Speaker

the presiding officer of a representative assembly. The office originated in England. The early and weak House of Commons was wont to elect some one to speak for that body to the king. He gradually became the presiding officer. In the nature of the case, the speaker is elected by the members from their own number. Although the members of the British House of Commons serve without pay, their speaker receives $25,000 a year. He is a member of the king's privy council. On his retirement he is raised to the peerage, with a seat in the House of Lords, with a pension of $20,000 a year. The American speaker serves for two years, that is to say, during the life of the Congress. His compensation is $12,000 per year and mileage, with an allowance for clerk hire. His position is one of great power and influence, both in the appointment of committees and in the shaping of legislation. The speaker of the House of Representatives in the various states is selected in a similar manner. The first American speaker was F. A. Muhlenburg of Pennsylvania. Joseph G. Cannon of Illinois, speaker of the Fifty-ninth Congress, was the thirty-fourth man to occupy the chair. Henry Clay served three separate terms, in all ten years. Many a speaker has desired the presidency, but James K. Polk is the only one who has held both offices. Schuyler Colfax is the only speaker who served as vice-president and presided over both the House and the Senate. See Blaine; Reed; Clay; Congress

SPEAKERS OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.