The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-15
DOMINION OF CANADA.
A Day Among the LegislatOrs-Speechiiylnl
Without Purpose.
THE METHOD OF BUSINESS
Sharp Competition Between the ms and Outs
Conundrums for the Ministers.
HousR or Commons.

OTTAWA, Ont, April IL, 1871
Parliament has been in session moro than two
mouths at an expense OF about s. 600 day. and not
single measure Of national importance has yet been
passed All the discussions IN the House OF CON-
have referred entirely 10 local interests and
the most insignificant OF subjects have occu.
pied hours o. useless debate. The appointment OF
lighthouse keeper the addition o, $40 To SALARY
are apparently treated with as much gravity a.
investigation. Of tho public accounts Every op
portunity Is employed TO discover veal
point in the armor 81 The respective
parties. and not question IL presented
no matter what may be It's magnitude which does not
deveope strong partisan feeling Members OF the i've
sides may iratornaiiy tour alter session, but
while they are aligned opponents the door the
limit Of parliamentary poteness reached and
parliamentary mud is scattered bv the bucketiuL
Most OF the set speeches Tor homo consumption,
and intended TO AFFECT the next election which takes
place year or two hence Members talk more
TO "Hansard"-the equivalent OF our Congressional
stan Of reporters than 70 the House. In TACT,
goody proportion OF the seats are vacated during
dull session, aud u Is only when the electric button II
touched by tho sergcantatArns to announce ..divt
son," aud ittlc bells Jingle this warning in cvcry
saloon aud smoking OF tho vast edilcs that
tho Commoncrs hurrying In 10 resume
Their places. Il ia now that the House
Is TO It's best advantage with It's dns
collection OF physqucs strong iaccs and intellectual
heads Tho style OF debate Is essentially practical,
and without effort at oratoricai effect; In many
stances there hesitation, half stammering. '.Mr
Speaker urrcr.urrer' manner. as II the honorable
members ideas wero IN panic and Jostng each
other tn frantic endeavor 10 get out Of his mouth,
but IN all cases there to be pride taken
use oil choice language and grammatical construction.
poISGs ~ THE nousg.
Members are not allowed 10 read from written man
uscript and when toward the hours OF the moru-
Ing there Is nm evident talk for buncombe and speech
has become tedious. / havo heard jcwsharp played,
chairs creaked blue books sily other
gentle manifestations OF jolly impaence Tho Fulos
with reference to debate are very strict No member
can speak except TO motion which Is IN regular form
before tho House, and when he Rises address the
chair he must uncover II ho has previously worn his
hat. Should he Inadvertently say "Gen,lemen" IN.
stead OF ..Mr Spcakcr' no will be called to order
though In tho Senate speaker addresses himself 10
Honorable gentlemen. Tho routine OF days busi.
ness somewhat foilows-
rho House meets at three o'clock p. NJ, whom The
Speaker clerk clerks and second clerks as
s,slant, all arraycd IN silk gowns and black dress (hc
former wearing cooked hat), preceded by the Ser.
geant-atArms bearing tho mace, file chamber
The mace, richly gildcd instrument, surrounded by
crown, Is deposited ON silk cushion the lower end
.
House is in actual session When in CON-
mitlce or tho whole II is removed IL
may DO added, parentncticnly, that this symbol
Is the badge and representative OF the authority
crown aud every member as he enters and leaves tho
Chamber, respectfully salutes tho and tho
Speaker with u bow. The doors arc closed, and
prayers are read, curionsly enough, by Roman
Catholic speaker, VINO devoutly crosses himself
English Church service AZ tho doors are
and the public have becn admitted TO tho gal
cries the nrss business ia order tho presentation
OF petitions THIS Is usually tame proceeding, but
less Objectionable, because II Is the rule 10 only
Tho Endorsement on the back OF each II Is worthy VI
nolc that no petition reserved winch asks Tor grants
OF money or any pecunisry compensation, tho
principe which only allows the TO tiato
money measured On each desk is journal OF tho
proceedings o the previous day, and paper contain
ing the .'Orasrs OF the Day" In Tue former arc pub
llshed the Questions" which members have
announced thcy propose TO ask OF the govern.
