The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-08-15

! Twice. as many as are on the rolls OF the
house Of representatives. The long tiers
OF benches efford seating accommoda-
tons for less than 800, while the CALLER
les are even more limited, although in
exciting times several hundred specta.
| tors are crowded in.
| You cannot secure admission without
going through q number Of formali,ies
stranger cannot enter even the parlia-
ment house without a ticket, and even
then he is watched by a policeman al
| every turn for fear ne will throw a dyn-
| amr,e bomb or set the place on fire. a
| foreigner can obtain a ticket OF admis-
| sion through his embassy or by personal
application to some friend in parliament,
out either way is tedious and trouble
some, and You have to apply several
days IN advance 10 make sure Of get
Ting It. For example. when / asked Col.
Hay, the American ambassador. for a
ticket Of admission on a certain date
when the workingmen's compensa ton
bill was 10 be considered, ne sent me a
card for date four days in advance. 1
took that card 20 the sergeant-at-arms,
who sent il 10 the office of the speaker,
who wrote his initials in the corner and
added some hieroglyphics which indicat-
ed the particular seat was 10 occupy.
When L presented myself at the en-
trance l was taken in charge by police
man and conducted to a corner of the
LOBBY. He took my ticket and disap-
peared. About half an hour later an
usher wearing a dress suit, broad silk
sash over the pit of his stomach and
brass representation Of the coat of arms
OF the house of commons. about as big
as the top of your hat and carrying a
rod about ten feet long in his hand came
out or the main door and called my
name. When l made myself known he
conducted me up a narrow fight of
stairs TO an ante-roon, where l signed
my name in book and gave my ad-
dress and occupation. l then passed
through a revolving s,ile and was led
by another usher 70 a seat in the gal
lery.
While / was waiting for these formal
tiles TO be accomplished 1 wandered
around the corridors TO see what was TO
be seen, and ran up against policeman
in every direction. / counted thirty in
the lobby, which not larger than an
American church. They wore the ordi-
nary uniform OF patrolmen In addi-
ton there were messengers in livery and
messengers in dress suits, doorkeepers
wearing white silk stockings and clerks
in robes of black and powdered wigs I
made the acquaintance Of a friendly dis
posed bobby" who stood guard in the
center OF a corridor that led to another
part of the building, and after exchang-
ing the compliments Of the day asked
him If there was any objection to my
walking down that way.
It's against the rules for a stranger
to go there except in company with a
member" he said, ''but If you want to
ave the 'oner Of taking drink in the
ouse OF commons slip by while me 'ead
Is turned
l took my friends advice and at the
end OF long corridor found myself in a
sort Of cafe and bar-room, where forty or
hfty gentlemen were seated at tables or
in groups before the counter
drinking various beverages. There is a
law prohibiting the sale of liquor any,
where in England and the United |
States without a license, but notwith- !
There has been great change in the |
personnel Of the commission within the !
last few years. Formerly it included a |
great many young members Of the no. |
D lity, representing constituencies that |
were controlled by their families. II |
was rule that every cub Of a lord must |
serve several terms in the lower house |
as matter of education and experience |
before he was qualified 10 occupy a seat |
IN the house of peers: but while such es-
Unable young gentlemen still retain !
that ambition ii is not so often gratified. \
The membership of the house OF COM
mons is now largely selected by the peo-
pic. 1t IS becoming more and more rep
every election. The middle
md the working classes and the small
ak payers are taking an interest in
,Ublic affairs and politics, and a man
must have some merit besides a noble
lame to become member OF parlia-
nent. leadership. however. is still &C
luired in the old way, and the authority
nd responsibilities OF a leader are quite
Is great as they ever were. This posi-
ion in the house of commons. as in the
louse OF representatives, is the reward
y ability and industry, but political Dis
ipline IN England is so much greater
nan in the Cniter States that a leader
f a party can commit his followers 70
.olicies and pledge their votes in a man
Ter than would never be tolerated with E:
Is.
The speaker of the British house wears
wig and a robe. The clerks have SIM !
ar attire Lying upon the table in
ront Of them is the golden mace. which .
5 borne through the lobby every day
n front of the chaplain and. the speaker
: they pass into the house 10 open the /
AS il passes everybody re- !
moves his hat out Of respect for what 1t ,
ignifies-.he power and majesty OF the 4,
rec people OF England. 1t is the same ,
1sce thar Oliver Cromwell alluded 10 .
hen he entered the commons one day, :
word in hand, and cried out:
God has no use for this parliament. ;
AXE away that baubie." r
The speakers chair and the table and
he benches that are occupied BY the
,ernbers are venerable With age ard ,
ave been used for centuries. One
LARGELY realizes when one enters the
ouse OF parliament; that one is beneath ,
ne OF the most glorious artificial canO-
les n the world. built by Richard II.
nd that every nook and corner, every '
mbsr. every curtain and even the air S
self. which smells rnusty. is saturated Z
it'll history. You pass over the very p
BOT upon which Sir Walter Raleigh was ;
and mark the place wnere I,