Mr. Harper moved to amend the first resolution, by inserting that a mausoleum be erected for General Washington, in the city of Washington, instead of the statue proposed, which was carried; the other resolutions were negatived, of course.
The committee then rose, and the resolution, as amended by Mr. Harper, was agreed to by the House, and a bill ordered to be brought in pursuant thereto.
Friday, May 9.
The Treasury Department.
The House went into a committee on the act supplementary to the act entitled "An act to establish the Treasury Department."
The committee rose and reported the bill—which provided that the Secretary of the Treasury should lay before Congress, at the commencement of every session, a report on the subject of finance together with such plans for improving the revenue as may occur to him.
Mr. Gallatin and Mr. Nicholas opposed the passing of the bill, on constitutional principles. They observed, that as all money bills were to originate in the House of Representatives, the Senate had no right to propose any bill by which that provision was changed; nor could the Secretary of the Treasury, upon the same ground, propose any thing that should originate any money bill. Heretofore, it had been usual, when information was wanting by the House, to call for it from that department, and the same could be done again.
It was contended by Mr. Griswold and Mr. Harper, that it was not a power to report a bill, but merely the state of our finances, which, for want of due notice, had heretofore been delayed, so as to throw all the most important business upon the close of the session, whereas, by a leisurely and mature examination, the Secretary of the Treasury would be enabled to make a timely and complete report.
The bill passed to its third reading—43 to 39.