17. The Clerk shall cause an index to be prepared to the acts passed at every session of Congress, and to be printed and bound with the acts. 18. The Clerk shall take proper measures for the care and preservation of the public stable provided for the business and accommodation of the House of Representatives. Of Elections. 19. The officers of the House shall be chosen viva voce. 20. All committees shall be appointed by the Speaker, unless otherwise specially directed by the House, in which case they shall be appointed by ballot; and if, on balloting, the number required shall not be elected by a majority of the votes given, the House shall proceed to a second balloting, in which a plurality of votes shall prevail; and, in case a greater number than is required to compose or complete a committee shall have an equal number of votes, the House shall proceed to a further balloting. 21. In all other cases of balloting than for committees, a majority of the votes given shall be necessary to an election; and where there shall not be such a majority on the first balloting, it shall be repeated until a majority be obtained. And in all ballotings blanks shall be rejected. 22. In all cases where other than members may be eligible by the House, there shall be a previous nomination. Sergeant-at-Arms and Doorkeeper. 23. A Sergeant-at-Arms shall be appointed, to hold his office during the pleasure of the House, whose duty it shall be to attend the House during its sittings; to execute the commands of the House, and all such process, issued by authority thereof, as shall be directed to him by the Speaker.. 24. The fees of the Sergeant-at-Arms shall be, for every arrest, two dollars; for each day's custody and release, one dollar; and for travelling expenses for himself or a special messenger, going and returning, one-tenth of a dollar per mile. 1 25. It shall be the duty of the Sergeant-at-Arms to keep the accounts for pay and mileage of members, to prepare checks, and, if required to do so, to draw the money on such checks for the members, (the same being previously signed by the Speaker, and endorsed by the member,) and pay over the same to the member entitled thereto. 26. The Sergeant-at-Arms shall give bond, with surety, to the United States, in a sum not less than five nor more than ten thousand dollars, at the discretion of the Speaker, and with such surety as the Speaker may approve, faithfully to account for the money coming into his hands for the pay of members. 27. The Sergeant-at-Arms shall be sworn to keep the secrets of the House. I 28. The House shall appoint, for its service, a Doorkeeper and Assistant Doorkeeper, who shall be sworn to keep the secrets of the House, and a Postmaster to superintend the Post Office in the Capitol, kept for the accommodation of the members. COMMITTEES AND THEIR DUTIES. 29. Twenty-seven standing committees shall be appointed at the commencement of each session, viz: A Committee on Elections, A Committee on Ways and Means, A Committee on Claims, A Committee on Commerce, A Committee on the Public Lands, A Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, A Committee on the District of Columbia, A Committee on Revolutionary Claims, A Committee on Agriculture, A Committee on Indian Affairs, A Committee on Naval Affairs, A Committee on Foreign Affairs, A Committee on the Territories, A Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, A Committee on Invalid Pensions, A Committee on Roads and Canals, A Committee on Patents, A Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, A Committee on Accounts, A Committee on Mileage, To consist of nine.members each. To consist of five members each. Committee on Elections. 30. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Elections to examine and report on the certificates of election, or other credentials, of the members returned to serve in the House of Representatives; and to take into consideration all such petitions, and other matters touching elections and returns, as may be presented, or come in question, and be referred to them. Committee on Ways and Means. 31. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Ways and Means to take into consideration all such reports of the Treasury Department, and all such propositions relative to the revenue, as may be referred to them; to inquire into the state of the public debt, of the revenue, and of the expenditure; and to report, from time to time, their opinion thereon. In preparing bills of appropriations, the Committee on Ways and Means shall not include, with other objects, appropriations for carrying into effect treaties: and where an appropriation bill shall be referred to them contaiuing appropriations for carrying a treaty into effect, and for other objects, they shall report the former in a separate bill, as an amendment. 32. It shall also be the duty of the Committee on Ways and Means, within thirty days after their appointment, at every session of Congress commencing on the first Monday of December, to report the general appriation bills-for the civil and diplomatic expenses of Government; for the army; for the navy; and for the Indian Department and Indian annuities; or, in failure thereof, the reasons of such failure. Committee on Claims. 33. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Claims to take into consideration all such petitions and matters touching claims and demands against the United States as shall be presented, or may come in question, and be referred to them; and to report their opinion thereon, together with such propositions for relief as shall seem expedient. Committee on Commerce. 34. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Commerce to take into consideration all such petitions and matters touching the commerce of the United States as shall be presented, or may come in question, and be referred to them; and to report, from time to time, their opinion thereon. Committee on the Public Lands. 35. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Public Lands to take into consideration all such petitions and matters respecting the lands of the United States as shall be presented, or may come in question, and be referred to them; and to report their opinion thereon, together with such propositions for relief as shall seem expedient. Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. 36. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads to take into consideration all such petitions and matters touching the Post Office and post roads as shall be presented, or may come in question, and be referred to them; and to report their opinion thereon, together with such propositions relative thereto as shall seem expedient. Committee on the District of Columbia. 37. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the District of Columbia to take into consideration all such petitions and matters touching the said District as shall be presented, or shall come in question, and be referred to them; and to report their opinion thereon, together with such propositions relative thereto as shall seem expedient. Committee on the Judiciary. 38. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Judiciary to take into consideration such petitions and matters touching judicial proceedings as shall be presented, or may come in question, and be referred to them; and to report their opinion thereon, together with such propositions rela tive thereto as shall seem expedient, Committee on Revolutionary Claims. 39. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Revolutionary Claims to take into consideration all such petitions and matters touching claims and demands originating in the Revolutionary war, or arising therefrom, as shall be presented, or may come in question, and be referred to them; and to report their opinion thereon, together with such propositions for relief as shall seem expedient. Committee on Public Expenditures. 40. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Public Expenditures to examine into the state of the several public departments, and particularly into laws making appropriations of money, and to report whether the moneys have been disbursed conformably with such laws; and also to report, from time to time, such provisions and arrangements as may be necessary to add to the economy of the departments, and the accountability of their officers. Committee on Private Land Claims. 41. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Private Land Claims to take into consideration all claims to land which may be referred to them, or may come in question; and to report their opinion thereon, together with such propositions for relief as shall seem expedient. Committee on Military Affairs. 42. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Military Affairs to take into consideration all subjects relating to the military establishment and public defence which may be referred to them, and to report their opinion thereon; and also to report, from time to time, such measures as may contribute to economy and accountability in said establishment. Committee on the Militia. 43. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Militia to take into consideration and report on all subjects connected with the organizing, arming, and disciplining of the militia of the United States. Committee on Naval Affairs. 44. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Naval Affairs to take into consideration all matters concerning the naval establishment which shall be referred to them, and to report their opinion thereon; and also to report, from time to time, such measures as may contribute to economy and accountability in said establishment. Committee on Foreign Affairs. 45. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Foreign Affairs to take into consideration all matters affecting the relations of the United States with foreign nations which shall be referred to them, and to report their opinion on the same. Committee on the Territories. 46. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Territories to examine into the legislative, civil, and criminal proceedings of the Territories, and to devise and report to the House such means as, in their opinion, may be necessary to secure the rights and privileges of residents and non-residents. Committee on Revolutionary Pensions. 47. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions to take into consideration all such matters respecting pensions for services in the revolutionary war, other than invalid pensions, as shall be referred to them. Committee on Invalid Pensions. 48. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Invalid Pensions to take into consideration all such matters respecting invalid pensions as shall be referred to them. Committee on Roads and Canals. 49. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Roads and Canals to take into consideration all such petitions and matters relating to roads and canals, and the improvement of the navigation of rivers, as shall be presented, or may come in question, and be referred to them; and to report thereon, together with such propositions relative thereto as shall seem expedient. Committee on Patents. 50. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Patents to consider all subjects relating to patents which may be referred to them; and report their opinion thereon, together with such propositions relative thereto as may seem expedient. Committee on Public Buildings. 51. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds to consider all subjects relating to the public edifices and grounds within the city of Washington which may be referred to them; and report their opinion thereon, together with such propositions relating thereto as may seem expedient. Committee on Revisal and Unfinished Business. 52. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Revisal and Unfinished Business to examine and report what laws have expired, or are near expiring, and need to be revived or further continued; also, to examine and report, from the journal of the preceding session, all such matters as were then depending and undetermined. Committee on Accounts. 53. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Accounts to superintend and control the expenditures of the contingent fund of the House of Representatives, and to audit and settle all accounts which may be charged thereon. Committee on Mileage.. 54. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Mileage to ascertain and report to the Sergeant-at-Arms the distance for which each member shall receive pay. |
