The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-12-15
The British House of Commons.

When an American reads the descrip.
ton Il. p. OConnor, NJ. p, gives in Har.
per's Magazine of the English house of
commons, he will conclude that we have
not so much red tape about our w Ia
tional house of representatives after all.
The British house is very different from
the American one. For instance, there
gre go members of the and
only 430 seats to accommodate them.
Apparently nobody thinks, however, of
building new quarters for the house. In
America we would have a new chamber
in two years time.
Unlike their brethren in America,
members of the British house of COM
mons have no fixed seats. The members
who are present at prayers get the best
seats. If one wants to leave after he has
secured it he puts Il card with the word
PRAYERS printed and his name writ
ten upon it and sticks it in a slot at the
back Of the seat, showing that that place
has already been pre-empted. This GUS
tom makes even Henry Laboucherc ap-
pear to be a pattern Of picty, because in
order to get his favorite seat he is al
ways present at prayers.
The British house does not begin at
noon ana yet It's sessions over and done
with in time for the evenings business
or pleasure. rs the American house does.
The house Of commons turns night into
day, beginning its meetings at 8 o'clock.
1t drags on TO empty benches usually
until after what is called the "dinner
hour That is from half past IT'LL half
past 10. Then the real life and activity
begin. The usual time Of adjournment
is half past II, when everybody ought to
be sleeping tie sleepof the just. But Mr..
O'Connor says that during the exciting
times of the former Gladstone admins
tration he and his Irish fellow members
rarely got to bed before sunrise.
To the American eye it would be very
quaint and amusing 10 watch the en-
trance Of tine British speaker of the house.
He wcarsa long, full curled wig, a short
coat and Il sweeping robe with a train,
which is held up behind him by an at
tendant as he enters the chamber. He
yea knee brceches and low shoes with
large buckles. An American would not
put himself into such toys even to be
speaker of the house. Before the speaker
walks solemnly the scrgeant-at-arlns
bearing the mace, and the chaplain with
his prayer book, while behind are some
other red tape attendants. The arrival Of
the speaker is the signal for al except
members of the house Of commons to
take their hats off, Members Of the Brit
Isl: house Of commons sit in session with
their hats Oh, it being the only lrgisla-
tive body i'll the world adheriug 10 this
custom, OConnor says. 1t is to be hoped
so. Mr.. Gladstone. however, always
takes his hat of. So did DiSraoii.
Members of the cabinet are members
also OF the house Of commons. One tnn-
tur"ofthe English Legislative body might
be introduced with advantage into onr
ltglSlaturcs-statc and national. This
Is what is called "question time" ANY
member Of The house can publicly ask IA
cabinet minister any question he wants |
answered that pertains to the ministers |
department, and the minister is Obliged
to answer. The questions are printed
and appear before the eyes of every mem
Der, The ministers are thus subjected
to cross examinations that must have a
Wholesome effect on the government AT
Unlike our representatives again, mem
bers OF the British house have 10 desks
them. Mr.. OConnOr thinks this
makes them pay more attention to uu,i.
hess, and perhaps it does.