repeal was not in order, its effect not being directly to reduce expenditures.-Cong. Record, 2, 52, p. 1392.

The reduction of expenditure must appear as a necessary result, in order to bring an amendment or provision within the exception to the rule. It is not sufficient that such reduction would probably, or would in the opinion of the Chair, result therefrom.-Cong. Record, 2, 52, p. 1691; ibid., p. 1765.

In an amendment providing that a certain class of persons, now on the pension rolls, shall hereafter not receive pensions, the retrenchment of expenditure is apparent, and the amendment is in order.-Ibid., p. 1708.

The Post Office appropriation act for the current fiscal year, containing an item "for necessary and special facilities on trunk lines," a provision in the pending appropriation bill adding to the words quoted a designation of the routes to which the appropriation should be applied, was held not to be a change of law, but merely a limitation of the discretion of the Postmaster-General; also held, that it was in order as being in continuation of a public object already in progress.Cong. Record, 2, 52, p. 1813.

To a bill making appropriations for the Indian service, an amendment transferring the management of Indian affairs from the Department of the Interior to the War Department, but providing no reduction of expenditures, was held to be germane as an amendment, but subject to the point of order, as being a change of law, and no retrenchment appearing as the result of the proposed change.-Speaker Kerr, Cong. Record, 1, 44, p. 2822.

To the pension appropriation bill, a proposed amendment transferring the Pension Bureau from the Department of the Interior to the War Department, also providing that the offices of Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Pensions be abolished, and that the duties of those offices be performed by Army officers, to be designated for that purpose, without additional pay, was held to be in order, being germane and retrenching expenditures in the manner provided in the rule.Cong. Record, 2, 52, p. 1690-1691.

An amendment to the sundry civil appropriation bill striking out the appropriation for the Coast and Geodetic Survey 5585--18

and abolishing it as a bureau of the Treasury Department, also providing for the transfer of the Coast Survey to the Navy Department and of the Geodetic Survey to the Interior Department, was held not in order as being a change of law; no reduction of expenditure appearing to result from such legislation.-Cong. Record, 2, 53, p. 3002.

A provision in the Indian appropriation bill providing a mode of disposal of lands to be acquired under a proposed treaty authorized by the bill was held to be in order, although the proposed disposition was different from that applicable to lands already owned by the Government.-Cong. Record, 2, 53, p. 6127.

An amendment declaratory of the effect of a provision of law, and giving an interpretation different from that held by the Department charged with its execution, was not to be a change of law.-Mr. Hatch, Chairman. Cong. Record, 2, 53, p. 3513. But an amendment declaring that a certain provision of law has been repealed is in effect positive legislation, and is subject to the point that it changes existing law.-Mr. Richardson, Chairman. Cong. Record, 2, 53, p. 5019.

An amendment authorizing extension of leave of absence to employés in the Public Printing Office was held not germane to a provision authorizing such extension to employés in the Executive Departments.-Cong. Record, 2, 52, p. 1394.

Where the House has by resolution instructed the Committee on Appropriations to report a certain provision in an appropriation bill, which, without such instructions, would be out of order, such provision when reported is not subject to a point of order that it changes existing law, or is otherwise in conflict with the rules of the House.-Cong. Record, 2, 52, p. 1306.

APPROPRIATIONS, COMMITTEE ON.

(See Committees, Reports Privileged, and Jurisdiction of Committees.)

This committee has the right to report at any time the fol lowing general appropriation bills:

The legislative, executive, and judicial; the sundry civil, the fortification, the District of Columbia, the pension, and the deficiency. (See Rule XI, clauses 3 and 57.)

BANKING AND CURRENCY, COMMITTEE ON.

This Committee has leave to report at any time bills relat ing to banking and currency. (See Rule XI, clause 57.)

(See Committees.)

BIENNIAL REGISTER.

The Biennial Register contains the names of the various officers and employés of the Government, and the compensation respectively paid each. It is published as of the first of July of each odd year. Each Member of Congress is entitled to two copies.

FORM OF.

BILLS.

The enacting clause of all acts of Congress hereafter enacted shall be in the following form: "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled."-R. S., sec. 7.

No enacting words shall be used in any section of an act of Congress except the first.-R. S., sec. 9.

