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 Committee 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 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. 69. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Foreign Affairs to take into consideration all matters which concern 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 Revolutionary Pensions to take into consideration all such matters respecting pensions for services in the revolutionary war, other than invalid pensions, as shall be referred to them by the House. 72. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Invalid Pensions, to take into consideration all such matters respecting invalid pensions, as shall be referred to them by the House. 73. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Roads and Canals to take into consideration all such petitions, and matters or things, relating to roads and canals, and the improvement of the navigations of rivers, as shall be presented, or may come in question, and be referred to them by the House, and to report thereupon, together with such propositions relative thereto, as to them shall seem expedient. 74. 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. 75. It shall be the duty of the Committee of Accounts to superintend and control the expenditures 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. 76. 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. 1. A committee on so much of the public accounts and expenditures as relate to the Department of State; 2. A committée on so much of the public 3. A committee on so much of the public 6. A committee on so much of the public To consist of three members each. 77. It shall be the duty of the said Committees to examine into the state of the accounts and expenditures respectively submitted to them, and to inquire and report particularly Whether the expeditures of the respective Departments are justified by law: Whether the claims, from time to time, satisfied and discharged by the respective Departments, are supported by sufficient vouchers, establishing their justness both as to their character and amount: Whether such claims have been discharged out of funds appropriated therefor; and whether all moneys have been disbursed in conformity with appropriation laws and Whether any, and what, provisions are necessary to be adopted, to provide more perfectly for the proper application of the public moneys, and to secure the Government from demands unjust in their character, or extravagant in their amount. And it shall be, moreover, the duty of the said Committees to report, from time to time, whether any, and what, retrenchment can be made in the expenditures of the several Departments, without detriment to the public service; whether any, and what, abuses at any time exist in the failure to enforce the payment of money's which may be due to the United States from public defaulters or others; and to report, from time to time, such provisions and arrangements as may be necessary to add to the economy of the several Departments, and the accountability of their officers. 78. The several Standing Committees of the House shall have leave to report by bill or otherwise. 79. No committee shall sit during the sitting of the House, without special leave. 80. The clerk of the House shall take an oath for the true and faithful discharge of the duties of his office, to the best of his knowledge and abilities, and shall be deemed to continue in office until another be appointed. 81. It shall be the duty of the clerk to make, and cause to be printed and delivered to each 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 and Journal in which it may be contained; and placing under the name of each officer the list of reports required of him to be made, and the time when the report may be expected. 82. It shall be the duty of the clerk of the House, at the end of each session, to send a printed copy of the Journals thereof to the Executive, and to each branch of the Legislature of every State. 83. All questions of order shall be noted by the clerk, with the decision, and put together at the end of the Journal of every session. 84. Whenever confidential communications |