SECTION. When considering general appropriation and revenue bills, each clause or paragraph is invariably treated as a section, and it has been uniformly held that debate can not be closed on a paragraph or clause until it is reached. The previous question may be moved on a section or part of a bill. Journal, 2, 48, pp. 127, 128, 129. Debate may be closed on a pending section by ordering the previous question.-Journal, 2, 48, p. 536. (See also clause 1, RULE XVII, and clause 6, RULE XXIII. The river and harbor bill," not being a general appropriation bill, its paragraphs or clauses are treated and considered as sections. SELECT COMMITTEES. The following select committees were on the 9th of December, 1889, created for the Fifty-first Congress by the following order: Resolved, That the Speaker shall appoint the following select committees, viz: Committee on Reform in the Civil Service, to consist of thirteen members. Committee on the Election of President, Vice-President, and Representatives in Congress, to consist of thirteen members. Committee on the Eleventh Census, to consist of thirteen members Committee on Indian Depredation Claims, to consest of thirteen members. Committee on Ventilation and Acoustics, to consist of seven members. Committee on Alcoholic Liquor Traffic, to consist of eleven members. The following additional select committees were subsequently appointed, viz: Committee on Irrigation of Arid Lands in the United States, to consist of eleven members. Committee on Immigration and Naturalization, to consist of seven members. Committee to Investigate the Accounts of the Sergeant-atArms, to consist of seven members. Committee to Investigate the Proposed Purchase of certain Ballot-Boxes, to consist of five members. Committee on World's Fair, to consist of nine members. SENATE, AMENDMENTS of. (See RULE XX.) (See AMENDMENTS BETWEEN THE TWO HOUSES.) SENATE, Bills of. (See BUSINESS ON THE SPEAKER'S TABLE.) (See MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE.) SERGEANT-AT-ARMS. (See RULE IV.) There shall be elected by a viva voce vote at the commencement of each Congress, to continue in office until his successor is chosen and qualified, a Sergeant-at-Arms, who shall take an oath to support the Constitution of the United States and for the true and faithful discharge of the duties of his office to the best of his knowledge and abilities, and to keep the secrets of the House.-RULE II. It shall be the duty of the Sergeant-at-Arms,to attend the House and the Committee of the Whole during their sittings, to maintain order under the direction of the Speaker or Chairman, and, pending the election of a Speaker or Speaker pro tempore, under the direction of the Clerk; execute the commands of the House, and all processes issued by authority thereof, directed to him by the Speaker; keep the accounts for the pay and mileage of Members and Delegates, and pay them as provided by law. The symbol of his office shall be the mace, which shall be borne by him while enforcing order on the floor. He shall give bond to the United States, with sureties to be approved by the Speaker, in the sum of fifty thousand dollars, for the faithful disbursement of all moneys intrusted to him by virtue of his office and the proper discharge of the duties thereof, and no member of Congress shall be approved as such surety.RULE IV, clauses 1, 2, and 3. He is also required to take an additional oath.-(See RULE II and OATH.) By resolution of May 4, 1842, it is made the duty of the Sergeant-at-Arms to deduct the amount of excess of stationery received by members beyond their allowance from their pay and mileage.-Journals, 2, 27, p. 495; 1, 31, p. 1510. (See COMPENSATION and MILEAGE.) By R. S., sec. 53, and the act of June 20, 1874 (Sess. Laws, 1, 43, p. 87), it is provided that (in addition to his regular salary) he shall receive, directly or indirectly, no fees, other compensation, or emolument whatever for performing the duties of his office, or in connection therewith. In case of a vacancy in the office of the Clerk, or the absence or inability of said Clerk to discharge the duties imposed upon him by law or custom relative to the preparation of the roll of Representatives or the organization of the House, the said duties shall devolve on the Sergeant-at-Arms of the next preceding House of Representatives.-R. S., sec. 32. By the act of May 23, 1876 (Sess. Laws, 1, 44, p. 54), the Sergeant-at-Arms of the House, in the case of a deceased member of the House actually interred in the Congressional Cemetery, is required to have a monument erected of granite. (See CONGRESSIONAL CEMETERY.) The Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate and of the House of Representatives are authorized to make such regulations as they may deem necessary for preserving the peace and securing the Capitol from defacement, and for the protection of the public property therein, and they shall have power to arrest and detain any person violating such regulations until such person can be brought before the proper authorities for trial.R. S., sec. 1820. (See also R. S., secs. 1821, 1823, 1824, 1825, as to powers and duties of, with respect to the Capitol police.) It is also made the duty of the Sergeant-at-Arms to make out a full and complete account of all the property belonging to the Government in his possession on the first day of each regular session and at the expiration of his term of service.-R. S. sec. 72. (See also CAPITOL.) SESSIONS OF CONGRESS. The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.-Const. 1, 4, 2, 5. The following list of sessions of Congress, convened at times other than the date fixed by the Constitution, together with a list of the "extra sessions" of Congress, and of special sessions of the Senate, is given as a matter of convenience for reference, as well as general interest: *The first session of the First Congress was convened in accordance with the following resolution of the Continental Congress, adopted September 13th, 1788, viz: Resolved, etc., That the first Wednesday in January next be the day for appointing electors in the several States which before the said day shall have ratified the said Constitution; that the first Wedne-day in February next be the day for the electors to assemble in their several States and vote for a President; and that the first Wednesday in March next be the time and the present seat of Congress the place for commencing proceedings under the said Constitution. Repealed the act of March 3rd, 1797. The act of January 22, 1867, provided that in addition to the regular times of meeting of Congress, there should be a meeting of the Fortieth Congress of the United States, and of each succeeding Congress thereafter, at 12 o'clock meridian, on the fourth day of March, the day on which the term begins for which the Congress is elected. That act was repealed by the act of April 20, 1871. (17 Statutes, 12.) The President may, on extraordinary occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them.-Const. 2, 3, 17. List of extra sessions of Congress convened by the President. Session. Congress. When con- Date of proc- Cause. Session. First May 15, 1797 Mar. 25, 1797 Suspension of diplomatic relations with France. Oct. 17, 1803 July 16, 1803 Cession of Louisiana by Spain to France. Fifth Eighth... First Thirty-seventh .. First... July 4, 1861 Apr. 17, 1861 Insurrection in certain Southern States. Forty-fifth....... First ... Oct. 15, 1877 May 5, 1877 Failure of previous session to make appropriations for Army. Forty-sixth First... Mar. 18, 1879 Mar. 4, 1879 Failure of previous session to make appropriation for legis. lative, executive, and judicial and Army expenses. List of special sessions of the U. S. Senate from 1789 to 1889, called by the President. |