May 29-The Presi..ent vetoed the Legislative Appropriation Bill, on account of objectionable legislation joined to it.

June 23-The Judic al Appropriation Bill was vetoed for a similar reason. 28-The track of the Iron Mountain Railroad, in Missouri, 700 miles long, was changed to standard gauge in one day by 3,000 men. July 1-Congress .djourned, after an extra session of 105 days. All the appropriations necessary for carrying on the Government, except that for the pay of United States Marshals, were finally agreed on by Congress and the President.

66

9-The first death this year, from yellow fever, occurred in Memphis, Tenn., and produced wide-spread alarm and obstruction of busi

ness.

66 21-The United States Government sent 1,500 tents and rations for 10,000 people to Memphis, for the use of the suffering people. Sept. 20-General U. S. Grant landed at San Francisco, on his return from a two-years' tour around the world. 26-Deadwood, D. T., had a great fire. thousand people were made houseless.

Loss, $2,500,000. Two

Oct. 29-Yellow fever was ofiicially declared at an end in Memphis. 1,530 cases were reported, and 470 deaths. In 1878 the number of cases reported in the United States were 65,976, and 14,809 deaths, of which 5,160 were in Memphis. In that year $4,548,672 were contributed in aid of the sufferers-about $176,000 of it being from foreign countries.

Nov. 1-Hon. Z. Chandler, U. S. Senator from Michigan, died, aged 66. 4-Elections were held in eleven States.

Dec. 1-The first regular session of the Forty-sixth Congress commenced. "31-Hon. George S. Houston, U. S. Senator from Ala., died, aged 68.

1880.

Jan. 1-The great national facts of 1879 were the brilliant success of resumption; the refunding, at 4 per cent., of such U. S. bonds, bearing interest at 5 and 6 per cent., as could be legally called in; a great and general revival of business; a still larger volume of agricultural produce than ever before, and an increased balance of trade with Europe in favor of the United States. About 5,000 miles of new railway were built, and 270,00 immigrants from other countries settled here.

The public debt-less cash in the Treasury and bonds and interest of Pacific railroads-was $2,011,798,504.

Since the debt reached the highest point, at the close of the civil war, the principal has been reduced by $769,325,030.31; and the annual interest is less by $67,847,809.37; while the annual revenue has been reduced, in various ways, by about $200,000,000. Success in finance has been added to our long and brilliant record of

progress in other lines, and a new decade begins with bright promise of a still more wonderful future.

Feb. 1-The public debt decreased during January $11,014,263. A quiet session of Congress leaves the general forces of business and poli

tics to work out their own issues, undisturbed by doubtful legislation.

Mar. 1-The decrease of the debt during February was $5,677,019. This leaves the whole, less cash in the Treasury and obligations temporarily assumed for the Pacific railroads, $1,995,112,221. The part of the debt on which interest is to be paid is much less-$1,770,212,850-the annual interest on this being $82,211,663. Meantime business is so brisk, and so much greater in volume that it is estimated that $80,000,000 of the principal may be paid off in 1880, unless taxation is reduced. February, 1880, produced $7,000,000 more revenue to the Treasury than February, 1879.

"2-A new set of Parliamentary Rules were adopted by the U. S. House of Representatives. They go into operation March 8, 1880.

CHAPTER XXX.

PARLIAMENTARY RULES.

We give in this chapter the rules for conducting business in the House of Representatives of the United States, as a proper compend of Parlia mentary rules for the people of the United States. They are naturally a standard of procedure in all public bodies in this country so far as the circumstances are parallel; they have been carefully compiled and used by our highest popular Legislative Body during the course of more than three-quarters of a century, and may therefore be considered thoroughly well adapted to the genius of our people and the character of our institutions; and they were originally based on Jefferson's Manual, compiled by him for the use, and at the request of, the Senate, when, as Vice President of the United States, he became its presiding officer, and was digested by him from the usages of the English Parliament and other Legislative bodies in Europe.

The value of this manual is attested by its use continued to the present day, so far as it is applicable. The Rules of the House are therefore representative of the wisdom of the Old World on this point as well as of the usages of the New.

They deserve to be carefully studied by American citizens above any other body of parliamentary rules for several reasons besides those mentioned above. Hardly any other will be likely to contain so many points of adaptation to popular use; every one should be fairly acquainted with the prevailing usages that he may be ready to act his part well if called on to preside in any public meeting; all who read the reports of congressional doings require such acquaintance with parliamentary usage to fully appreciate many points in such reports, and these rules are a fine illustration of the spirit of our government and the genius of the American people.

