Telegram-herald., 1891-04-06
TON REED IN EUROPR
TIE ES-sPEAkEwo INTERESTING ~
ousas M TIE oto uboaln


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WA0zsoroS. April a-&-Speaker
Bed - gone 10 Europe. II b said. 10
mahs . ssndy Of the various legisistivs
bodies u tia Ga Woxld- His inquiry
via 10 dsnhs prove interesting and
probable, but IL il not certain that Mr..
Essd win BE- alba 10 learn more Of for
e,sn lsgistat1res BY journey to Europe
than hs could by sitting down 20 talk
with Mr.. Hsnry FL Smith, journal clerk
Il eur own HOUSE Of Representatives Mr..
smith b shs most nossd AID psrhaps ths
m0s abba issixlssivs ex2srs In this
country. NORMALLY. his duty u 70 keep
the journal Of tho house, . very exacting
and important duty. since upon his ac-
curacy sad tidelity the legality Of lava
and interests almost beyond estimate IN
importance may often depend
In practice Mr. smith kseps an sye
upon everything and everybody. he
Knows about all there Is 70 know. One
minute . new member inquiries Of him
thu proper form Of drafting . bill or res
clution. tho next minute tho speaker
himself aAks 70 be helped ont OF par
hamentzry tangle. Mr.. Smith Is the
recognized authority in Washington On
pasiiamsntary Law. practice and prec-
sdsut aod Legislative usage. He II ono
Of those experts who hold their places
from administration to administration
simply because they are Indispensable.
For nearly twenty years he has stood at
his post. Just in froat OF the speaker. jot-
ting down tho action OF tho house On
matters of httls or great Importance.
An easy ADD swifs worker, 10 appears
20 b careless, bat no ono knows better
than be tho need OF accuracy and eau
tion. for his record is the only record Of
the proceedings Of the house that stands
in law. He prompts the reading clerk,
gives Suggestions TO the bill clerk. and
dozen TINES or moro IN day is called
upon by tbs speaker for information or
suggestion. A speaker would rs soon
think Of running the house without .
gxvel as without Harry Smith. Il is
safe to say that no important pariia-
meusary decision has been made in the
hocss during the last fifteen years with
ont consultation with him. Physically
and intellectually he has been tho night
hand man" Of such speakers a. Randall,
Carlisle and Reed Parties and speak
ers and leaders have come and gone, but
Harry Smith, apparently. COOS on for
over, the trusted counselor and helper
Of all.
Probably theze il no other NJ in this
country % familiar with paxilu nentary
and legislative matters in Europe and
America as this noted expert Tho rec
ord Of our house Of representatives from
the days Of the Revelation to tAe present
time 10 TO him an open book. Recently
hs hes made . study Of the Legislative
bodies Of Europe for his volume on tho
parliamentary history Of America, which
congress has purchased for $4,000, but
which has not yet been published.
In Mr.. Smiths opinion tho English
parliament is the greatest and most in
tarsssing legislative body in the world
after the American congress- There is
not much resemblance between the pop
ular Legislative branches of the two great
En8lish speaking nations. Our house and
senate meet never later than noon, and
often a. early - ten in the morning. Tho
English house Of commons meets at four
in the afternoon. and the house of lords
generally at Ave. English legislators do
not work amid tho comforts and luxu-
ries with which our statesmen are sur
rounded. They SIT in hard benches, and
have neither desks to write on nor easy
touches to recline upon. Some day, per-
haps. when the country has grown to
twice its present population, our legis-
lators viii have 10 give up their desks,
but their revolving cosy chairs, their
luxurious sofas. their cuspidors-never!
The American who goes to parliament
house is surprised tn sec the commons
and lords sitting with their hats on. The
hst worn ia invariably the ''stovcpipe"
or .plug." An English NJ. p. in any
thing but . high hat would create a
greater seusssion than tho appearance of
Jerry simpsons feet, sockiess. upon the
top of his desk in the next house. Our
English friends hare some very queer
customs handed down TO them through
the ages. aud IL viii be worth while to
read ex-Speaker Reeds comments there
on For instance, when member comes
into pariismeut he carries his hat In his
hand. bat on sitting down he puts IL
upon his head
IL q member wishes to speak he takcs
OF his hat and holds IL In his hand
II he wants to make long speech he
puts his hat On tho bench. though he
does noe removs IL till he has been recog-
nised by the speaker. But IL he wishes
simply 20 make . motion or ask qs,es-
ton be Keeps his hat on his head. Is
was jokingly said Of Mr.. Reed lset win
ter that he counted members pr-seut If
their hats were hanging in the coat
room: In London the sx-speakcr will be
able to see The hat playing an even moro
important part In legislation. A hall
full cs solemn men sitting chose together
and sil wearing tail hats makes novel
scene to American eyes. bat suppose the
prime minister rises and says he has a
Communication 10 make from her majes-
~ the aueen--of goes every bat in .
twfnkssnss ~ the mention OF royalty.
Mr.. Reed will be interested when the
members of the British ministry walk
ineo commons AID sit upon bench
which runs ut right angles 10 the
benches occupied By thu members. The
ministers do not wear hats. aud they
look Sbout a. uncomfortable ~ lot cf