Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-12-30


not in session. In the House, few members u'e. ~
MI a.prpsos in the Chair and Immediately, on h'o"o" "
A. u.nv,x adjourned We DO not anticipate quorum III
either House The present week.
The IN Y. Journal of Commerce" entcrains 10 wiz"
definition of the muarious and rcsponsiose ou'' "
f rho House OF Representatives and runs parae
between his prorogatves and those oil 'n' op'1A'
British House OF Commons We quo'e;-
T,o Saterohin of the House is OF the most mpor'
, nosIs In our government Upon the SpeaSets aiscte
lion depends the effective organisation VI ue y ;
49, W. .a of the Committees; and upon MS hei'
poi rt;aj and prompt administration ot the rules oe'
d be order harmony OF the House ana i's caPao
es for The dispatch OF business Ihe Speaker mas e'ea
upon the legislation Of the body not only oy giving
character 10 its Committees and thus aVotng OF peuo
cling any particular Of public policy ou. ne may ue
eide upon the order of business and thereby .esafa
wo,d nar,cuar measures He may ure hs power a' cca
upcturrs TO defeat The will Of majority oil 'he ooay Inc
political party in the House s responsible io s
without having the Speaker win lheH'.
The Sneaker does not often take part In the debates but
he NAV do 50 in Committee Of the Whole House. speaker
Clay spoke in committee on seVeta' oecason'' ' " MN
Speaker Polk on one occasion. 49,,
The Speaker is public magistrate lie may otueI ln.o
custody any person for dsordery conduct he may s'so
buke members by calling them by name II they refuse 'o
kecn order but have known instance OF the eSc
else of this power though have witnessed occasions enough
for il. y;, .,d ,n;s
age out Of the contingent fund. 80,
The Sneaker is by law entitled TO receive "n addition TO
his member eight dollars oT every DAY
attendance in the House..
The Sneaker has power BY law 10 administer oaihs 10
MEMBERS witnesses before the House &c.
By The law of 1892 the Speaker of the House OF Repre-
sena,iyss for the time being shall act as President ol e
limited States in case OF The removal death eslenaon or
inability both OF the President and Wee PRESIDENT OF me
United States in there shall heA be no PRESIDENT
of the Senate Hence the Speaker said by some 10 Dc te
fourth eminence iu the Republic. The Speaker now
elected might in the interval between the termination oi lne
session and the meeting of the Senate. become me
President case OF the death OF the President and ot lne
President of the Senate pro lem, now MIR. Atchson.
The Speaker If the British House Of Commons is chosen
BY the House from among its members but subject 10
the approval If The Crown Our Speaker is consullonaly
Independent OF the Executive but not always In reality
The Administration, present, discaim all interference IN
the choice of Speaker though they feel vital interest IN II
On some former occasions Executive Influence in this eec'
ton has been an,amount The British system of subject
ing the choice of Speaker the approval of the Crown
The Speaker of the British House of Commons has some
parliamentary powers similar 10 those Of our Speakers out
he is parsonage Of infinitely less political weight and con
than ours Su the lack ol real Importance
made up in high pay and rank His salary 80 0OO year.
exclusive of furnished residence; al the end ot his oca
abors he generally rewarded by peerage and pension
of "a 900 lor lives He is member OF the Pfivy Coun
ell and entitled to rank after Birons II ia one OF his ou
ties 10 the members n dinner 10 due SUCCESSION
and al stated periods.