarded to his address. The
documents were ordered referred to the Committee on the Library.
The House branch of the Joint Committee on the Library has reported:
In 1892,\3\ on the purchase of Jefferson's Papers, and also the
purchase of the libraries of George Bancroft and Hubert Bancroft.
In 1900,\4\ a bill relating to the collection and preservation of the
historical archives of the various States.
In 1892,\5\ in relation to the purchase of historical manuscripts
relating to the District of Columbia.
4341. Bills authorizing the erection of monuments on battlefields
have been considered by the House branch of the Joint Committee on the
Library.--In 1882,\6\ 1884,\7\ and 1890,\8\ the House branch of the
Joint Committee on the Library reported bills to authorize the erection
of monuments on Revolutionary battlefields; and in 1886,\9\ on the
subject of monuments at Stony Point and Plattsburg.\10\ This committee
also reported:
In 1899,\11\ the bill (S. 1160) authorizing the erection of a
monument to Abraham Lincoln on the battlefield of Gettysburg; and the
resolution (S. R. 187) authorizing the erection at Habana, Cuba, of a
monument to the sailors and marines who lost their lives on the battle
ship Maine.
In 1906,\12\ bills authorizing the erection of monuments on the
battlefields of Kings Mountain, Tippecanoe, Princeton, etc.
4342. Subjects relating to monuments and statues in commemoration of
individuals have been considered by the House branch of the Joint
Committee on the Library.--On March 25, 1834,\13\ the Speaker laid
before the House a letter from Lieut. U. P. Levy, U. S. Navy,
presenting to the United
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ First session Fifty-fourth Congress, Report No. 290.
\2\ First session Thirty-second Congress, Journal, p. 84.
\3\ First session Fifty-second Congress, Reports Nos. 1231, 1795,
1947.
\4\ First session Fifty-sixth Congress, Report No. 1767.
\6\ First session Fifty-second Congress, Report No. 1216.
\6\ First session Forty-seventh Congress, Report No. 795.
\7\ First session Forty-eighth Congress, Reports Nos. 929, 2123.
\8\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 2977.
\9\ First session Forty-ninth Congress, Report No. 1632.
\10\ In 1882 (first session Forty-seventh Congress, Report No. 1167),
however, the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds reported a bill
relating to the erection of a memorial column at Washington's
headquarters at Newburg, N. Y., and for a centennial celebration there;
and in 1884 (first session Forty-eighth Congress, Report No. 2143) the
same committee reported a bill to assist the association in the
maintenance and improvement of Washington's headquarters in Morristown,
N.J.
\11\ Third session Fifty-fifth Congress, Reports Nos. 2087, 2330.
\12\ First session Fifty-ninth Congress, Reports Nos. 3162, 3612,
5083.
\13\ First session Twenty-third Congress, Journal, pp. 453, 854.
Sec. 4343
States a bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson. This letter was referred to
the Committee on the Library, which, on June 27, reported a joint
resolution directing the placing of the statue.
The Committee on the Library has also reported:
In 1884,\1\ the bill (H. R. 5410) for the completion of the monument
to Mary, the mother of Washington,\2\ at Fredricksburg, Va.
In 1882,\3\ on the bills for the Andre and Jefferson monuments.
In 1886 \4\ the Committee on the Library reported as to a monument
for Lincoln and a statue of Zachary Taylor; also in 1902 \5\ on several
similar bills.
4343. The purchase of paintings and portraits has been within the
jurisdiction of the Joint Committee on the Library.--The Committee on
the Library has reported bills authorizing the purchase of portraits,
as in 1890 \6\ and 1891 \7\ those of Abraham Lincoln and Winfield
Scott, and in 1892 \8\ that of George H. Thomas, and also reported:
In 1884 \9\ on the subject of the painting of the Electoral
Commission.
In 1891 \10\ on subject of paintings for Executive Mansion.\11\
4344. Instances of a general jurisdiction of the Committee on the
Library as to ornamentation of the capital city.--The Committee on the
Library reported in 1896 \12\ a resolution providing for a commission
to establish at or near Washington a ground map of the United States;
and in 1884 \13\ the resolution (H. Res. 45) providing for the removal
and relocation of the Bartholdi fountain.
4345. Bills relating to the removal of the remains of distinguished
men have been within the jurisdiction of the House branch of the Joint
Committee on the Library.--The Committee on the Library in 1890 \14\
reported a bill providing for the removal of the remains of Joel Barlow
to the United States, and also a bill on the subject of the removal of
the remains of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant; and in 1905 \15\ on the removal
of the remains of John Paul Jones.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ First session Forty-eighth Congress, Report No. 1512.
