The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-28
The Payment of Members In the House
of Commons.

OF commons.
Few things more annoying could have
happened to the Tory party than the res
olution moved in the House of Commons
on Friday by a representative OF labor. that
hereafter members should be paid E365 an-
nually. or about five dollars day for every
day in the year. 1t was awkward to have
the rea! attitude OF the Conservatives to-
ward British workingmen exposed on the
morrow of the County Council election in
the metropolis and on the eve Of a general
election. Still the test could not be avoided.
and as all the Tories present voted against
the resolution. it was beaten bv 227 to 1862.
The Gladstonians. headed by Sir GEORGE
TREvELYAN, who advocated the proposal.
did not fail to record themselves us stand
ing on the side OF labor.
Considered merely as a stroke OF political
tactics. this forcing OF the Tories to show
their hands to workingmen is the worst
blow dealt the SALISBURY Government
during to present session Of Parliament.
It was unpleasant enough to be constrained
the other day to reject the Eight Hour bill
in tho face Of tho strenuous demand put
forth by tho last Trades Union Congress.
Even Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN did not see his way
clear 10 cooperate with tho Tories against
that measure But the truth is that neither
the trade unions. nor British workingmen
in general. agricultural or urban. expect to
obtain any substantive legislation OF great
importance to the masses. so long as the
House OF Commons Is composed OF mem
eberS Who receive no salary. and who have to
take on their own shoulders the heavy costs
OF Parliamentary elections. In such body
workln.smen cannot. from the nature OF
w. things, be fairly represented. They regard.
~" therefore. tl: payment of members and the
transfe. C. e.cc.iCn expenses either to the
copstituencics or to the imperial exchequer
as the Indispensable means to the accom-
plishmcnt of all their ends. In the absence
OF such regulations the Reform acts OF 1882
1868. and 1885 must prove to largo extent
abOrtive. For those statutes have simply
made the masses electors; they are still,
through lack of money. practically ineliRi-
BILE to Parliament. All they have Is the
poor privilege OF choosing between two
candidates. each Of whom is member OF
the so-called upper classes. and neither OF
whom really represents tho toiling millions.
The whole structure Of electoral reform.
laborously erected during tho last sixty
years, Is like house without roof on 1t.
30 long as wOrkingnan can neither bear
the cost OF election TO Parliament. nor sup
port himself after he takes his seat
That without a fundamental change in
these respects they will continue to DO
-. cheated OF their birthright, is now per-
~ fectly clear to British workingmen. and has
siya constituted ono OF the chief topics OF dis
" cussion at late Trade Congresses. So wide
Y spread and vehement has become the agita-
~ zion on the subject that both OF the great po-
sos 'liticRl parties were compelled to define their
position with reference to the question at
III, their conventions during the last year. At
.--- Newcastle tho Liberals pledged themselves
rs., to vote for the payment Of members at the
Sss first opportunity. and In case measure to
that effect could not be carried through the
present House OF Commons. they promised
to provide tho funds needed for the return
of distinctive labor candidates at the COM
ing general election. At Birmingham,
where the Conservatives did their best to
ebr- vie with the Liberal programme. they also
'S ~ declared willingness to bestow
q; moderate stipend on members OF Par
fSo lament and owned it TO be unreason-
1s able, since legislation is the business
~ OF the State. that most Of the cost
OF choosing legislators should fall upon in
dfviduals. The only difference between the
- professions made by the Gladstonians at
81 Newcastle and the Conservatives at Blr-
;, ,Tl6inShan Is. as the test vote showed on
NJ Friday. that the former were sincere while
ma the latter were delusive. The difference
s. will not be lost sight Of by the workingmen
:, - to whom was due the overwhelming victory
OF the Progressives over the Moderates In
the London County Council election. They
have been demanding that half Of the fifty
mo odd members allotted to the metropolis
g. g. shall be taken from the ranks OF labor but
they now know that II the Tories can pre-
vent 1t. no workingman will ever sit in Par
=, Lament.
The tremendous Significance OF this qucs-
tion OF paying members Is but imper-
fectly recognized on this side OF the Allan
tic. Americans do not understand why
= "events have not already justified the pre-