Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-02-16
THE LAnoRs OF LEGISLATORS.

The January number of the Edinburg Re-
view contains a very learned, elaborate, and in
teresting article on the subject o." The Machi-
merry of Parliamentary Legislation" The wri-
ter manifests a thorough acquaintance with
the subject oflegisation, and of parliamentary
forms and modes Of proceeding. He Illus
trates his subject by frequent references to the
modes Of proceeding in our House of Repre-
sentatives with which he seems to have an in
innate acquaintance. He recommends some
reforms which would no doubt tend greatly to
facilitate business.
The labors of the members of the English
Parliament are onerous, almost oppressive.
The two houses comprise upwards of eleven
hundred members. But it is complained that
there is not such classification of members,
and such an organization Of committees, as to
make them effective and to equalize labor
The reviewer says:
!" In order to estimate the Importance Of an
efficient organization of the labors of Parlia.
ment, it will be necessary to pass them under
review, to point out their extent and variety.
and TO explain the arduous duties and engage
ments of its members. As the main burden
of public business falls upon the House of
Commons, our attention will be more particu-
larly directed to its proceedings OF its la.
bors and endurance, the last session will sup
ply numerous illustrations.
The Parliament was assembled on the 18th
OF November, 1852, and was prorogued on the
10th of August, 1853. The leaves of autumn
had not fallen when it met; the leaves of
another summer had begun to fall before it
had concluded its laborious sittings. The SEES
| sion extended over a period of 290 DAYS; dur
ing which the Hoose of Commons sat, for de-
spatch of business, leo days, and was occupied
| l,l93 hours Ia minutes of which 1881 hours
were after midnight. The average Of each
days sitting was rather less than IA hours !:
but a glance at Mr.. Brotherton's detailed re.
turn will fall upon column, showing that MP
on numerous occasions, during the last two
months OF the session, the House continued
sitting for upwards of Is hours out of the "a {
For example, on the 9Th of July the House
met at IL o'clock, and adjourned on the fol.
lowing morning at before 4, having divided
no less than five times after midnight upon
Mr.. Keating's ill-timed motion on backward
promotions. And on several other days the
House met at IL, and, with suspension of
DuSiUtSS lOI tWO hOuib QHi1 III inc hIter0OOn.
adjourned between and o'clock on the fol-
lowing morning.
"The bare statement Of these unreasonable
hours suggests feelings of WEAKNESS and ex-
haustion. What court could administer JUS
tice with temper for fourteen hours? Where
are the men of business who could usefully
confer upon their own affairs for so many
hoursp Even the poor literary drudge, writing
for his daily bread, would fail under labors SO
long sustained. Yet members of parliament
are found to endure them, month after month,
and the public rarely hear of their sufferings"
But besides their laborious attendance upon
sittlngs Of the House, they are occupied day
after day with their absorbing and combining
duties in committee. The announcement that
the speaker is at prayers releases them from
their committeerooms, but introduces their no