Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-04


enactment. Washington ladies' may be inter-
ested in the fact that the speakers wife has no
share In bis official dignity, except that of duti-
fal pride in her husband and the knowledge
that by and by she will become a peerless.
The speaker is supposed to be politically emascu-
doubt he generally is, though some English
speakers have been quietly of as pronounced a
type Of Partis~nship as any We know in WASH
ington-
With the English, Welsh and Scotch parties.
however, not altogether with the Ir1sh'
Speaker Peel is looked upon as a cool. diSniaed
and impartial officer. In the case Of the Irish
members it could hardly be expected that
custom, If not tradition, would all at once be
upset, for in dealing with the gentlemen
below the gsngvsy Mr.. Peefs predecessor
nave been guilty of that proverbial English IN
fairness toward Ireland which il is claimed
Mr.. Gladstone will stamp out before he dies. Mr..
reel has not had to pass through the stormy
scenes IN the house experienced by his pre-
decessor, the late Viscount Hampden. then Sir
Henry Brand, nor has he as speaker known any
debate like that memorable one at the conclu-
sion Of which Sir Lyon Playfair then deputy
speaker. suspended every member of the irish
home rule party.
HIS DUTIES
The political influence Of the English speaker
IL infnitessimal compared to that welded by the
SpeskerOf the United States Congress. Here
the presiding officer never. or hardly ever.
seeks to divert the course of legislation, nor
does ne name the committees of the house.
HIS duty Is mainly to insist on a strict
observance of the rules and to keep close eve
on all those things which involve the dignity
OF the house, to which Englishmen attach
such immense importance. For his peculiar
suites nr. Peel Is wel equipped; he Possesses
nne business aptitude, . full knowledge of
parliamentary usages and disposition that can
be serene or severe, urbane or austere as
occasion demands the exercise Of those es-
sential qualities. He has also the physical
EXAMINATIONS OF q sonorous voice and Q COM
mandlng presence. His desk is not rayel-
battered like our Speakers, for, as q rule, he
easeiy controls the house. He sits with Jove-
Ike serenity in his rich robes and when he
rises 1t would be considered a gross breach of
parliamentary good manners il any other mem
Der remained standing.
IN PRIVATE LIFE.
With the parliamentary officials Mr.. Peel is
very popular, and in private life he is said to be
an amiable, high-minded, honorable country
gentleman. He resides for the greater mart OF
tne year Al ihe Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire, OF
which county he Is . deputy lieutenant and
Justice Of the peace. To his house is attached
swell-kept farm, in the operations of which he
takes q sufficient interest to qualify him for
membership in the Farmers Alliance He il a
friend Of the agricultural laborer and is anxious
agricultural depression is driving from II.
Durlng the last Reese Of parliament he SUPER
intended the erection In one of the villages of
reading and recreation room for the laborers
engaged on his and adjoining estates.
HIS FAMILY.
Mr.. Peel's wife died in December. 1880. leay-
ing him family Of four sons and three dausb-
ters- Three Of the former have distinguished
themselves at the public schools TO which they
were sent BY singular coincidence one Of
the boys carried of the Peel medal a trophy
Instituted at Harrow by his grandfather. Sir
Robert Peel Another gained scholarship at
Eton. which piaeed him at bound on the lad
der OF university life. The eldest son, William.
has chosen the law for his profession and is
about 70 De called" to the bar, and the second
son, George, is a clerk in one Of the committee
rooms OF the house of eommons
A. speaker Mr.. Peel is the principal trustee
Of the British Museum He il also chairman
Of the Caledonian Canal Trust In the early
psrt Of the century the government advanced
. sum OF money toward the expense of the
canal and in order that it might be represented
ON the trust q statute was passed making the
speaker Of the day chairman ex-oHicio OF the
undertaking. He IL also trustee for the duke of
Wellington Of the famous Strathfeidsaye estate
IN Hampshire.
The Amerfcnn Speaker.
Speaker Crisp does not get half a. nnch pay
for presiding over the noisy branch Of Congress
- b given the speaker of the house Of COM
mons in England But he does not have to
year the curly wig. His bead Is not uphol-
stored That is one compensation for the diff
Terence N salary. Though the Speaker Of the
American House wears less hair and draws less
pay ttssn the corresponding official of the
BRUSH government he occupies immensely
greater influence in Legislative affairs and hi
relative rank in the government is higher. The
speener Oh the House is properly next in Ank to
We fresident- The Vice President 10 great
eAasey IN the fact Of his perness in succession
70 me frssadent and the possibility that he
may become President, bat q long a
- remains merely Vice Presidents he il an al