Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-08-31
HOUSE ETIQUETTE.
HATS PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN
PARLIAMENT.

No Member Is Allowed to Read q News
paper-Old Customs That Are stili Adj
hered To-Neariy 700 Members, with
Seats For Only $50.
When new member makes bis first ap-
pearance in the house Of commons, he has
to BIO escorted to the table to take the oath
by two other members of parliament
This is one of the immemorial usages Of
the house Of commons. 1t originated In a
far remote past when 1t was really neces-
sary in order to prevent personation that
two members of the house should identify
the claimant of seat after q byelection
as the person named in the writ of the re-
turning officer.
The precaution has been unnecessary for
many year. But such is the reluctance
of the house Of commons to part with any
of its quaint and antique ceremonies that
it is still retained, and though represent
alive may come to the bar Of the house as
the unanimous choice of constituency OF
10, 900 electors and produce his credentials
he will not be permitted to take his seat
unless he can get two members to at as
his sponsors.
DIR. Kenealy, the famous cour.1 for
"the claimant" presented himself 30 the
bar unattended after his election for Spoke
upon Trent In February 1876. Tho speak
er informed him of tho usage of tho house,
and as no could not get two members to
accompany him to tho table no was Obliged
to leave.
1t was only by special resolution of the
house, moved by Mr. Disraeli, its leader ut
the time, that DIR. Kenealy was allowed to
take his seat without complying with tho
usual practice.
When men assemble together In social
life as in q theater or ut meeting tho
ordinary custom is to uncover while they
are seated and to don their hats Us they
enter or leave the place.
In parliamentary life that rulo is revers-
cd Members can wear their hats only
when they arc seated on tho benches. As
they walk to the seats or rise to leave tho
chamber they must be uncovered. This
custom is the source of much confusion
and embarrassment to now members
Tho house never fails to show It's resent
ment of u breach of its etiquette, however
slight. 1t will, without distinction Of par
ty, unanimously roar with Indignation at
q new member who, ignorant or unmind-
full of the parliamentary custom, wears his
hat as he walks down the floor of the
chamber.
An offending member, startled by tho
shout which greeted him Us he was leaving
the chamber with his hat on his head in
stead of his hand, paused in the middle Of
the floor and looked around with min
gled expression of fright and perplexity.
HAT, hat - shouted the house.
This only embarrassed him tho moro.
He felt his trousers pockets and his coat
e., Al. ssal1 - 10
even looked at his feet to sec il be were
wearing 1t at that extremity Of his person.
1t is impossible to conjecture what might
have happened further had not DR.. Tanner
walked up to the offending member, and
amid the loud laughter of the house polite
ly took off his hat and then handed it to
him with a courtly bow. -
The hat plays many important parts in
parliamentary customs 1t also contrib
utes occasionally to the gayety of life in
the house of commons. No incident Is
greeted with more hearty laughter than
the spectacle of a member, after a magnif-
cent peroration, Pumping down on his
silk hat on the bench behind him.
The bashful and awkward member gen.
orally figures In those accidents, but tho
misfortune has befallen even old and cool
parliamentary hands like Mr.. Chamber
lain and Sir William Harcourt and has
completely spoiled the effects of u few of
their most eloquent speeches.
A few years ago Mr.. r. G. Webster,
member for East ST. Pancras, sat down
after his maiden speech on q new silk hat,
which he had provided in honor Of the aus
picious occasion. and as he was ruefully
surveying his battered hoadgear, to tho
amusement of tho unfeeling spectators,
Mr.. Edward Harrington, an Irish repre-
sentative, rose and gravely said, "Mr.
Speaker, permit mo to congratulate the
honorable member on the happy circum-
stance that when he sat on his hat his head
was not In it The strident call of Cor
der, order!" from the speaker was drown
ed In roars of laughter
In probably every other legislative cham.
Der in the world each member has o special
scat allotted to him. But though there
are go members in the commons the
chamber, strangely enough, was built to
accommodate only about half that number.
and tho only members who arc certain Of
seats are ministers and ex-ministers tho
occupants respectively u the treasury bench
and the first opposition bench.
The consequence is that on occasions of
great interest there is always a scramble
for places. A large crowd of members
gathered at Westminster In tho early morn
Ing of the - ming on which MIR. Gladstone
introduced ,he home rule bill of 1899, and
when, after hours of waiting, the door Civ
ing Immediate entrance to the chamber
was opened at 2 a. m, so mad was the
rush for seats that several members were
crushed, knocked down and trampled
upon.-Chamhers' journal.