The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-10-19
HOW M, P.'s ARE SHUT OUT.
When Divisions Are Called They Must be
on Hand in Two Minutes.

When Divisions Are Called They Must De
on Hand in Two Minutes.
II is very annoying to a member OF
parliament 20 be shut out from dlvt-
sion in which he desires to take part.
In every constituency there are num-
Der of lynx-eyed politicians who keep
a sharp lookout on the movements OF
their representative in the house OF
commons. and if he does not vote on
question which they consider to be of
importance there is likely to be trou-
BILE for the unfortunate legislator. If
the NJ p. can announce that domestic
affection or most important engage
ment kept him away but that he took
care to pair with a bitter opponent of
the bill or resolution all may be well.
Keen politicians, however, are inclined
to be skeptical, especially if their rep
resentative has the reputation OF being
weakened, and it may at times be
difficult to convince them that their
member was within the precincts of
the house, ready-nay, even anxious
to record his vote, but that he was pre-
vented from doing so by pure misad-
venture. And yet such mishaps do oc-
cur, as every one who is intimately
acquainted with the house of COM
mons knows full well.
When a division is called for in the
house electric bells are set ringing in
all the rooms and corridors where MEM
bers are likely to be congregated. I'm
mediately stream of legislators pours
into the house, many of them, perhaps,
10 . -, J;,,i,
they had been engaged in refreshing
the inner man. After an interval Of
two minutes from the time at which
the bells commenced to give warning
the doors are closed, and no one who is
not within can ia Ike part in the division.
Perhaps member has tarried to finish
a letter which he is anxious to post
and comes running breathlessly into
the inner lobby just in time to see the
doors close with bang. No power on
earth can then gain him admission,
and he must console himself as best
he can.
In the late parliament a very anus
ing scene of this description was wit
messed. The bells had been ringing
for some time, when d well-known ad-
miral was seen bounding along the
corridor with extra ordinary agility.
The admiral shouted as well as leaped,
but all to no purpose, for the portals
closed just as he was within reach of
the goal. No one enjoyed the joke
more than the gallant gentleman him
self when he realized that his efforts
of limb and lung had been expended in
vain. 1t has happened, though, that
members have actually got into the
division lobby and then have failed to
record their votes. The Hobbies used
for divisions are long, narrow rooms,
and are provided with writing accom-
modatiOns. During the division on an
important bill this session, Mr.. Bryce,
who proposed to vote with the ayes"
sat down to write letter, and became
so engrossed in what he was doing that
he did not realize the position until
the tellers, who count the members as
they pass out, had disappeared. HIS
vote was, of course. lost
on another occasion, when the pres
ent government secured an unusually
small majority, their voting power was
diminished to the extent of one through
a very curious mishap. One OF their
supporters who had gone into the di-
vision lobby stepped into an adjoining
room and by some accident got locked
in until after the division had been
taken. Members who pair are not le-
gally debarred from taking part in di-
vision. Pairing is merely an arrange
ment for the convenience of members
of parliament. but it is considered as
an honorable understanding, and no
one would think of deliberately voting
in a division for which he had paired.
In the excitement of the moment a
member may have occasionally voted
when paired, but there is no case on
record where this has occurred through
bad faith. When members of parlia-
ment intend to go abroad they some
times pair for months or, perhaps, for
the whole session. Ii member sub
seduently changes his mind and de-
cides to remain at home, he finds him
self in an exasperating position. His
party may be turned out of Office for
the want OF a vote, but he is unable to
place his at their disposal -Casselrs
Saturday Journal.