The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1890-12-05

H4s. SIAEAbA-r-t oF ANOA&A&'h
less be opened as many preceding ones
have been, by the lords commissioner
that is, by the lord chancellor and five other
members Of the privy council. Exactly at
9 O'Clock on the day set Lord Chancellor
Halsbury takes his scat 'on the woolsack."
and the lords present also take seats and
remain silent for about one solemn min
ute. Then the lord chancellor walks into
a side room and soon reappcars at the head
of the commission-all the six in gorgeous
scarlet and erlninc robes. They range
themselves on u bench in front of the
throne, and the chancellor commands the
"gentleman usher Of the black rod" (Hon.
Sir James r. Drummond, 6. c. B., at pres
ent) to announce to her maiesty's com
mons that the lords await
The commons meanwhile are having
good deal of fun. The speaker simply calls
them to order, and then they fall to talk
ing and laughing, inquiring as to each
others health during the recess and ''chaf-
fing'' the late comers. Tho door toward
the lords opens, the cry of "Black Rod" is
raised and there is silence. He bows three
times and delivers his message, then fol-
lows the speaker out, and all the members
march after to the hall of the lords. OF
late years there has been much relaxation,
and few of the commoners listen to the
proceedings. The royal commission is read
by the clerks. each of the six commission
ers rising and bowling as his name is men
toned. Then Lord Halsbury reads the
queens Speech but no one hears it. The
members will soon have the papers con-
tanning it, and SO they, especially the COM
moners put IN the time socially. They are
then dismissed, and go to their own hall
by "route step and arms at will" some
times getting up pretty good imitation
OF n college rush"
Such In brief is the account given by all
Americans who have witnessed the cere-
mony of late years. Not only is there q
natural tendency to relax the old strict
ness, but many of the younger radicals
make it point to be boisterous. Tho
United States parliament (which was
named congress only by q sort of accident)
never was very formal, and hence in Amer
ican histories one finds none OF those horid
and studied descriptions Of its beginnings
80 common in English histories With
but three exceptions party majorities have
always been so large that speakers were
chosen with no struggle in the house,
though there is generally a hot time in the
party caucus.
The clerk Of the preceding house OF
representatives makes up tho list Of the
new house, calls the same to order Mt noon
on the first Monday in December, calls the
roll and presides till the house chooses
speaker, and then retires without cere-
mony to private life. Three times, how
ever, in American history the clerk has be-
comea man Of great timportance,a and once he
was bigger man than the president. This
was In December, 1855. and John w. Forney
was The man. The house began. ballohng on
the Sd of December and kept It up till Feb.
/, 1866; then despairtng Of giving any can
didate majority Of all the votes cast. It
agreed to allow plurality to elect, and
on Feb. , Nathaniel r. Banks became
speaker. 1t is an odd coincidence that
after having been general and governor
Of Massachusetts he returned to congress