Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1878-11-12
THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
OF COMMONS.

The meeting of the Legislature of our State
in the near future renders interesting the
more conspicuous characteristics of the
speakership of the British House of Com
mons This dignitary upon being indicted
into office becomes by traditional epithet
1.-THE first gentleman in England and
recent paper in Chambers Journal informs
rs that "Whatever may have been his party
ties or predictions before his elevation to
that lofty post, an English member of
Parliament cease to belong to any party
when he becomes speaker; his pride is to
ignore party altogether, and, SO far as prac-
ticable, to treat the six-hundred and fifty
gentlemen who are under his rule as if they
also were free from any party organization.
This, if nothing else, entities 1.-THE stalwart
Englisher" to his self boosted love and prac-
tice OF fairplay. The election of Speaker
Is matter of much decorous ceremony. The
Clerk of the crown presents to the House all
alphabetical list of the members elect; he,
seated, as becomes his dignity, addressed by
some one of the members with hat on pate
(as becomes his) hears and puts the names of
the nominees for the Speakership (there is
customarily no contest); another member
seconds the nomination, and the choice is at
tsgce concluded. The blushing recipient of
this splendid honor standing in front of the
chair returns his thanks and takes his seat.
Then the mace, which until the ceremony of
election has lain hidden under the Speakers
table. is fetched into its place upon that
table, there to be kept constantly during
tae session whenever Mr. Speaker is in the
CHAIR The original Speakers mace dated
hack to the time of Charles l., but The Pro
tector having spurned and destroyed that
bauble and Colonel Pride having sent its
possessor skurrying, that emblem was sup
l.ressed unit, the restoration and it was re
yived under the Merry Monarch i'll 1860 It
has been the Speakers staff of office ever
since. The Speaker, once chosen, holds his
Office during the entire session--which
usually lasts about seven years He lives in
= palace provided for him by the government
curing his term; is paid salary of So, 900
ter annum and when his term has ended he
il pensioned, and, as oftentimes has been the
case. raised to the Peerage and seated in the
House of Lords. The practices of the House
vary i'll many minor respects from those
observed in our House OF Representatives
hut the main drift and tendency of the work
prrsucd is almost Identical with the manner
t.; doing things in that body. No written
speeches are permitted in the House Of Com
Mons votes are taken by The clumsy. and dis
orderly fashion of divisions (the members
passing out into the lobby to be tallied), and
the bold Brtisher sits or stands, as his
sovereign pleasure may dictate, with his hat
oh Though he stands uncovered when he
addresses the chair The Speaker of the
Commons Gas COMFORTS with his non partizan
character), has no vote save i'll IA case of tie;
ia the absence of his chaplain he reads the
prayers at the opening of the days session
sud his decision is almost always regarded as
final and not to be questioned or appealed
Trrnl.