Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-03-20
SPEECH OF HON. S. S. COX,
IN the Proposition 10 divide the Committee Of
Ways and Means delivered in the Lower
House Of Congress, March 2, 1865.

Mr.. Cox. rise to privileged question
call up and withdraw the motion to re-
onsider the vote by which the report ol
he select committee on the Rules of the
louise of Representatives was ordered to
Ie printed, in order that it may be brought
before the House for action. / donot think
hat it will detain the House long, and may
Oe disposed of now as well as at any other
time. ask the Clerk to read the report.
The Clerk read, as follows:
The select committee on the Rules of the House of
Representatives report the following resolutions:
ResOtOed, That rule "A be amended so as to add to
he standing committees to be appointed at the
nencement Of each Congress, and to consist of nine
members each
Committee on Appropriations.
Committed on Banking and Currency.
Committee on the Pacific Railroad
Said amendment to take effect from and after the
close OF the present Congress. .....
Reso eel, That the following be added 70 the
standing rules Of the House from and after the close
Rule :. 1t shall be the duty of the committee on
the Pacific Railroad to take into consideration all
such petitions and matters things relative to rail-
valley and the Pacific coast shall be presented
shall come in question. and be referred to them by
the House, and to report their opinion thereon tor
gether with such propositions relative thereto 20
them shall seem eXpedient.
Rule =. II shall be the duty of .hc committee of
Ways and Means to take into consideration all re-
ports of the Treasury Department, and such other
propositions relative u raising revenue and prOyid-
ing ways and means for the support of the Govern
ment as shall be presented or shall come in question
and be referred TO them by the House, and to report
their opinion thereon by bill otherwise as to them
shall seem expedient.
Banking and Bank Currency to take into considera-
tiOn all propositions relative to banking and the cur
and be referred to them by the House and to report
thereon by bill or otherwise.
ResolUed, That from and after the close Of the
present Congress rule 76 be amended as follows
Strike out all after the word Consideration nline
two, to and including the word" expenditure" in
line six, and insert in lieu thereof all executive
communications, and such other propositions in re-
gard to carrying on the several departments of the
Government as may be presented and referred to
them by the House," . -
Means, where they occur, and insert in lieu thereof
tho words ''On appropriations.
ResoIUed That from and after the close the present
Congress rule II be amended by striking out the
words "of Ways and Means" and inserting in lieu
thereof the words ION appropriations"
Mr.. Cox. have nothing to say in rela-
ton to the committee on the Pacific Rail
road, for l think that will recommend itself
to the House at once.
In relation to the division of the commit
teeof Ways and Means, desire to show the
Importance and immensity of the labor i'm
josed upon that committee, with view to
i division of the labor. 1t is not proposed,
Us seems to be inferred by some gentlemen,
strike out the committee of Ways and
Means, although it might appear so on
'uperficial reading. We still preserve the
ommittee Of Ways and Means, 60 nomine !;
md if the rules are properly read with the
amendments it will so appear. g..
We divide the Ways and Means into three
committees. The Ways and Means are still
preserved, and their future duty is to pro-
Yide "ways and MEANS" that ls raise reve-
Iue for carrying on the Government. This
includes of course the tariff, the internal
tevenue, the lone bills, legal-tender notes,
and all other matters connected with sup
porting the credit and raising money. The
amendments confine the duty of the COM
mittee of Ways and Means simply to ways
and means. That was their original and
proper sphere.
The proposed committee on Appropria-
tions have, under this amendment, the eX-
animation of the estimates of the Depart
all appropriations. InRed not dilate upon
the Importance of hSSing hereafter one
committee to investigate with incest heed
all matters connected with economy. The
tendency of the time is to extravaganza in
private and in public. We require of this
new committee their whole labor in the re-
straint Of eXtravagant and illegal appro-
priations. H...n HTr ..H
AS to the committee on National Banks
and Currency, that is not necessarily con-
nected with the other committees. They
haye different province. They have in
charge all the bank interests of the country.
These interests are so connected by the
relations of exchanges and currency with
bank issues and banking capital in the
States that it is as much as one committee
can well do to study these questions prop
erly. 1t is utterly impossible in the pres
ent condition of our finances that one COM
mittee can do all this labor and do it as
well as these interests demand. The COM
mittee on Rules do not by this measure
mean to castany reflection upon thecommit-
tee of Ways and Means. They have labor
ed faithfully, and no set of men, however
enduring their patience, studious their hab-
Its, or gigantic their mental grasp, when
overburdened with the elabor incident to the
existing monetary condition of the country
.yrowing out of this isunparalleled civil strife, !
',an do this labor as well las the people have |
\ right to expect of their Representatives. |
Therefore we propose to divide the labor of |
he committee of Whays and Means. We |
would not and could not if we would, dim |
he luster of their names, or depreciate the |
yalue of their services. think that they |
ave been well selected by the Speaker. |
They do not need any compliment from me. |
lt is hardly necessary to mention them In |
rider that the House may recall their con-
picuous ability, their indefatigable indust- /
Y, their abundant information, their legal |
alents, and their knowledge of finance. |
these qualities have all been brought into
and well worked, perhaps over
worked In this Congress-, The rentleman