The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-06-19
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
FRipAY, June Is, 1871

Mr. ADAMS rose and expressed his opinion that
there were no standing committees in existence and
that It was the duty OF the Speaker appoint. The
standing committees had been appointed under the
rules OF last Congress, adopted temporarily under
a resolution the vote on the resolution had been
considered and the House We're now organized by
rules adopted under another resolution. He
tended the appointment was cancelled by the re-
consideration OF the vote
He wished the decision of the House, and for that
purpose, moved that the standing committees Of the
House be now appointed by the Speaker
lie should not consider himself member Of any
standing committee, until there should be vote of
the House deciding that fact. He wished the Speak
erto review the standing committees, particularly be-
cause the gentleman from Virginia Mr.. Wise) had
made charge, that the members unequally dis
tnbuted and that a majority were of Northern mem
bers and to take away any impression that the
Northern Purltans, Abolitionsls, or whatever they
chose to call them, had an undue majority
Mr.. BRIGGS understood that the standing com
mittees were appointed under separate resolution of
the House, and being in existence, the motion
was not in order.
Mr.. HI nj moved to lay the motion of Mr. ADAMS
the table.
The SPEAKER, in reply to Mr. Briggs, decided
that the committee were in existence, and
quently that the motion of MIR Adams was out Of
order.
Mr.. ADAMS then asked the House to excuse him
from serving Chairman of the Committee Indian
Affairs.
Mr.. PICKENS, and several others, called for the
reason.
The House decided by vote to comply with the re-
quest of Mr.. Adams
Mr. CALHOUN, from the Select Committee to re-
wise the rules of the House reported amendment TO
the 18th rule, providing that q" shall be in order
to move suspension of the rules for any particular
purpose until after the daily call for petitions reports
OF committees, and resolutions shall be completed
except for motion to proceed the orders of the day
Mr.. WELLER moved to lay the report on the
table
Mr.. PICKENS asked whether it would not REQUIRE
vote Of two-thirds to adopt the report and, also,
whether this Committee TO be Standing Com
mitee throughou the session
The SPEAKER said that the Committee had pow
er to report un'll the resolution appointing ii
considered and that majority could adopt the re-
poit
From this latter part Of the decision, Mr. FLOYD, of
N. " appealed
The question Shall the decision of the Speaker
stand" after debate was taken and carried
Yeas 1913, nays TO-
The report then adopted Yeas l2i, nays 80
On motion Of Mr.. ADAMS, the House then re.
solved itself into Committee of the Whole on the
state of the Union, Mr.. Taiafcro, of Va in the
chair and resumed the consideration of the bill for
the relief of Mrs. HARRISON.
This discussed in committee for several hours
when it passed. II was read third time and
passed in the House BY a vote Of yeas l22 nays &C.
II appropriates to Mrs. Harrison Ss25 900.
The House djourned at half past eight o'clock
report iSexcluded for want of room.