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Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Speaker of Congress, the (search)
inished. I say ostensibly diminished, for the limitation then placed on the speaker and the power then granted to committees of electing a member to a vacant chairmanship has never again been exercised. On Nov. 6, 1804, the House excused Mr. J. C. Smith, chairman of the committee on claims, from serving thereon, and S. W. Dana, being appointed on the committee in Smith's place, was regarded by a majority of the committee as being its chairman, thus excluding from promotion Mr. Holmes, who wSmith's place, was regarded by a majority of the committee as being its chairman, thus excluding from promotion Mr. Holmes, who was the second person on the original list. Thereupon a new standing rule was submitted as follows: That each of the committees of this House be empowered to appoint a chairman by plurality of votes in all cases where the first-named member of the committee shall be absent, or excused by the House. The committee to whom this motion was referred reported in favor of the motion except that the election should be by a majority of the committee. The House, after debate, refused to agree