\2\ The Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds had reported on
this monument in 1882. (First session Fortyseventh Congress, Report No.
1659.)
\3\ First session Forty-seventh Congress, Reports Nos. 988, 1035.
\4\ First session Forty-ninth Congress, Reports Nos. 3053, 3427.
\5\ First session Fifty-seventh Congress, Reports Nos. 2462, 2054,
2745, 2416, 2419, 775.
\6\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 2821.
\7\ Second session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 3623.
\8\ First session Fifty-second Congress, Report No. 1923.
\9\ First session Forty-eighth Congress, Record, p. 3354.
\10\ Second session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 3961.
\11\ But on February 11, 1834 (first session Twenty-third Congress,
Journal, p. 316), a joint resolution relating to a contract with
competent American artists for the execution of four historical
paintings to be placed in vacant panels in the Rotundo of the Capitol,
was reported from the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds.
\12\ First session Fifty-fourth Congress, Report No. 2184.
\13\ First session Forty-eighth Congress, Report No. 1316.
\14\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Reports Nos. 431, 2965. Also
in 1896 (first session Fifty-fourth Congress, Report No. 1871) on the
bill relating to the remains of Joel Barlow.
\15\ Third session Fifty-eighth Congress, Report No. 4887.
Sec. 4346
4346. The general affairs of the Smithsonian Institution, excepting
appropriations therefor and the incorporation of similar institutions,
are within the jurisdiction of the House branch of the Joint Committee
on the Library.--The Committee on the Library reports the joint
resolutions \1\ providing for the appointment of regents of the
Smithsonian Institution; and also reported a bill in 1892 \2\
authorizing the institution to loan a portion of its exhibit. This
committee has also had within its jurisdiction--
In 1884 \3\ the bill (H. R. 6933) to authorize the National Academy
of Science to hold trust funds for the promotion of science.
In 1903 \4\ and 1905 \5\ bills to incorporate the American Academy at
Rome.
In 1896 \6\ the bill (S. 1922) creating an art commission.
4347. The creation and history of the Joint Committee on Printing,
section 57 of Rule XI.
The rules give to the ``Joint Committee on Printing on the part of
the House'' jurisdiction of ``all proposed legislation on orders
touching printing.''
The Joint Committee on Printing, while recognized by the rules, was
created by the statutes.
The Joint Committee on Printing has executive duties conferred by
statute.
The statutes empower either branch of the Joint Committee on Printing
to act in case of the nonexistence of the other.
Section 57 of Rule XI provides that--
All proposed legislation or orders touching printing shall be
referred to the Joint Committee on Printing on the part of the House.
This committee consists of three Members on the part of the House.
As early as March 3, 1830,\7\ a committee on printing was proposed,
to have supervision of the printing for the House. In 1842 \8\ the
Committee on Retrenchment reported in favor of a standing committee on
printing to oversee the printing of the House, but their proposition
was rejected after it had been amended by a clause forbidding the
furnishing of boxes, map cases, etc., to Members. On March 16, 1844,\9\
abuses in the management of engraving for the use of the House led to
the creation of the ``Committee on Engraving,'' which continued for
fifteen years. The Joint Committee on Printing, to consist of three
Members of the House and
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Second session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 3863; second
session Fifty-second Congress, Report No. 2200; first session Fifty-
sixth Congress, Report No. 2109.
\2\ Second session Fifty-second Congress, Report No. 2259.
\3\ First session Forty-eighth Congress, Report No. 1656.
\4\ Second session Fifty-seventh Congress, Report No. 3879.
\5\ Third session Fifty-eighth Congress, Report No. 4682.
\6\ First session Fifty-fourth Congress, Report No. 2136.
\7\ First session Twenty-first Congress, Journal, p. 479.
\8\ Second session Twenty-seventh Congress, Journal, pp. 486, 493;
Globe, pp. 287, 291.
\9\ First session Twenty-eighth Congress, Globe, p. 393. As early as
December 8, 1818 (second session Fifteenth Congress, Journal, pp. 72,
73), the House and Senate investigated the subject through a joint
committee.
Sec. 4348
three Members of the Senate, was created by the law approved August 3,
1846,\1\ which directed the manner of procuring the printing for the
two Houses, and provided that the committee should supervise the work
of the contractor.
