New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-10-29
LOOMS AID COMMONS.

The British Parliament has been officially pro-
rogucd from oct. 5 to Nov. p But 10 viii not re-
assemble on the latter day. IL IS understood that
there will be "a dissolution of Parament-actually
Of tho House OF Commons only seeing that the Lords
nre hereditary legisators-about the 9th Of Novem
ber The list Of persons entitled, or claiming 20 lee
entitled 10 vote az the election OF members Of the
House Of Commons. are now being legally revised
aud until this b. done-that ls, until the registration
lists are complete by such TeyIsOu-thcre cannot e-
gally be dissolution of Parliament Many points
of law Including the question whether rate-paying,
house-occupying. and lodging residing women are
entitled 20 vote viii have TO be settled on appeal TO
the Court of Common Pleas. If the lawyers are
verbose and l0ng-windcd IA their arguments which
of IN happens the present Parliament cannot be dis
solved as early "a Is expected. promised and hoped
The statute 3lst and sd Victoria cap So recites
follows: i" If the next dissolution Of Parliament take
place in the year 1865, the time % be appointed for
the first meeting Of the Parliament for the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after such
dissolution may be at any time not less than ~
days after the date of such PROCLAMATION, any
net, law, usage 90 the contrary notwithstanding"
Legally, no Parliament may endure for more than
seven years. II not officially dissolved before the
expiration OF that time. II expires of itself. The first
Parliament was held Ia France. by that name, about
tho middle of the Twelfth Century. but cannot be
said o. have appeared ~ British law until the early
part of the Thirteenth Century. IL was certainly
recognized institution In the reign OF Edward l-say
the year 1924. The shortest session was of q single
day. in 1892 when Richard H. was depOsed; the
longest, known the Long Parliament. sat from
1910 TO 1853, when Cromwell roughly dissolved 10,
bidding his Ironsides take that baublo away"
pointing 20 the silyer-gilt mace In 1904 LAWYERS
were expressly excluded from the House OF Com
mons. In 1912 members first protected from ar
rest In l5i1 the Journals OF the Commons were be-
gun In 1919 Francis Runell OF the Earl of Bed
ford. was the first Peers son who sat in the House
of Commons In 1919 peer was elected and sat In
the Commons. In l6il an act was passed providing
for the meeting of Parliament at least once in three
years. 1t was repealed In 1894 Another act, limiting
the duration of Parliament 20 at least three
years, was passed in lG9i, but repealed in 1915.
hot al A.t
force aud acted upon. Edward /. held one Parlia-
ment every two years. From Edward Ill. until
tho close of the reign of Charles L. tho statute
law was that q new Parliament should be elected
once year. Then i'm lGill the first 1renuial Act
was passed. In 1910, the members of both Ilonses
voluntarily surrendered the privilege Of Thanking
letters which had existed since the year 1862 Tho
Queen did tho same, and uses the penny Queens
head stamps on all her correspondence. Actually
though Ialllaineht may De continued Tor seven
years It's duration ~ very much less In thoGJ years
since the assembage of the first Union Parliament
November, 1902, there have been 10 dissolulions
which makes nm average Of three years and "A half
Tor each Parliament One of the popular demands
IN England is that annual Parliamcnts be restored
that at elections the voting shall be by ballot and
that. formerly the case, every member Of the
House of Commons shall receive n stated salary
There are 6Js members in all flor England. Ireland
Scotland. and Walesl aud only by exercising
very ngld economy could member of the
Commons House, contrive tn live in London on n
less outlay than from 600 to ESQ per annum so
heavy are the expenses attending upon being "A brit
moderate means arc thereby excluded from the
House Of Commons, which, indeed, with its noble
men, peers sons, aud Immediate relatives. baronet
lawyers. naval and military Officers rich merchants
landowners, and officials, has become the beot club
~ London. INTO winch a poor man has small
chance OF being admitted. Nomember of the Houses
Of l.Oyl or Commons receives the slightest salary
aud 10 perquisite whntcver. He may write his let
ters IN the library of the House OF which he is u
member upon the paper supplied TO that House aud
use s envelopes, but to do 30 to any extent would
be- considered shabby.
Tie lIolse of Lords is u more ancient body than
the Commons House. having been first summoned
by wit IN 300, early III the reign of King John, ten
years before ho signed Magma Charta at Runny
nedo The Commons were not admitted into tho
Parliament Hnti long after. At each general olec
ton writ OF summons IL sent To each temporal and
spiritual lord. The Bishops are the spiritual lords
supposed to hold certain ancient barOnies under tho
Sovereign, which gives them the right to sit III tho
Upper House. Some of tho temporal lords sit by
descent some by creation, some by election, since
the union OF England with Scotland in l1O7 aud
with Ireland In 1901. Thus Scotland Mt each general
election chooses 10 pCr cent out of ito whole peeIago