Each section shall be numbered, and shall contain, as near as may be, a single proposition of enactment.-R. S., sec. 10.

The style and title of acts making appropriations for the support of Government shall be as follows: An act making appropriations [here insert the object] for the year ending June 30 [here insert the calendar year].-R. S., sec. 11.

INTRODUCTION AND REFERENCE OF.

All bills for improvement of rivers and harbors, and all bills of a private nature, shall be delivered to the Clerk, as in the case of memorials and petitions, for reference to appropriate committees.-Rule XXI, clause 3.

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, viz: To the Committee on Invalid Pensions, to the Committee on Pensions, to the Committee on Claims, to the Committee on War Claims, to the Committee on Private Land Claims, and to the Committee on Accounts.-Rule XXI, clause 4.

Private bills are introduced by delivering them to the Clerk for reference to committees, the name of the Member introducing being indorsed thereon. (See Rule XXII, clause 1.)

Public bills are introduced by delivery to the Speaker, who refers them to the appropriate committee. (See Rule XXII, clause 3.)

All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives, but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments, as on other bills.-Const., 1, 7, 1, 6.

(See Appropriation Bills; Private Bills; Revenue Bills.)

PROCEEDINGS UPON.

Bills and joint resolutions on their passage shall be read the first time by title and the second time in full, when, if the previous question is ordered, the Speaker shall state the question to be: Shall the bill be engrossed and read a third time? and if decided in the affirmative, it shall be read the third time by. title, unless the reading in full is demanded by a member, and the question shall then be put upon its passage.-Rule XXI, clause 1.

All bills reported adversely shall be laid on the table, unless the committee reporting the same at the time, or any Member within three days thereafter, shall request its reference to the Calendar, when it shall be.referred as provided in clause 1 of this rule.-Rule XIII, clause 3.

The question of engrossment is put in this form, viz, "Shall the bill be engrossed and read a third time?" If it be negatived the bill is open to further debate and amendment unless the previous question has been ordered thereon, in which case it is usually recommitted, but if it be decided in the affirmative, and the bill is actually engrossed, or no question is made on its failure to be engrossed, the Speaker immediately directs the "third reading of the bill," and it is thereupon read (by title only) as a rule; but it is the right of any Member at this stage to demand its reading in full. But if the question is made, and it be not actually engrossed, the bill goes over as unfinished business unless interrupted by a motion for reconsideration, or adjournment, or a recess, usually made in order to gain time for its engrossment. In the case of a Senate bill, the engross

ment having already been made before it came to the House, the question which arises is, "Shall the bill be read a third time?" which being decided negatively the bill is subject to the conditions above stated with respect to a House bill, but being decided affirmatively, the bill is immediately read a third time, and the question then is on its passage.

Where the bill has a preamble, although there is no rule, and until lately, no settled practice, defining the stage at which it is to be considered, it would seem to be most appropriate that its consideration should take place after the bill has been ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and before the third reading takes place. By this course the bill can be engrossed either with or without the preamble, as the House shall have determined.

After the third reading of a bill, the question which next arises in course is, "Shall the bill pass?" At this stage the bill is not amendable, but is debatable.

The bill having passed, and the title having been read, the Speaker usually states, "If there be no objection, this will remain the title of the bill." The title, however, is subject to amendment which, pursuant to Rule XIX shall be decided without debate.

After the title is disposed of, it is usual for the Member having charge of the bill (though it may be made by any Member voting in the affirmative) to move "that the vote last taken be reconsidered, and that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table;" which latter motion having been decided in the affirmative, no reconsideration can take place, and the transmission of the bill to the Senate can not be delayed. If the bill be an important one, or is the subject of a contest, it is usual to make the motion "to reconsider and lie" at every stage of the bill. The bill is then certified by the Clerk, noting the day of its passage at the foot thereof, and conveyed by him to the Senate, together with all the papers on which it is founded (according to the practice under the former Joint Rule XIV).

After the bill has been acted on by the Senate, it is brought back to the House by the Secretary of the Senate (or a Senate clerk) with the action of the Senate thereon properly indorsed, which is briefly stated to the House. If it has passed with amendment, it is laid before the House by the Speaker under clause 2, Rule XXIV, for reference or other disposition.