being originally a part of Oregon. Wyoming has its larger part from Louisiana, with smaller portions from Oregon and Mexico. The Executive power of a Territory is vested in a Governor; the Legislative, in the Governor and Legislative Assembly; and the Judicial, in a Supreme Court, District Courts, Probate Courts, and Justices of the Peace. The Governor, Secretary, Chief Justice and two Associate Justices, Attorney, and Marshal, are appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, for four years, unless sooner removed by the President, with the consent of the Senate. The Legislative Assembly consists of a Council and House of Representatives. These are elected by the people · the former for two years, the latter for one year. The Governor has the power to veto bills, modified as in the case of the President. The officers of the Territories are paid from the treasury of the United States. The Governor receives $2600 a year; the Secretary, $1800; the Judges of the Supreme Court, who also hold the District Courts, $2600 each; the Attorney and Marshal are paid by fees; the members of the Assembly, $6.00 a day for forty days, and $3.00 for each twenty miles of travel; the President of the Council and the Speaker of the House, $10.00 a day. In addition to the States and Territories mentioned above, the United States includes the unorganized Territory of Alaska, purchased from Russia in 1867, containing 577,390 square miles; and the Indian country lying west of Arkansas, which, with some ten thousand square miles of unorganized territory adjoining it on the west, contains 68,991 square miles. According to the Ninth Census Report, the number of square miles in the whole area of the United States is 3,603,884. Of this the thirty-eight States contain 2,088,967 and the Territories (including Alaska and the Indian country), 1,513,917. C G. 27 CHAPTER VII. ION PRACTICAL OPERATION OF THE CONSTITUTION. In this chapter will be given some account of the workings of the government under the Constitution. The more important offices in the different departments will be mentioned, with the duties, compensation, mode of appointment, etc. THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT. The Constitution provides, as has been seen, for a Congress, composed of a Senate and House of Representatives. The Senators are elected by the State legislatures, and hold their office for six years; the Representatives are elected by the people of their several districts, for the term of two years. The members of the two Houses receive the same compensation, $5000 a year, with mileage at the rate of "twenty cents a mile, to be estimated by the nearest route usually traveled in going to and returning from each regular session." THE SENATE. The Vice-President of the United States is the President of the Senate. He gives the casting vote when the Senate is equally divided, and signs all bills and resolutions that are passed by the Senate. His salary was originally $5000. In 1853 it was raised to $8000, in 1873 to $10,000, and in 1874 reduced to $8000. The following is the list of Vice-Presidents: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, 1789 to 1797. 1797 to 1801. There is no provision in the Constitution or by statute for filling a vacancy in the office of Vice-President. From March 4th, 1853, to March 4th, 1857, there was no Vice-President, Mr. W. R. King having died before taking the oath of office. When the Vice-President becomes President, the Senate choose a President pro tempore, but this does not constitute him Vice-President. The Secretary of the Senate receives $4896; the Sergeantat-arms, $4320; the Chaplain, $900. THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The presiding officer, called the Speaker, is chosen by the House. The term had its origin when legislative bodies were addressed by the chief executive, and 1 Died April 20th, 1812. 2 Resigned December 28th, 1832. 3 Became President April 6th, 1841, on the death of Pres. Harrison. 4 Became President July 9th, 1850, on the death of President Taylor. 5 Never took the oath of office. Died April 18th, 1853. 6 Became President April 15th, 1865, on the death of Pres. Lincoln. 7 Died November 23d, 1875. their presiding officer was expected to respond. As he spoke for the body he was called the Speaker. He signs all bills and joint resolutions passed by the House, and, under the rules of the House, appoints its committees. If both the President and Vice-President are incapacitated to perform the duties of President, and there is no President pro tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House acts as President. He is required to vote in case of ballot, and he may vote on other occasions. His salary is $8,000. The Speakers have been: 1st Congress, F. A. Muhlenberg, Jonathan Trumbull, Jonathan Dayton, Nathaniel Macon, Langdon Cheves, Penn. Conn. Penn. N. J. 66 Mass. Mass. Ky. 2d 66 3d 4th 5th 6th Andrew Stevenson, Andrew Stevenson, (6 Andrew Stevenson, (Andrew Stevenson, 66 66 Tenn. Va. The Clerk receives $4500, the Sergeant-at-arms $4000, the Doorkeeper $2500, the Chaplain $900. PRACTICAL LEGISLATION. In each House there are Standing Committees, to whom are referred the various matters of business for examination and report. It has been usual for the Speaker to appoint the House Committees, while in the Senate they are chosen by ballot. In the Forty-fourth Congress the Senate had twentyeight Standing Committees, besides a number of Select. Committees and Joint Committees. The House had forty-three Standing Committees. The principal Committees are those on Ways and Means, Appropriations, |