In the Virginia Convention objection was made by Mr. Grayson “to the power of the Senate to propose or concur with _amendments to money bills_.” The objection is even to “amendments.” He pronounced this “a departure from that great principle which required that the _immediate representatives_ of the people only should interfere with _money bills_.… The Lords in England had never been allowed to intermeddle with money bills. He knew not why the Senate should.”[42]
_Thirdly._ This brings me to another consideration, founded on the example of England, which was obviously present to the framers of the Constitution. The Senator from Virginia [Mr. HUNTER] is clearly mistaken on this point. It was often adduced in debate in the National Convention, and, as we have just seen, in the Virginia Convention also. In England the rule is explicit, and of ancient date. As early as July 3, 1678, the Commons resolved:--
“That all aids and supplies, and aids to his Majesty in Parliament, are the sole gift of the Commons; _and all bills for the granting of any such aids and supplies ought to begin with the Commons; and that it is the undoubted and sole right of the Commons to direct, limit, and appoint, in such bills, the ends, purposes, considerations, conditions, limitations, and qualifications of such grants_, which ought not to be changed or altered by the House of Lords.”[43]
In pursuance of this rule, estimates for the annual expenditure are submitted by the Ministry to the House of Commons, sitting as a Committee of Supply. This process is explained as follows.
“The member of the Administration representing the department for which the supplies are required first explains to the Committee such matters as may satisfy them of the correctness and propriety of the estimates, and then proceeds to propose each grant in succession, which is put from the Chair in these words: ‘That a sum not exceeding ---- be granted to her Majesty, for the object specified in the estimate.’ … The Committee of Supply votes every sum which is granted annually for the public service,--the army, the navy, the ordnance, and the several civil departments.”[44]
At the close of the session all the grants are embodied in a bill, which is known as “Appropriation Bill,” and, as it is kindred in character to that under our system, doubtless has given its name to ours. This bill is thus described:--