ment, and the notices OF the motions they propose
to make Tacse questions, &c, appearing upon Tho
order paper alter days the Speaker calls them M
seriaf,m. The Ministers OF the government having
meanwhile ''erammcd" themselves into condition TO
| answer every couceivabe conuriruni that can DO
thought OF, from tho price OF coal muc IN British
Columbia to the quality Of the mucilage on postage
stamp, proceed TO nre on the desired information.
These replies arc usually brci, contentious and
times spicy II Is one Of the Delights OF the opposition
10 sick intcrrogaory pins into tho Ministers aud
make them squirn. Alter tnis debate may follow
the questions concerning which has boon gwen.
Speeches made in French we'll English. aud
ono OF the clerks is required by parliamentary rule
read IN French whatever official PAPERS are read In
Eneish There are also duplicates OF the proceedings
| Ia French
A DIVISION or THE HOUSE,
A division OF the House 10, under certain crcum.
stances, critical period IN The history Of the admin
istraiion Tor upon the result may depend that
preston OF want Of confidence winch may STRIP
every hinlsler OF his power lead 10 the prorosalon
o Parliament, the organization vi new ministry and
the order Tor general new election by the people.
In Washington, as IS we'll known, the members
called from printed lists by the Clerk and reply "Aye
or May In canada the practice IS tor the Cnef
Clerk 10 check on tho name OF each member
stands up and Is called by the Assistant Clerk. IL
/
one Of Tho 200 members who make up
Is very embarrassing; but IT would be
still more perplcxing To the speaker and standing
members IL the clerk should lose his memory
Tor u minute or Thus far such ufticuily has
occurred, though some COO volcs have at times
taken IN The course Of ah hour. This result is duo to
the remarkable qualities OF the Assistant Clerk, Mr..
j. q. Bourino, to whom am ndebtcd for many o the
interesting details herein contained When the divis.
ion has been taken tho clerk reads or the tho
members on each SIDE but until that Is done tho
Speaker decides the motion no member has a right
leave his seat Even ON rising TO pul down his vcst
he is saluted win choral cry OF Urderl" from all
parts Of the house. that MAKES him SIT sud.
denly as u he had been hit on the head by spa
driver In taking the names the members, u should DO
mentioned, stand IN rows and a
tleif names are cai'ed and entered ihc decision IS
oien nailed with shouts, ycls. clapping oil hands.
or y may Kisses and other OF iccng
that would not do injustice to very lively New York
audience.
TnE mousR--irs orviciALs--cviL SERVICE
The House - Kept busy from the hour OF mceting-
three J.. until late hour of night, unirc
quenty uhtii nearly daylight OF the next morning;
but. as stated NJ the beginning Of this letter there
10 suhcent reason. except that like Tho m
serves talk, Why debate should be thus proIong
The committces meet IN The morning, and, IN thu
States prepare the work winch is ~ be don.
IN tho general body. large stan Is necessarily
CURED 10 perform the Official WORK OF legislation Tho
WORK o translation alone occupies the time VI several
oncals, the proceedings, ~ mentioned before, being
VI - duai nature ns regards The two languages Tho
Cnei Clerk Keeps mites Of the proceedings winch
made up IN the shape OF Journals where all the forms
are strictly carried out Mr. Patrick the present chof
mas us' competed his Hitch year Of Official lie. after
passing through all The gradalons OF Office. Tho ven
craue law clerk has also been Official harness
tween iorty ana hy years This II oi the beauties
OF the Canadlaa clv service system Once IN onlcc.
tho Incumbent - there Tor lilo during good bcla-
viour. lie knows that he viii some time DO promo ted
and he has no notion 10 be dishonest lie builds or
buys a house and makes home, conscious that
nothing but his bad conduct Will wrcsl IL from
strict IN teyrltv of ths Cana.