Adams: the control of the purse. 177 



money bills, and to the powers of the two houses in regard to them. 

 The clause in the constitution which provides that all money bills 

 shall originate in the House of Representatives, is preceded in time 

 by various provisions in the state constitutions. In 1776, eight of 

 the states adopted new constitutions, and of these, five contained 

 provisions that all money bills must originate in the lower house. 

 Many of these provisions are similar to that of Massachusetts, adopted 

 in 1780: "All money bills shall originate in the House of Representa- 

 tives, but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments as on 

 other bills;'"'' but some of the state constitutions also contain provis- 

 ions which are intended to prevent the lower house from abusing this 

 privilege by the tacking of riders to money bills. f The idea that the 

 lower house is more fit to discuss matters of taxation, because its 

 members are more directly the representatives of the people, was 

 undoubtedly an outgrowth of the principle of the English constitu- 

 tion that the Commons should make all grants to the Crown. J But 

 its adoption by six states does not prove that it was an idea fully 

 accepted by all the people, for other state constitutions previous to 

 1787 had no such provision. More than that, in the constitutional 

 convention, many of the delegates from these six states were opposed 

 to the introduction of a similar provision into the constitution of the 

 United States. 



Art. HI of Pinckney's plan§ for a federal union, submitted to the 

 convention on May 29th, 1787, provided that all money bills of every 

 kind should originate in the House and should not be altered or 

 amended by the Senate. In the first debate upon this question, the 

 leading members of the convention were in the main opposed to 

 giving any such exclusive privilege to the House, and the article was 

 defeated by a vote of the states of seven to three. || But on July 5th 



♦Constitutions and Charters of the United States, Poore, Vol. I, p. 9.56. 



(Art. X of the constitution of Maryland, which was adopted in 1776, declares that "The 

 House of Dele.i^ates may originate all money bills." Art XI provides •' In order that the 

 Senate * * * may not be compelled by the House of Delegates, either to reject a money 

 bill which the e:ne:'g:3Qi'y of affairs mxy re jtiire. or to assent to some other act of legisla- 

 tion, in their conscience and judgment injurious to the public wellare, the House of 

 Delegates shall not, on any occasion or under any prete.xt, annex to or blend with a 

 money bill any matter, clause or thinir not immeliately relating to and necessary for the 

 imposing, assessing, levying or applying the taxes or supplies to be raised for the support 

 of the government or the current expenses of the state; ;ind to prevent altercation about 

 such bills it is declared that no bill, imposing duties or customs for the mere regulation 

 of commerce, or inflicting flues for the reformation of morals, or to enforce the execution 

 of the law-!, by waieii any""iaci lental revenue may arise, shall beaccountei as a money 

 bill: but every bill assessing, levying or applying taxes or supplies for the support of the 

 government or the current expenses of the state, or appropriating money in the treasury, 

 shall be deemel a money bill." Bigelovv. American Constitutions, p. 'it2. 



The constitution of Delaware also makes provision against the same danger. Art. II, 

 Sec. U. reads: " All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representa- 

 tives, but the Senate may prop )se alteratiotas as on oth-'r bills: nnd no bill, from the 

 operation of wiiien when passed into a law, revenue may incidenlally arise shall be 

 accounted a bill for raising revenue: nor shall any matter or clatise whatever, relating 

 to and i.ecfssary for raising revenue, be in any manner blende;! with or annexed to a 

 bill for raising I'e venue." American's Guide for State Comtitutions, p. 187. 



iMadison Papers, Vol. II, p. 85.=S. Speech of Butler. 



SIbid., p. 7:i7. 



mbid., p. 858. 



