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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.

The Library of Congress, composed of the books, maps, and other publications which now remain in existence, from the collections heretofore united under the act of January twentysix, eighteen hundred and two, chapter two; the resolution of October twenty-one, eighteen hundred and fourteen; the act of January thirty, eighteen hundred and fifteen, chapter twentyseven; the resolution of July twenty-five, eighteen hundred and sixty-six; the act of March two, eighteen hundred and sixtyseven, chapter one hundred and sixty-seven, section one; and those added from time to time by purchase, exchange, donation, reservation from publications ordered by Congress, deposit to secure copyright, and otherwise, shall be preserved in the Capitol in the rooms which were, on the fourth day of July, eighteen hundred and seventy-two, appropriated to its use, and in such others as may hereafter be assigned thereto.-R. S., sec. 80.

The Library of Congress shall be arranged in two departments, a general library and a law library.-R. S., sec. 81.

The unexpended balance of any sums appropriated by Congress for the increase of the general library, together with such sums as may hereafter be appropriated to the same purpose, shall be laid out under the direction of a joint committee of Congress upon the library, to consist of three members of the Senate and three members of the House of Representatives.— R. S., sec. 82.

SUPERVISION OF.

The Joint Committee upon the Library is authorized to establish regulations, not inconsistent with law, in relation to the Library of Congress or either department thereof, and from time to time alter, amend, or repeal the same; but such regulations as to the Law Library shall be subject to those imposed by the justices of the Supreme Court, under section ninety-five. And until they impose new regulations or restrictions, the care and business of the Library shall continue to be regulated by such rules as may have been heretofore imposed by any lawful authority.-R. S., sec. 85.

The Joint Committee upon the Library may, at any time,

exchange or otherwise dispose of duplicate, injured, or wasted books of the Library, or documents, or any other matter in the Library not deemed proper to it, as they deem best.-R. S.,

sec. 86.

The Joint Committee upon the Library may, from time, to time, appoint such agents as they deem requisite, to carry into effect the donation and exchange of documents and other publications placed at their disposal for the purpose.-R. S., sec.

87.

The President, solely, shall appoint, from time to time, a Librarian to take charge of the Library of Congress.-R. S., sec. 88.

No map shall be taken out of the Library by any person.R. S., sec. 92.

No books shall be taken from the library except by the President, the Vice-President, Senators, Representatives, and Delegates in Congress, and the persons enumerated in section 94 or otherwise authorized by law.-R. S., sec. 93.

WHO MAY DRAW BOOKS FROM.

The Joint Committee on the Library is authorized to grant the privilege of using and drawing books from the Library in the same manner and subject to the same regulations as Members of Congress to any of the following persons:

First. Heads of Departments.

Second. The Chief Justice and Associate Justices, the reporter, and clerk of the Supreme Court.

Third. Members of the Diplomatic corps.

Fourth. The Judges and the clerk of the Court of Claims. Fifth. The Solicitor-General and Assistant Attorneys-General.

Sixth. The Secretary of the Senate.

Seventh. The Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Eighth. The Chaplains of the two Houses of Congress.

Ninth. The Solicitor of the Treasury.

Tenth. The financial agent of the Joint Committee on the Library.

Eleventh. The Smithsonian Institution, through its Secretary.

Twelfth. Any person, when in the District of Columbia, who has been President.-R. S., sec. 94.

Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, resident in Washington, have this privilege.--Laws, 2, 43, p. 512.

The members and secretary of the Interstate Commerce Commission, and the Chief of Engineers of the Corps of Engineers, United States Army, resident in Washington.-Stats. at L., vol. 26, p. 678.

The Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia, and the Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of said District.— Stats. at L., vol. 28, p. 577.

The Justices of the Supreme Court shall have free access to the Law Library; and they are authorized to make regulations, not inconsistent with law, for the use of the same during the sittings of the court. But such regulation shall not restrict any person authorized to take books from the Library from having access to the Law Library, or using the books therein in the same manner as he may be entitled to use the books of the general library.-R. S., sec. 95. (See also R. S., sec. 97.)

