1106 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS [Mar. 22,

"Ordered, That the Comptroller of the Treasury report to
this House without delay by what authority he has refused to
acknowledge the validity of the action of this House in fixing
the compensation of its Speaker, and why he has refused to
honor the certificates of the Chairman of the Committee on
Claims;" to which I reply, that no knowledge of the action of
your honorable body in fixing the salary of the Speaker has
reached me, nor have I . refused at any time to honor the
certificates of the Chairman of the Committee on Claims.

In this connection I would further represent that the pay-
ment of any part of the salary or per diem of members and
officers is one of courtesy extended by the banks of this
city at the present and former sessions of the General As-
sembly, and that no demand can be made by them until the
appropriation bill by which they are paid is engrossed, signed
and promulgated.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

WM. J. LEONARD,

Comptroller.

Mr. Nelson offered the following :

Ordered, That hereafter no member shall speak more than
three minutes and only once upon the same subject.

Which was not adopted.

The House resumed the consideration of the joint resolu-
tions in relation to purchasing a Government mansion.

Mr. King moved to lay the resolutions on the table,
Which was decided in the negative.

Mr. Magruder moved a suspension of the rules to put the
resolutions on a second reading.

Mr. Stevens moved the previous question,

Which was sustained,

The question then being ''shall the previous question be
now put,"

It was sustained,

The question then recurring,
Upon motion of Mr. Magruder,

The rules were suspended and the resolutions ordered to a
second reading.

Being upon a second reading Mr. Calvert proposed the
following amendment:

Amend by striking out fifteen thousand dollars.

Mr. Appleman moved the previous question,

Which was sustained,

The question then being "shall the previous question be
sustained."

Mr King moved to lay the amendment on the table,