The law approved August 26, 1852,\2\ provided for the election by
each House of a Public Printer, and continued the ``Joint Committee on
the Public Printing'' with its membership of three from each House, and
power of supervision of the work of printing. The Joint Committee on
Printing is therefore created by law instead of by any joint rule of
the two Houses, although its existence is recognized in the rule of the
House defining its jurisdiction. This form of the rule dates from the
revision of 1880.\3\ While in fact a joint committee, the House branch
acts also as a standing committee of the House, receiving resolutions
and bills which are referred to it and reporting them by its own
authority, without the concurrent action of the Senate branch.\4\
From time to time various functions have been conferred by law \5\ on
the Joint Committee on Printing, as, for example, general supervision
of the printing; the procuring of paper of suitable standards and
approval of contracts therefor, and for other supplies; control of the
arrangement, style, bulk, and indexing of the Congressional Record,
including the designation of a person to supervise the indexing;
direction as to binding extra documents and reports; supervision of the
printing of the Congressional Directory; appointment of a person to
edit the documents and reports accompanying the annual message of the
President; the prescribing of limitations and conditions for printing
and illustrating for the Patent Office; supervisory power as to type
and form of reports of executive officers; and various other
supervisory powers as to printing for the two Houses, as the power to
remedy neglect or delay in the execution of the public printing and
binding.\6\
The Committee on Printing has the right to report at any time; \7\
but on April 16, 1872,\8\ in a carefully considered ruling which was
affirmed by the House and which has also been embodied in the language
of the rules, Mr. Speaker Blaine held that this privilege extended only
to printing for the use of the two Houses.
The statutes provide:
At any time when there is no joint committee of the two Houses of
Congress the powers and duties under the law devolving upon the Joint
Committee on Printing shall be exercised and performed by the committee
then in existence of either House.\9\
4348. The Committee on Printing has exercised an infrequent
jurisdiction as to the pay of employees at the Government Printing
Office.--On January 31, 1882,\10\ the Committee on Printing reported
the resolution (H. Res.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 9 Stat. L., p. 114.
\2\ 10 Stat. L., pp. 32, 34.
\3\ Second session Forty-sixth Congress, Record, p. 205.
\4\ See section 4361 of this volume for a decision on this point.
\5\ 28 Stat. L., p. 601; 34 Stat. L., p. 825, an act approved March
1, 1907.
\6\ Act approved March 1, 1907. (34 Stat. L.)
\7\ See section 4621 of this volume.
\8\ Second session Forty-second Congress, Journal, p. 697; Globe, pp.
287, 291.
\9\ 28 Stat. L., p. 962.
\10\ First session Fifty-seventh Congress, Report No. 166.
Sec. 4349
69) authorizing the Public Printer to pay the employees of the
Government Printing Office the pay deducted for the time during the
obsequies of the late President Garfield.
On July 28, 1882,\1\ the committee reported the bill (H. R. 6844) to
fix the pay of printers and bookbinders in the Government Printing
Office.
4349. A proposition to make corrections in remarks printed in the
Congressional Record was reported by the Committee on Printing.--In
1899 \2\ the Committee on Printing reported a resolution correcting the
remarks of a Member in the Congressional Record by striking out certain
portions which had been inserted in violation of a leave to print.
4350. The creation and history of the Joint Committee on Enrolled
Bills, section 58 of Rule XI.
The rule confers on the Committee on Enrolled Bills ``the enrollment
of engrossed bills.''
Section 58 of Rule XI provides for the reference of--
the enrollment of engrossed bills; to the Joint Committee on Enrolled
Bills.
The House portion of this committee consists of seven Members. The
present form of the rule dates from the revision of 1880,\3\ but there
was before that a joint rule of the two Houses, as follows:
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.
This joint rule was first adopted on July 27, 1789,\4\ and readopted
November 13, 1794.\5\ It provided for a committee consisting of one
Senator and two Representatives. On February 1, 1827,\6\ the Senate
portion was increased to two Senators. This, with other joint rules,
lapsed in 1876,\7\ and since that date the committees of the House and
Senate, while referred to in the rules as joint committees, have had no
authorization in any concurrent action of the two Houses, and have
acted separately, each supervising the enrolling of bills originating
in its own House.
The House Committee on Enrolled Bills has leave to report at any
time.\8\
4351. The creation and history of the Committee on the Census,
section 59 of Rule XI.
