The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-07
THE HAT IN PARLIAMENT.
An Important Factor in the British
House of Commons.
London Daily Mail.

THE IN
An Important Factor in the British
House of Commons.
London Daily Mail.
OF all the customs and traditions that
still cling to the House of Commons, even
in this matter-of-fact age the hat plays
the most important part In the last CEN
fury one of the speakers permitted the in
PRODUCTION of oranges. and even nuts, II
they were not loudly cracked. on the plea
that they were not tangible articles of
food" But some years after this decision
was reversed by another speaker, who, on
high medical authority, declared that as IL
would be possible to support life on either
of these two vegetables they must be con-
sldered tangible products ana thelr puDnc
consumption would therefore not be per-
mitted Out of this decision custom arose,
which, not being checked, slowly deepened
into a tradition. The dexterity which Bob
by Lowe exhibited in transferring a packet
OF sandwiches from one of the side pockets
of the remarkable coats he used to affect
to the interior of his hat. and the way IN
which he would use his headgear TO conceal
the process of mastication was, 1t is said
a sight to behold
The occupants of the ministerial and front
opposition benches are able 10 moisten their
threats during the delivery OF a speech
with a little liquid, but although the pri-
vate member is not expressly excluded from
the participation in this privilege, no pro-
vision is made for the consumption OF any
lubricant he may require. The traditions or
the House allow him 10 conceal a sandwich
biscuit in his pocket. but not bottle.
Any honorable member may nave a glass
of water. but whilst the leading members
OF the opposition have the great central
table on which to deposit their glasses or
water-which is not supposed TO be quail
fled by the introduction of any other liquid.
ahemi-the private member Is expected TO
hide his glass in his hat.
1t is really astonishing what an lmpor-
tant feature the hat plays in the delibera-
lions OF our legislators. AS no private MEM
Der can claim by right any particular seat
in the House, except in n few cases where
members are tacitly allowed TO appropriate
certain points of vantage, a hat has 10 De
deposited beforehand as an intimation that
the seat Is secured. On ordinary nights a
seat can be retained by a card being in
serted iii the slip provided at the back of
each seat for that purpose, but when
debate OF more than usual interest is eX-
pected the hat is the medium employed.
During debates OF Importance, such as
the Transvaal the Egyptian policy,
great number of hats were deposited soon
after breakfast. A few sessions ago prac-
tice arose of members depositing some bat
tered old tile. which they probably kept
for the purpose in their locker, and then
going about their business. But this willy
evasion came TO the ears OF Mr.. Speaker
Peel. who being rigid upholder OF all
parliamentary customs. ruled that the only
hats which could be deposited on a seat
were those which were actually being
worh. 1t will be seen. therefore. that
faithful observance of this rule would con-
fine all depositors of hats to the precincts
OF ST. Stephens for the entire day. 1t is
the intention OF the writer to inSipuate
that members are in the habit of not con-
forming of this rule but certain il is that
on the morning of the South African de-
bate the hats deposited were of quite I'M
usual glossiness; but equally certain 1t Is
that many members OF Parliament who
have business in the city were seen abroad
that day crowned with such headgear as
opera hats, soft feltS and other similar COW
erings which permit OF concealment about
the person.
The British House of Commons is the
only assembly in the world where the
members are allowed to sit during the pro-
I atarru xs~st III. L..f..
+ glides up the hoor TO take his seat ne
must carry his hat in his hand, but the
moment he has taken his seat he is at lib
erty to put IL on, but only as long as he re-
mains sitting. Ii he rises to address the
House he is expected to put his hat on his
| seat behind him. This insures its safety
long it's owner is on his legs, but as
members are apt to lose all count of mum
| dane matters while in the throes of perora-
tion the hat is as likely as not at the finish
| to come TO grief. Intoxicated with his tri-
umph, the owner amidst the plaudlts or
| the House, resumes his seat, or would do
| so but for the momentary opposition Of
| fered by his hat. 1t Is calculated that over
| fifty hats are sacrificed in this way during
| each session. which must be a cause OF
| great ejoicing to the hat manufacturer.
| But hats are liable TO other dangers. One
| of the gravest breaches of Parliamentary
| decorum is for an Nj. r.. when leaving
| the House, to pass between the speaker
| and the member addressing the House
| Last session Lord Stanley, in ignorance of
| this unwritten law, crossed i'm front of
! Admiral Field, who was on his legs. The
/ gallant lord was so overcome by the vol
| leys of indignant Order, ORDER which
| greeted this offense that he sank tremb-
| lingy on the bench nearest him, complete
| ~ demolishing the hat rest ng peacefully
| thereon. If one member desires to speak
| TO another, or TO pass him book or a
paper. he must first remove his hat. so also
J must the member addressed. if he replies
| Not long ago the House. detecting an innO-
cent transgression of this rule loudly called
| Order" The guilty member not knowing
at whom the reproaeh was levelled, joined
loudly in the cry. When ii was borne home
| TO him that he was the person indicated
| he turned very red, and subsidized amidst
| general laughter. Perhaps the most anus
| ing use to which the hat can be put is dur
! ing the introduction of bill. Whenever the
| gentleman who Is responsible for meas
Ire is mentioned, he is expected to raise
| moving from his seat. A member thus al
| luded TO will frequently have to raise his
hat dozen times ines, in one speech th
| desire TO afford the House an opportunity of
| identifying the member alluded to. The
| only occasion on which member is al
| lowed to address the House with his hat on
| is when. the House being cleared for a divi-
sion. a member rises to a point of order:
| Then, as the debate is supposed TO be closed
and the rising is the result of something
which has not transpired during the debate,
| the member addresses his remarks to the
| chair, sitting with his hat on. If i'm the
| hurry of the moment he fails to find his
own hat he seizes some one elses. On one
| of these occasions Mr.. Gladstone. who has
! a very large head. possessed himself of Il
| hat many sizes too small for him. The
| House dissolved in such nextinguishable
| laughter at the comical figure he presented
! that the point of order was never raised,
! and its purport remains unknown TO the
! present day.
/ liz is a grave breach of parliamentary de-
corum for a member to read prepared
/ written speech. In the old days 10 read a
/ speech was considered breach of privi-
4 Iesse but now much written matter may
] be concealed in the hat If il Is not consulted
/ I'm TOO open manner. Sir W. Harcourt' s
| mana gernent of a written speech Nesting
/ in his hat Is greatly admired.