Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-10-01
THE GAZETTE.
TIE HOUSE OF COMMONS AND THE
FRIDAY MORNING, ocroBFR !, 1853

FRIDAY tC iPnfh !, 1913
TIE HOUSE OF COMMONS AND TIE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The House Of Representatives is the "big
show" Of Washington. II the Union were to
collapse, or the seat of Government to be re-
moved, folks wouldalldie o%fennui; there ou!d
he no lounging-place, no resort for criticisers
0! beauty and dress, no lobby in which to
take "our member" by the 5u,ton-holc. The
reason Why enterprisink theatrical managers
don't get hold 0! our extra change, i because
wo like the big theatre" at the Ca',tol so
much better. Besides, the latter doh't cost
us apy.hiUs--jut patience. When VIC wish
20 see a tragedy, NC % to hear honorable GET
tlemen DO toe agony" OF bleeding Kansas"
]! We rrc:er d farce, We also 20 u tho House;
for there ne can lie amused by a coutlnna'
farce, acted by two hundred ard iairty i've
members.
Tue Erglish lave also their "bis show"
upon when We give tac cJmmeuts Of u we'll
known American editor:
"Tho House uf Commons never loses ia ~
tere-t for me. /. goeerns England although
England IL a mouarcny. Il Is ccu'm"n IT,:
Americans IL speak Of the disorder that IL
supposed to prevail! during lis sessions; tut
this is d gsea, mistake. remember reading
some letters IN one OF The New l2ik religious
i~o0rIGis last summer, from q distinguished
clergyman OF y0ur cry. IN which the impress
siou conveyed was that our House o! RepTe.
eCnt!;i7cs was lar superior 70 the iiuuee 81!
Commons III the order and decorum Of Ia
proceedings. Yet the only point Which he
spec Tod IN The alleged contrast was that
hasusu legislators ST Will their bats or,
Will cur meulLCrs i, not. DG; | have seen
members # cur House Of Representatives,
while tie i!ousc was III session, wl;a tier
feet apor tic desss ia trent 0! fhem-oni
considerably higher than thcir !ieaL>-thl5
seems t. me q more unbecomiTg end iuGcc,-
Irus a;'itGdo than sitting With ones hat N.
Hats are removed IL tie presence IL sapGriyrr,
but IN Parliament every member Is SUI posed
to be upon q tJonog Of equality With e:eFT
other: whether one sits covered or uncovered,
therefore IS a mater vt mere nuverlencc.--
None tutg metDter would De aliOv cd t. wear
his hat Tor q moment. Indeed no uue but q
member J. ever allowed upon the looS or IN
the scits of he House. !. is q breach o! priv
Iio.e Coz auV Uu] not entitled To Il 10 take 4
sea. upon the floor while the House IS Ia ses-
sion. Whenever one rises t. 20 out, be bows
TO the Speaker as hc passes his chair. There
is 10 running about the li0ese, coayegs,ng
wI,a marnbers, readicg newspapers or writ.
lCg letters, while IL debate If going co. r.
s~pecdui attention Is always paid to any speak
or who has anything to say--though If one
Here TO attempt 10 read an b0ur's spesch
upon things 10 general, without the slightest
reference 10 the question before the body, lie
woolG undoubtedly find himself INTERRUPTED
Ly cries of Question" and divide, divide,
divide" from all parts OF the House.
IL our House Of Representatives nothing
Is more common than for q member 10 be
reading or making q speech 20 which not a
solitary person 10 tie House is even pretend
jar - pay The slightest attentI"u--memheis
walking about, converting in groups, read
jgg, w:!tjU: or sleeping, or rappiuG Tor NEE
sau.ers to cary Oh carloads Of documents
for tGeir constituents. \ SPECTATOR looking
on rom tue gallery ipds 1t Juno sihie - de-
tect any Appearance Ut anything axe business
IN the confused scene before bIm: AID II Is
only when some attentive dOOrSe"rcr points
out T. him the only person on the ioor who is
SiqaGia9 StjH, that he begins Ia understand
that Il dcua,e IS going on. Nothing like this
ca,b an,cn !, ,nc iin,sc oft nm mons. Mem.
l,o~s ~ Tho frs, rloco sit uonr rl,;n lercn-
cs--cn. in orm chairs--aui have n.,,he-
d,.e mn talla he;ore then. They ere ccn-
,.I.cJ ,,arnfo-e IN a.seod :, whit is ooiop
oc. .incr ,bcv have no c5ven;enccs for 3oirg
ccr,h;,r o,sa Whancver 9 maI.tar is
s,',t;rcc mo r,,st either he heard mr. s,oppe1.
Trhn taiE. common sense, and seems to be
dnio, hi hoe. he ;s heayi ot,cn,ivcly. # he
!. an ;n,oIeyablo bore. be is very specii!y
.talcr down The nracti,e y, eycrcss,rm
oss,nt ar dislike Of what is said. prevails IA
the II u,e. hut under considerable restraint.
NaDo br, members are INDUCED 10 ii 20 begin
With. Ii applause or Kisses were to come
ircm The SPECTATORS galleries, they wouiG be
clearcd very promptly. Bus the House ise!i
is frequently in a huz2, momrera appiauding
what l. said. or WHISPERING cen,are o. It,
in'sc III: .l'v'' ''.'"' ''''f'..1 -,
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