1877.

Dec. 10-The Russians capture Plevna - an event decisive of the war in their favor.

"13-President McMahon submits to his defeat, and forms a cabinet acceptable to the majority of the French Assembly. It is one of the most significant events of the century, as indicating the progress of popular government in Europe.

1878.

Jan. 9-Victor Emanuel, King of Italy, during whose reign Italian unity
was effected, dies. His son, Prince Humbert, succeeds him.
Feb. 7-Pope Pius IX. dies, aged eighty-five; succeeded February 20th by
Cardinal Pecci, styled Leo XIII.

"20-An amendment to a post-office bill revives the franking privilege for members of Congress.

"28-A bill remonetizing silver, making the old silver dollar of 412% grains a legal tender, becomes a law by its passage over the veto of the President in both Houses of Congress.

Mar. 3—Peace is signed between Russia and Turkey.

"" 18-The Louisiana court before which General Anderson, of the Returning Board, was tried, had sentenced him to two years in the penitentiary. The Supreme Court of the State overrules the decision, and orders his release.

Apr. 1-Since July, 1877, the public debt has been reduced more than twenty million dollars, in spite of financial trouble.

The most noteworthy fact of the month has been the success of the Secretary of the Treasury in preparing for formal resumption of specie payments by the Government; the nominal difference between the value of greenbacks and gold, and actual resumption by many banks and business houses.

May 1-The national debt was reduced $3,015,865.

The International Exposition of France is formally opened by President McMahon, a vast concourse of people being present. Sitting Bull, the Sioux chief, proposes to make peace. "Congress is in session during this month, and produces some im. portant legislation, among which is the repeal of the Bankrupt law, from September 1st, voting the payment to England of the Halifax Fisheries Award, ($5,500,000,) and measures to prevent further contraction of the currency.}

June 12-William Cullen Bryant, a distinguished American poet, dies, aged 83.

"20-The second session of the Forty-fifth Congress comes to a close. The first session commenced; in December, 1877; the second, in March, 1878.

July 9--A "heated term" of unusual severity commences, during which hundreds of deaths by sunstroke occur.

Aug. -The Yellow Fever commences with great fatality in Memphis, New Orleans and other parts of the South, mostly near the Mississippi River, causing a general suspension of business in those regions. All parts of the country, and especially large northern cities, supply the sick and suffering with many hundred thousand dollars in money.

Great political activity, and an attempt to build up new political parties have characterized the spring and summer.

Sept. 3-The State election occurs in Vermont, followed

Oct. 8-Ohio, Indiana, Iowa and West Virginia hold State elections. Nov. 5-Thirty-one States hold elections for State officers and Representa tives to the Forty-sixth Congress. There is a considerable reaction in favor of the Republicans on the whole, although the Democrats will have a small majority in both Houses of the Forty-sixth Congress. New parties show less strength than was expected, owing chiefly to the success of preparations by the U. S. Government to resume specie payments in January coming.j

Dec. 2-The third session of the Forty-fifth Congress commences.

The

Public Debt, less cash in the Treasury, Dec. 1st, was $2,027,414,325. " 17-Gold was sold at par in New York for the first time in nearly sev

enteen years.

1879.

extent of 2,688 Iron has been

Jan. 1-Resumption by the U. S. Treasury becomes an accomplished fact. Railways have been built in the last year to the miles, making the total miles in the U. S. 81,896. produced in the country during the year to the amount of 4,154,000 tons, about one-fourth the production of the world. The mining of precious metals for the year gives a value of about $84,000,000; the crops raised by the farmers were the largest in our history, The exports of merchandise for the year was about $100,000,000 more than in the previous, or any other year, in our history. Mar. 4-The Forty-fifth Congress comes to an end with its work incomplete. The President, by proclamation, calls together the Fortysixth Congress in extra session for March 18th.

CHAPTER XXX.

PARLIAMENTARY RULES.

We give in this chapter the Standing Rules and Orders for conducting business in the House of Representatives of the United States, as a proper compend of parliamentary 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 adopted 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 rep resentative 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 appre ciate 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.

