New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-29
THE GAG LAW IN THE COMMONS
TWO GOVERNMENT MOTIONS DEFEATED.


TIRE HOUSE DECLINES TO MAKE THE SPEAKER A
PARTY TOOL BUT ADOPTS THE SECOND CLOSURE
RULE.
LONDON Feb 2s.-In the House Of Commons TO-
day Mr. Smith, the Government leader, moved the
adoption Of the second procedure rule, which re-
duces to 100 the majority necessary TO enforce
closure He said that the experience of last session
had convinced the Government that It was dcsr-
able to reduce the majority In order to secure the
due transaction of business, especially between !
and 10 80 D. m, when the attendance of members
was small.
Mr. Chaplin conservative opposed the motion.
He said he believed that the rule would be the
first step toward closure by q bare majority and
that It would not meet the real evil with which
the House was confronted the loquacity and
verbosity of members
Mr.. Dillon said that the Parnelltes might be
congratulated by the House, or at all events by
the Liberals upon having converted the Conserva-
tives to closure. Haughter) The Conservatives
now put a rope around their own necl<s. laugh
ter The Psrnelites would get hold Of it shortly,
and when passing the Home Rule bill they would
pull 1t very sharply. Haughterl Even from
Tory point Of view it was mistake to increase
the stringency OF closure, by which minOritios
must suffer. 1t would have been far better TO try
other means before resOriing to this ultima ratio.
Lord Randolph Churchill said his advocacy Of
closure limited to last years form, beyond
which he did not desire TO go, although he would
not oppose the motion.
The second rule was then adopted-256 to 1874.
Mr. Smith moved the adoption of rule enabling
the Speaker to order the withdrawal of disOrderly
members, or to ask the House TO decide upon the
conduct of such members.
Mr. Whitbrcad LibcraD opposed the motion,
but he admitted that some increased power was
necessary.
Mr. Dillon objected TO placing the honor of a
nj of
or the Chairman. The House itself he said, ought
to punish guilty members. If the rule was
which members received. Major Saundersou had
just bOasted nj public meeting that in every
speech in Parliament he taunted the Ihrnellites.
Mr. Saunderson intcrrupting)-I said some
occasions DDcrisive Pamelitc chccrs.)
Mr.. Dillon, continuing. said that Major Sander
son had not only described his past conduct. but
had declared his intention to repeat 1t IN future
Such conduct would necessarily aggravate the
difficulty of maintaining order The disorder OF
past sessions did not originate with the Parnetes,
but resulted from set made az them IN I'm at-
He dSlilSpd the rule because II must tend TO make
the Speaker party tool instead Of AS at present
an impartial friend of the whole HouSe If the
rule would not be wanted. Panellte shouts Of
Lord Randolph Churchill generally approved
the rule but criticised the wording OF IT,
Mr. Morley said the rule was direct d against
men guilty Of gross disorder, an offence which no
one could symDathize with. The punishment pro
posed seemed appropriate and not too harsh.
r. T. OConnOr said that every section OF the
House should reject the rule as an insult to their
elfrespect.
Sir Lyon Playfair moved that the section re-
ouirlng the exclusion from the precincts Of the
House Of disordery members be omitted from the
rule.
Sir Michael Hicks Beach argued that It was
necessary to render the punishment OF disorderly
members real
The punishment amendment was rejected-l33
to S5
Mr. Whitbread moved that the rule requiring
the exclusion Of disorderly members only Apply
when the Speaker or Chairman so directs
Lord Harrington supported the motion
The motion was rejected-117 TO 80.
The rule increasing the Speakers powers was
adopted bv a vote OF l34 TO "a
The House adopted without q division rule
empowering the Speaker or the Chairman 70 stop
a member who. after being warned, persists In
making irrelevant remarks or in tediously repeat
ing his own arguments Or the arguments OF others.
After considerable objection from the Opposition
side of the House, a rule was carried empowering
the Speaker or the chairman to decline to put
obstructive motions to adjourn debate report
progress or that the chairman leave the chair
After the passage of few minor rules 70 facil-
tate debate, Mr. Smith proposed rule, empower
ing the Speaker the cha rnan. at his d,Nrr'-
ton. take ,'e "'te q the House BY simple
rising Of the members. Messrs Fowler and ParneH
Lord Randolph Churchill and others opposed the
rule, suggesting various methods Of recording the
numbers and names of minOrltes The debate
WAS then adjourned.