The following Rules were adopted March 2, 1880. A committee had been appointed to digest and prepare them during the interval between two sessions of Congress, and they were carefully examined and discussed by the members of the House at intervals for more than two months during the winter of 1879-80.

During the last quarter of a century, and more especially between 1870 and 1880, the United States has grown with bewildering rapidity. The activities and interests of the people have spread over more than twice as much surface as that to which they were chiefly confined twenty-five years ago; the population has doubled; the realized wealth, and the vast resources about to be developed, are probably ten times as great. Production and exchanges have been made with constantly increasing rapidity and mas

siveness of volume. Legislation has all these interests to deal with, and its business has become vastly more important and complex. Its methods must be arranged to meet the requirements of a situation so changed.

Jefferson's Manual adapted to American needs the parliamentary usages in Europe at the beginning of this century. It is still an accepted authority on points not included in these Rules, whenever applicable.

The revision contemplated greater adaptation, clearness, precision, and such an order and regulation of business as should favor attention to subjects according to their relative importance, combined with speed and thoroughness very difficult points to achieve where so many general and personal interests are clamoring for attention.

Public affairs are very closely criticised in our country, as is right and proper; but critics are apt to forget how difficult it is for a body which has so many subjects claiming its attention and decision to maintain exact impartiality of judgment; nor is it easy to give a suitable proportion of care to all interests where such an ocean of details is to be explored in order to arrive at a conclusion which the future shall approve as wise and just. Let us be considerate while we are watchful. "The work approves or condemns the workman," and the history of the Republic up to this time renders a more favorable verdict on past legislation than the critics of the time. Our fathers, guided by a sound instinct, "built wiser than they knew." The "New Rules" and a rising tide of prosperity seem to indicate that the sons have not degenerated.

RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, ADOPTED MARCH 2, 1880.

RULE I.

DUTIES OF THE SPEAKER.

1. The Speaker shall take the chair on every legislative day precisely at the hour to which the House shall have adjourned at the last sitting, immediately call the members to order, and on the appearance of a quorum, cause the journal of the proceedings of the last day's sitting to be read, having previously examined and approved the same.

2. He shall preserve order and decorum, and in case of disturbance or disorderly conduct in the galleries, or in the lobby, may cause the same to be cleared.

3. He shall have general control, except as provided by rule or law, of the hall of the House, and the disposal of the unappropriated rooms in that part of the Capitol assigned to the use of the House until further order.

4. He shall sign all acts, addresses, joint resolutions, writs, warrants and subpœnas of, or issued by order of the House, and decide all questions of

order subject to an appeal by any member, on which appeal no member shall speak more than once, unless by permission of the House.

5. He shall rise to put a question, but may state it sitting; and shall put questions in this form, to-wit: "As many as are in favor (as the question may be) say Ay"; and after the affirmative voice is expressed, “As many as are opposed say No"; if he doubts, or a division is called for, the House shall divide; those in the affirmative of the question shall first rise from their seats, and then those in the negative; if he still doubts, or a count is required by at least one-fifth of a quorum, he shall name one from each side of the question, to tell the members in the affirmative and negative; which being reported, he shall rise and state the decision.

6. He shall not be required to vote in ordinary legislative proceedings, except where his vote would be decisive, or where the House is engaged in voting by ballot; and in all cases of a tie vote the question shall be lost.

7. He shall have the right to name any member to perform the duties of the chair, but such substitution shall not extend beyond an adjournment: Provided, however, That in case of his illness he may make such appointment for a period not exceeding ten days, with the approval of the House at the time the same is made; and in his absence and omission to make such appointment, the House shall proceed to elect a Speaker pro tempore, to act during his absence.

RULE II.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

There shall be elected by a viva voce vote at the commencement of each Congress, to continue in office until their successors are chosen and qualified, a Clerk, Sergeant-at-Arms, Doorkeeper, Postmaster, and Chaplain, each of whom 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 ability, and to keep the secrets of the House, and each shall appoint all the employés of his department provided for by law.

RULE III.

DUTIES OF THE CLERK.

1. The Clerk shall, at the commencement of the first session of each Congress, call the members to order, proceed to call the roll of members by States in alphabetical order, and, pending the election of a Speaker pro tempore, preserve order and decorum, and decide all questions of order, subject to appeal by any member.

2. He shall make, and cause to be printed and delivered to each member, or mailed to his address, at the commencement of every regular session of Congress, a list of the reports which it is the duty of any officer or department to make to Congress, referring to the act or resolution and page of