LIBRARY, JOINT COMMITTEE ON.

This committee was created by a joint rule adopted on the 7th of December, 1843 (first session Twenty-eighth Congress), and was composed of three members of each House, their duties being "to superintend and direct the expenditure of all moneys appropriated for the Library, and to perform such other duties as are or may be directed by law."

The Senate rule (XXV) provides that its committee "shall have power to act jointly with the same committee of the House of Representatives," but the House rule (X) merely creates the committee, and Rule XI (prescribing the powers and duties of committees), clause 48, provides that "all proposed legislation touching the Library of Congress, statuary, and pictures shall be referred to the Joint Committee on the Library."

The portion of the Joint Committee of Congress upon the Library on the part of the Senate remaining in office as Senators shall during the recess of Congress exercise the powers

and discharge the duties conferred by law upon the Joint Committee of Congress upon the Library.-Stats. at L., vol. 22, p. 592.

There shall be a superintendent, assistant, and two additional laborers in the Botanical Garden and greenhouses, who shall be under the direction of the Joint Committee on the Library.-R. S., sec. 1827.

The Joint Committee on the Library, whenever in their judg ment it is expedient, are authorized to accept any works 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.—R. S., sec. 1831.

No work of art or manufacture not the property of the United States shall be exhibited in the Capitol, nor shall any room in the Capitol be used for private studios or works of art, without permission from the Joint Committee on the Library, given in writing. And it shall be the duty of the Architect of the Capitol Extension to carry these provisions into effect.—Stat at L., vol. 18, p. 376; Ibid., vol. 20, p. 391.

(See Committees.)

LIBRARY OF THE HOUSE.

There shall be retained in the library of the Clerk's office "for the use of the Members and officers of the House, and not to be withdrawn therefrom, two copies of all the books and printed documents deposited there."-Rule III, clause 3.

The library of the House is kept on the gallery floor, north side. A branch of this library is also kept within the hall of the House.

The library of the House consists chiefly of volumes of the Statutes of the United States, United States Supreme Court Reports, Reports of Committees of Congress; the Journals of the two Houses, the Annals of Congress, Congressional Debates, the Congressional Globe, and the Congressional Record.

MACE.

By a resolution of the House of April 14, 1789 (Journal, First Congress, p. 14), it was directed that a proper symbol of

office should be provided for the Sergeant-at-Arms, of such form and device as the Speaker should direct; and by Rule IV, clause 2, it is directed that the symbol of his office (the mace) shall be borne by the Sergeant-at-Arms when in the execution of his office.

The mace of the House is a representation of the Roman fasces surmounted by a globe and an eagle, both of silver. The mace during the sessions of the House is kept in an upright position on a pedestal at the right of the Speaker's chair, and is not taken down during a recess. It is taken down, however, when the House resolves into Committee of the Whole, and is replaced in position when the Speaker resumes the chair. It is also taken from its pedestal and borne by the Sergeant-at-Arms while enforcing order on the floor under direction of the Speaker.

MANUFACTURES, COMMITTEE ON.

(See Committees.)

MEETING 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, 4. The President may, on extraordinary occasion, convene both Houses, or either of them.-Ibid., 2, 3, 14.

ORGANIZATION OF THE HOUSE.

On the day fixed for the first meeting of a Congress, the Members-elect assemble in the Hall of the House of Representatives, and at the hour of 12 o'clock m. are called to order by the Clerk of the last House, standing at his desk. Having requested the Members-elect to respond to their names as called he proceeds to call the roll by States in alphabetical order. In making up said roll he is directed to place thereon the names of those persons and of such persons only, whose credentials show that they were regularly elected in accordance with the laws of their States, respectively, or the laws of the United States.R. S., sec. 31. Having ascertained whether or not a quorum 'is present, he announces the fact to the House. If a quorum shall

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