5403. MONEY BILLS, Parliament and.—[further continued].
In 1701, the Lords having
amended a bill, “for stating and examining
the public accounts”, by inserting
a clause for allowing a particular debt, the
Commons disagreed to the amendment; and
declared for a reason, “that the disposition,
as well as granting of money by act of Parliament,
hath ever been in the House of Commons;
and, that the amendment relating to
the disposal of money does entrench upon
that right”. And, to a bill of the same nature
the year following, the Lords having proposed
an amendment, and declared, “that
their right in gaming, limiting, and disposing
of public aids, being the main hinge of the
controversy, they thought it of the highest
concern that it should be cleared and settled”.
They then go on to prove the usage by precedents,
and declarations, and from these
conclude, “that the limitation, disposition, and
manner of account belong only to them”.—
Congress Report.
Ford ed., ii, 140.
(1778)