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members shall be called over by the Clerk, and the absentees noted: after which the names of the absentees shall again be called over, the doors shall then be shut, and those for whom no excuse, or insufficient excuses are made, may, by order of those present, if fifteen in number, be taken into custody as they appear, or may be sent for and taken into custody, wherever to be found, by special messengers to be appointed for that purpose. 52. When a member shall be discharged from custody and admitted to his seat, the House shall determine whether such discharge shall be with or without paying fees; and in like manner, whether a delinquent member, taken into custody by a special messenger, shall, or shall not, be liable to defray the expense of such special messenger.

53. A Sergeant-at-Arms shall be appointed, to hold his office during the pleasure of the House, whose duty it shall be to attend the House during its sitting; to execute the commands of the House from time to time; together with all such process, issued by authority thereof as shall be directed to him by the Speaker.

54. The fees of the Sergeant-at-Arms shall be, for every arrest the sum of two dollars; for each day's custody and releasement, one dollar; and for travelling expenses for himself or a special messenger, going and returning, one-tenth of a dollar per mile.

55. Twenty-one standing committees shall be appointed at the commencement of each session, viz :

To consist of seven Members each.

A Committee of Elections.

A Committee of Ways and Means.

A Committee of Claims.

A Committee of Commerce.

A Committee on the Public Lands.

A Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

A Committee for the District of Columbia.

A Committee on the Judiciary.

A Committee on Revolutionary Claims.
A Committee on Public Expenditures.

A Committee on Private Land Claims.
A Committee on Manufactures.
A Committee on Agriculture.
A Committee on Indian Affairs.
A Committee on Military Affairs.
A Committee on Naval Affairs.
A Committee on Foreign Affairs.
A Committee on the Territories.
A Committee on Military Pensions.

To consist of three Members each.

A Committee of Revisal and Unfinished Business. A Committee of Accounts.

56. It shall be the duty of the Committee of Elections to examine and report upon the certificates of election or other credentials of the members returned to serve in this House, and to take into their consideration all such petitions, and other matters touching elections and returns, as shall or may be presented, or come into question, and be referred to them by the House.

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57. It shall be the duty of the Committee of Ways and Means to take into consideration all such reports of the Treasury Department, and all such propositions relative to the revenue, as may be referred to them by the House to inquire into the state of the public debt, or the revenue, and of the expenditures, and to report, from time to time, their opinion thereon; to examine into the state of the several public departments, and particularly into the laws making appropriations of moneys, and to report whether the moneys have been disbursed conformably with such laws; and, also, to report from time to time, such provisions and arrangements as may be necessary to add to the economy of the departments, and the accountability of their officers.

In preparing bills of appropriation for other objects, the Committee of Ways and Means shall not include appropriations for carrying into effect treaties made by the United States; and, where an appropriation bill shall be referred to them, for their consideration, which

contains appropriations for carrying a treaty into effect, and for other objects, they shall propose such amendments as shall prevent appropriations for carrying a treaty into effect being included in the same bill with appropriations for other objects.

58. It shall be the duty of the Committee of Claims to take into consideration all such petitions and matters or things, touching claims and demands on the United States, as shall be presented, or shall, or may come in question, and be referred to them by the House; and to report their opinion thereupon, together with such propositions for relief therein, as to them shall seem expedient.

59. It shall be the duty of the Committee of Commerce to take into consideration all such petitions and matters or things, touching the commerce of the United States, as shall be presented, or shall or may come in question, and be referred to them by the House; and to report, from time to time, their opinion thereon.

60. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Public Lands to take into consideration all such petitions and matters or things respecting the lands of the United States, as shall be presented, or shall or may come in question, and be referred to them by the House; and to report their opinion thereupon, together with such propositions for relief therein, as to them shall seem expedient.

61. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, to take into consideration all such petitions and matters or things touching the Post Office and Post Roads, as shall be presented, or may come in question, and be referred to them by the House; and report their opinion thereupon, together with such propositions relative thereto, as to them shall seem expedient.

62. It shall be the duty of the Committee for the District of Colambia to take into consideration all such petitions and matters or things touching the said District as shall be presented, or shall come in question, and be referred to them by the House; and to report their opinion thereon, together with such propositions relative thereto, as to them shall seem expedient.

63. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Judiciary to take into consideration all such petitions and matters or things touching judicial proceedings, as shall be presented, or may come in question, and be referred to them by the House; and to report their opinion thereupon, together with such propositions relative thereto as to them shall seem expedient.

64. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Revolutionary Claims to take into consideration all such petitions and matters or things touching claims and demands originating in the Revolutionary war, or arising therefrom, as shall be presented, or shall or may come in question, and be referred to them by the House; and to report their opinion thereupon, together with such propositions for relief therein, as to them shall seem expedient.

65. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Public Expenditures to examine into the state of the several public departments, and particularly into laws making appropriations of moneys, and to report whether the moneys have been disbursed conformably with such laws; and also, to report, from time to time, such provisions and arrangements as may be necessary to add to the economy of the departments, and the accountability of their officers.

66. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Private Land Claims to take into consideration all claims to land which may be referred to them, or shall or may come in question, and to report their opinion thereupon, together with such propositions for relief therein, as to them shall seem expedient.

67. It shall be the duty of the Commitee on Military Affairs to take into consideration all subjects relating to the military establishment and public defence, which may be referred to them by the House, and to report their opinion thereupon; and also, to report, from time to time, such measures as may contribute to economy and accountability in the said establishment.

68. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Naval Affairs to take into consideration all matters which concern the naval establishment, and which shall be refer

red to them by the House, and report their opinion thereupon; and also, to report, from time to time, such measures as may contribute to economy and accountability in the said establishment.

69. It shall be the duty of the committee on Foreign Affairs to take into consideration all matters which con. cern the relations of the United States with foreign nations, and which shall be referred to them by the House, and to report their opinion on the same.

70. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Territories to examine into their legislative, civil, and criminal proceedings, and to devise and report to the House such means as, in their opinion, may be necessary to secure the rights and privileges of residents and non-residents.

71. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Military Pensions to take into consideration all such matters respecting pensions for military service; and also, all such matters respecting invalid pensions, as shall be referred to them by the House.

72. It shall be the duty of the Committee of Revisal and Unfinished Business to examine and report what laws have expired, or are near expiring, and require to be revived or further continued; also, to examine and report, from the Journal of the last session, all such matters as were then depending and undetermined.

73. It shall be the duty of the Committee of Accounts to superintend and control the expenditure of the contingent fund of the House of Representatives, and to audit and settle all accounts which may be charged thereon; and also to audit the accounts of the members for their travel to and from the Seat of Government, and their attendance in the House.

74. Six additional standing committees shall be appointed at the commencement of the first session in each Congress, whose duty shall continue until the first session of the ensuing Congress.

To consist of three members each.

1. A committee on so much of the public accounts and expenditures as relate to the Department of State.

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