The rule confers on the Committee on the Census jurisdiction of ``all
proposed legislation concerning the census and the apportionment of
Representatives.''
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Report No. 1752.
\2\ Third session Fifty-fifth Congress, Report No. 1827.
\3\ Second session Forty-sixth Congress, Record, p. 205.
\4\ First session First Congress, Journal, p. 67.
\5\ Second session Third Congress, Journal, p. 230.
\6\ Second session Nineteenth Congress, Journal, p. 230.
\7\ Forty-third Congress. See section 6782 of Volume V of this work.
\8\ See section 4621 of this volume.
Sec. 4352
Section 59 of Rule XI provides that the Committee on the Census shall
have jurisdiction of--
all proposed legislation concerning the census and the apportionment of
Representatives.
This standing committee was created on December 2, 1901,\1\ to
succeed the Select Committee on the Twelfth Census, which had been in
existence while the Twelfth Census was a subject of legislation. The
creation of this standing committee was in anticipation of the act of
March 6, 1902,\2\ which created a permanent census office.
4352. The abridgment of the elective franchise with reference to
apportionment as well as the collection of general statistics have been
considered by the Committee on Census.--The standing Committee on the
Census, and its predecessors, the select committees, have reported:
In 1899 \3\ the bill (H. R. 11982) requiring the Director of the
Census to compile and collect certain State laws and statistics for the
use of Congress in apportioning Representatives under the Twelfth
Census.\4\
In 1901 \5\ on a resolution on the subject of the abridgment of the
elective franchise in relation to apportionment.
At various times on bills providing for the collection of statistics
as to births and deaths,\6\ marriage and divorce,\7\ farm mortgages,\8\
irrigation, etc.\9\
4353. The creation and history of the Committee on Industrial Arts
and Expositions, section 60 of Rule XI.
The rule gives to the Committee on Industrial Arts and Expositions
jurisdiction of ``all matters (except those relating to the revenue and
appropriations) referring to the Centennial of the Louisiana Purchase
and to proposed expositions.''
Section 60 of Rule XI provides that the Committee on Industrial Arts
and Expositions shall have jurisdiction of--
All matters (excepting those relating to the revenue and
appropriations) referring to the Centennial of the Louisiana Purchase
and to proposed expositions.
This committee consists of sixteen Members.
It was established as a new standing committee on December 2, 1901,
at the time of the adoption of the rules, and its jurisdiction was then
defined.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ First session Fifty-seventh Congress, Record, p. 45.
\2\ 32 Stat. L., p. 51.
\3\ Third session Fifty-fifth Congress, Report No. 2354.
\4\ In 1882 (a period not covered by a select committee on the
census), the Judiciary Committee reported on the claims of Nebraska for
a rectification of her apportionment. (First session Forty-seventh
Congress, Report No. 911.)
\5\ Second session Fifty-sixth Congress, Report No. 2977.
\6\ First session Fifty-seventh Congress, Report No. 1932.
\7\ Third session Fifty-eighth Congress, Report No. 4009.
\8\ First session Fifty-first Congress, Report No. 1353.
\9\ First session Fifty-seventh Congress, Report No. 2106.
Sec. 4354
4354. The Committee on Industrial Arts and Expositions has taken a
jurisdiction as to expositions which was formerly divided among other
committees.--The Committee on Industrial Arts and Expositions has,
since its creation, reported on bills authorizing Government
participation in expositions, as for example:
In 1904 \1\ the Lewis and Clark and the Louisiana Purchase
expositions.
In 1906 \2\ the Jamestown and Tampa expositions.
Before the formation of this committee various committees exercised
the jurisdiction. Thus, the Committee on the Library reported the
initiatory legislation for the World's Columbian Exposition;\3\
Interstate and Foreign Commerce had jurisdiction of the Centennial
Exposition at New Orleans,\4\ and in 1883 \5\ the Committee on
Agriculture reported the joint resolution (H. Res. 311) relating to
participation in the Hamburg International Exhibition of Domestic
Animals.
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\1\ Second session Fifty-eighth Congress, Reports Nos. 5, 893, 1965,
2585.
\2\ First session Fifty-ninth Congress, Reports Nos. 3389, 4416.
\3\ Second session Forty-ninth Congress, Journal, p. 325; Record, p.
832; Report No. 3822.
\4\ First session Forty-eighth Congress, Journal, p. 256; Record, p.
319.
\6\ Second session Forty-seventh Congress, Report No. 1843.