Mr. FINCK'.Mr. Speaker, I desire to submit one or 2 considerations on this question of privilege. This resolution contemplates granting power to the Presiding Officers of the House and of the Senate, which is not provided for in the Constitution; a power which we have no authority under the Constitution to grant to those Presiding officers. The 1st article of the Constitution, section four, provid“es thatThe Congress shall assembleat leastoncein every year and such meetingshall heon the 1st Monda in December.unlessthey shall by law appoint a di ferentday.". Now, I do not deny the power of conress, by JtResolution, to take a recess; ut, I deny the right of Congress under the Constitution, either by a resolution or by law, to vest in the Presiding officers of the 2 Houses the right to convene Congress at any time. That is a power which is vested in the Executive exclusively. In reference to the powers of the President, in article two, section 3, of the Constitution, it is provided that “ He shall fromtime to timegiveto the congressin formation of thestate of the Union and recommend to their considerationsuc measuresashoshalljudge necessary and expedient' he may, on extraordinary occasions.convene both Houses, or either of them; and in case of disagreementbetween them with respectto the time of adigmrnment, he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper." Now, Mr. Speaker, this is exclusively an executiye power. If you can, by a resolution or by a law, vest the authority in Congress or in the Presidin Officers of Congress to call an extra session, then you can strip from the Executive the authority which is vested in him by the Constitution to convene Congress on extraordinary occasions. There is no doubt of the right in Congress to fix the time when it shall assemble. It may by law adjourn till a certain day or take a recess to a certain day; but in the intermediate time there is no power to convene it again exceptrthat which is vested in the Executive by the Constitution, and you cannot by law or JtResolution take that power from the Executive.