We see, in the most impressive manner, that the utmost pains is taken to make Legislative work orderly, decorous, and as rapid as is consistent with due care that what is done shall be well and carefully done; that no pains are spared, in regulations, that every legislator shall have the means of knowing all that is his special business to know; and we discover that proper care is taken to see that economy and faithfulness are constantly observed by all the officers of the government. If this is not always actually the case there is, at least, no fault in the arrangements, rules and orders to that effect. All the people should know to what they may properly hold their Representatives accountable, and they will be prepared to judge of the extent of obedience or transgression. The Rules are just and good. Let the people see that they are properly observed.

The House of Representatives has 160 Rules, the Senate 52, and the Joint Rules of the House and Senate, regulating their intercourse with each other, number 22. Whatever of difference exists between them is unimportant after due allowance is made for the different character and constitution of the two bodies. The principles on which they are founded are identical.

STANDING RULES AND ORDERS FOR CONDUCTING BUSINESS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF
THE UNITED STATES.

THE DUTY OF THE SPEAKER.

1. He shall take the chair every day precisely at the hour to which the House shall have adjourned on the preceding day; shall immediately call the members to order; and, on the appearance of a quorum, shall cause the journal of the preceding day to be read.

2. He shall preserve order and decorum; may speak to points of order in preference to other members, rising from his seat for that purpose; and shall decide questions of order, subject to an appeal to the House by any two members--on which appeal no member shall speak more than once, unless by leave of the House.

3. He shall rise to put a question, but may state it sitting.

4. Questions shall be distinctly put in this form, to wit: "As many as are of opinion that (as the question may be) say Aye," and after the affimative voice is expressed, "As many as are of the contrary opinion say No." If the Speaker doubt, or a division be called for, the House shall divide; those in the affirmative of the question shall first rise from their seats, and afterwards those in the negative. If the Speaker still doubt, or a count be required by at least one-fifth of the quorum of the members, the Speaker shall name two members, one from each side, to tell the members in the affirmative and negative-which being reported, he shall rise and state the decision to the House.

5. The Speaker shall examine and correct the journal before it is read.

He shall have a general direction of the hall, and the unappropriated rooms in that part of the capitol assigned to the House shall be subject to his order and disposal until the further order of the House. He shall have a right to name any member to perform the duties of the chair, but such substitution shall not extend beyond an adjournment.

6. No person shall be permitted to perform divine service in the cham. ber occupied by the House of Representatives, unless with the consent of the Speaker.

7. In all cases of ballot by the House, the Speaker shall vote; in other cases he shall not be required to vote, unless the House be cqually divided, or unless his vote, if given to the minority, will make the division equal; and in case of such equal division, the question shall be lost.

8. All acts, addresses, and joint resolutions, shall be signed by the Speaker; and all writs, warrants, and subpoenas, issued by order of the House, shall be under his hand and seal, attested by the clerk.

9. In case of any disturbance or disorderly conduct in the galleries or lobby, the Speaker (or Chairman of the Committee of the Whole House,) shall have power to order the same to be cleared.

OF THE CLERK AND OTHER OFFICERS.

10. There shall be elected at the commencement of each Congress, to continue in office until their successors are appointed, a clerk, sergeant-atarms, doorkeeper, and postmaster, each of whom shall take an oath for the truc and faithful discharge of the duties of his office, to the best of his knowledge and abilities, and to keep the secrets of the House; and the appointees of the doorkeeper and postmaster shall be subject to the approval of the Speaker; and, in all cases of election by the House of its officers, the vote shall be taken viva voce.

11. In all cases where other than members of the House may be eligible to an office by the election of the House, there shall be a previous nomination.

12. In all other cases of ballot than for committees, a majority of the votes given shall be necessary to an election; and where there shall not be such a majority on the first ballot, the ballots shall be repeated until a majority be obtained. And in all ballotings blanks shall be rejected, and not taken into the count in enumeration of the votes, or reported by the tellers.

13. It shall be the duty of the clerk to make and cause to be printed and delivered to cach member at the commencement of every session of Congress, a list of the reports which it is the duty of any officer or department of the government to make to Congress; referring to the act or resolution and page of the volume of the laws or journal in which it may be contained, and placing under the name of cach officer the list of reports required to be made, and the time when the report may be expected.

14. It shall be the duty of the clerk of the House at the end of each