agricultural and mineral resources, exports, and import trade of the Philippine Islands, together with such other information on the subject as the committee may deem desirable.

January 10. Eulogies delivered on Vice-President Hobart.

CUBA.

January 16. Resolved that the Secretary of War be, and he is hereby directed to send to the Senate an authorized statement of public receipts from taxation, custom, and all sources and also of public expenditures including salaries paid to all officers, and incidental expenses in Cuba since the United States Government assumed control of the same.

February 1. The President transmitted to the Senate a copy of the report of Gen. John C. Bates, made Aug. 20, 1899, in relation to the treaty made with the Sultan of Sulu, an island of the Philippines.

EXPLANATION OF HOW THE HOUSE OPENS.

THE 56TH CONGRESS PREPARING TO DO BUSINESS.

The House of Representatives convened as prescribed by the Constitution on the first Monday in December, at 12 M. December 4, 1899.

David Bremner Henderson was elected Speaker.

Credentials were submitted by the new members and those of Brigham H. Roberts, Representative from Utah were objected to. Rules of the fifty-fifth Congress were adopted.

New members were sworn in.

The President and Senate were notified that the House was prepared to transact business.

Members drew seats for the fifty-sixth Congress.

The House then adjourned in honor of Vice-President Hobart. On the following day the officers of the House were elected as follows:

Clerk, Alexander McDowell, of Pennsylvania.
Sargent-at-Arms, Henry Casson, of Wisconsin.
Door-keeper, William J. Glenn, of New York.
Postmaster, Joseph McElroy, of Ohio.

Chaplain, Rev. Henry M. Condin, of Michigan.

The following is a list of the important measures introduced into the fifty-sixth Congress for discussion, and the date of introduction.

IMPORTANT EVENTS IN THE HOUSE.

December 5. Reading of the President's message.
Brigham H. Roberts contested seat case discussed.

December II. Discussion of Financial Bill in committee of the whole.

FINANCE.

January 3. Representative Sulzer's resolution:

Resolved by the House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he hereby is, directed to furnish the House of Representatives as soon as possible with the following information:

1. All letters, agreements, papers, or documents between the Treasury Department of the United States or any person connected therewith, and the National City Bank and the Hanover Bank, of the City of New York, or any person acting for them or either of them, since the 4th day of March, 1897, relating to the

depositing of public funds, bonds, or revenues in said bank or banks, or any other relations or business transactions now existing or heretofore had between the Government and the said banks or either of them.

2. The amount of public money, bonds or revenue deposited with said banks or either of them by the Government, for what length of time, and the reasons therefor, and whether said banks or either of them have paid the Government any interest on said deposits, and if so, how much, and all other information concerning the same or in any way relation thereto.

January 10. Hon. E. J. Burkett delivered in the House a eulogy on Congressman W. L. Green.

January 11. Admiral Dewey's report submitted, relative to the taking of Manila.

February 1. Bill 2431 to present to the City of Nashville, in Tennessee, the gun which fired the first shot in the SpanishAmerican war. This gun was on board the battleship Nashville. The bill was passed.

February 5. Resolution on the death of Hon. Daniel Ermentrout, late member of the House of Representatives, 'from Pennsylvania.

February 13. Resolutions on the death of Hon. Charles A. Chickering, late member of the House of Representatives, from New York.

March 1. The President transmitted a communication from the Secretary of State to the Senate and House of Representatives setting forth the increased commercial relations between the United States and foreign countries, showing a large increase in the sale of American products.

April 2. Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he hereby is, requested to inform the House of Representatives whether in his opinion, based upon such knowledge as he has, the present laws for the raising of revenue are creating and will continue to create a surplus in the Treasury over and above the wants of the Government, and if so, to what extent at the end of the current fiscal year, and a like report as to the fiscal year ending June 30, 1901.

That he also report to the House of Representatives his estimates of the probable receipts of the Treasury from all sources of revenue for those years, to wit, customs, internal revenue, and miscellaneous sources.

Resolved, That he also report to the House of Representatives the amount of internal revenue taxes received under an act entitled "An act to provide ways and means to meet war expenditures, and for other purposes," approved June 13, 1898, upon

articles not theretofore taxed; that said statement be itemized as far as possible for the years ending June 30, 1899, and for the nine months ending March 31, 1900.

April 12. Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled (twothirds of each House concurring therein), That the following amendments be proposed to the legislatures of the several States, which, when ratified by three-fourths of said legislatures, shall become and be a part of the Constitution, namely: In lieu of the first and second paragraphs of Section 3 of Article I of the Constitution of the United States of America, the following shall be proposed as an amendment to the Constitution:

"Sec. 3. The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen for six years, and each Senator shall have one vote. These Senators shall be chosen by the Legislatures of the several States unless the people of any State, either through their legislature or by the Constitution of the State, shall provide for the election of United States Senators by direct vote of the people; then in such case, United States Senators shall be elected in such State at large by direct vote of the people; a plurality shall elect, and the electors shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislature.

"When vacancies happen, by resignation or otherwise, in the representation of any State in the Senate, the same shall be filled for the unexpired term thereof in the same manner as is provided for the election of Senators in paragraph 1; Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make the temporary appointments until the next general election, in accordance with the statutes or constitution of such State."

This amendment shall not be construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as a part of the Constitution.