Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-01-06

The N Z Journal of Commerce entertains US
with a definition of the multifarious and response
BILE duties of the Speaker of the House OF repre-
sentatiycs and runs parallel between his preroga
tves ane those of the Speaker OF the British House
of Commons We quote:
aThe Speakership of the House is one OF the
most important posts IN our government. upon the
Speakers discretion depends the effective organlza-
ton of the House, by the proper arrangement OF the
Committees and upon his intelligent, impartial and
nrompt administration of the rules. depend the or
der and harmony of the House, and its capabilities
for the dispatch of business The Speaker has
preat influence upon the legislation OF the body not
only bv giving character to its Committees, ana
thus fsyorine or preu cling any particular course
of public policy; but he may decide upon the or
der of business and thereby retard or forward par
ticular measures He may use his power at crltlcai
iunctures, to defeat the will of majority OF the
body The dominant political party in the House is
responsible for its legislation, and they could not
meet such responsibility without having the SPEAK
er with them.
The Speaker does not often take part in the de-
bates but he may do In Committee OF the w mole
House. Speaker Clay spoke in Committee on seVe-
raj occasions, and so did Speaker Polk on one oc-
casion.
The Speaker is a public magistrate. He may or
der into custody any person for dlsorderly conduct
He NAV also rebuke members by calling them by
name if they refuse to keep order; but have never
known an instance of the exercise OF this power
though have witnessed occasions enough for 1T.
The Speaker pays the members their per diem and
mileage out of the contingent fund,
The Speaker is, by law, entitled to receive : IN
addition to- his compensation a member, eight
dollars for every days attendance in the House"
The Speaker has power, by law, to administer
oahs to members, witnesses before the House. NC.
By the law of 1892 the Speaker of the House of
Representatives for the time being, shall act as
President of the United States in case OF the re-
moval death, resignation. inability, both OF the
President and Vice President of the United States
and in case there shall then be President OF the
Senate Hence the Speaker is said by some to be
the fourth eminence in the Republic. The speaker
now elected might in the interval, between the ter
mination of the session and the meeting OF the Sen
ate, become the President, in case OF the death OF
the President, and of the President OF the Senate
pro tenn. now Mr.. Atchison.
| The Speaker of the British House OF Commons is
chosen by the House from among its own members,
but subject to the approval of the Crown. Our
Speaker is constitutionaIy independent of the Ex-
| ecutive, but not always in reality. The Admins
traton, at present, disclaim all interference in the
choice of Speaker though they feel vital interest
in ii. On some former occasions Executive influence
in this election has been tantamount to the British
system of subjecting the choice of Speaker to the
approval of the Crown.
! The Speaker of the British House of Commons
has some parliamentary powers similar to those Of
our Speakers but he is parsonage OF Infinitely
less political weight and consideration than
But the lack Of real Importance is made up in high
pay and rank. His salary is t6,OOO year, exclu-
sive of furnished residence: at the end Of his Of
fetal labors be is generally rewarded by peerage
and a pension of $4,000 for two lives. He is a
member of the Privy Council, and entitled to rank
after Barons. 1t is one of his duties to entertain
) the members at dinner, in due succession and al
stated periods.
How LOUIS NAPOLEON EscAPED.-The Paris cor
respondent of the ~ Y. Commercial Advertiser, in
his letter of Nov IT, noticing the trial of the Opera
/, ComiQue COnSpiratOrs, says
Confines who held pistol loaded to the mouth
and could have shot the Emperor dead by raising
bis arm, is let off with detention of five years
was clearly proved that nothing but his own feel
ings averted catastrophe. He said that he los
sight of the tyrant in the man he him seated
unsusrectingly by the side of young woman, ane
he was overwhelmed by the thought that he was go
ing to become an assassin. He forebore firing ant
jeopardzed his own existence in consequence Tn
jury that it not the police, but the conspi
rator himself that had saved the Emperor,