FORTY-FIFTH CONGRESS, 1877-1879. 803 



will proceed to the Hall of the House of Representatives to participate 

 in the ceremonies commemorative of the life and services of Professor 

 Henry, late secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 

 January 16, 1879 House. 



Mr. H. CLYMER. This evening, memorial services in commemora- 

 tion of the late Prof. Joseph Henry are to take place in this hall, and 

 I desire to offer a resolution in relation to that matter, and if it should 

 be adopted by the House I shall follow it with a motion that the 

 House take a recess until a quarter to 8 o'clock. 



The resolution was read: 



Resolved, etc., That at the session to-night the Doorkeeper he directed to admit to 

 the floor all persons, public bodies, and societies indicated by the Regents of the 

 Smithsonian Institution, also the wives and daughters of members. 



The Speaker (Mr. S. J. RANDALL). The Chair thinks that the space 

 in the House will hardly suffice. 



Mr. CLYMER. I would say in reply to the suggestion of the Chair 

 that the Doorkeeper is of opinion that they might be accommodated 

 upon one side of the hall, not in the seats of members, and the public 

 bodies might be accommodated on the other side. I have confined the 

 resolution expressly to the wives and daughters of members, because 

 if I put in the wives, and families the number would bo indefinite. 



Mr. JOHN M. THOMPSON. Is the meeting to-night a legislative meet- 

 ing in any sense? 



The SPEAKER. It is not; but the House and Senate have voted to 

 participate in this ceremon}-. 



Mr. THOMPSON. Is it to be in any sense an official meeting of the 

 body? 



The SPEAKER. The Clerk will read the order made upon the subject. 



The Clerk read as follows: 



Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring) , That the Congress of 

 the United States will take part in the services to be observed on Thursday evening, 

 January 16, 1879, in honor of the memory of Joseph Henry, late secretary of the 

 Smithsonian Institution, under the auspices of the Regents thereof, and for that 

 purpose the Senators and Representatives will assemble on that evening in the Hall 

 of the House of Representatives, the Vice-President, supported by the Speaker of 

 the House, to preside on that occasion. 



Mr. HIRAM PRICE. But no legislative business to be transacted? 



The SPEAKER. No legislative business can be done at any rate in 

 joint session. 



Mr. PRICE. But the presumption is that when the House takes a 

 recess it meets again as a House for business. 



The SPEAKER. That is usually a reasonable presumption. 



Mr. CLYMER. The Senate has taken a recess, and I suggest that we 

 should pursue the same course. 



The resolution of Mr. Clymer was then adopted, 



