Daily camera., 1899-03-07
THE CANADIAN HOUSE
As It Is Described by 4 Native Of
the Dominion.
Some of the IncOnveniences and Dis
advantages of the Members
Personal Encounters

To the visitor in the house of repre-
,entatives who has been accustomed
TO the severe discipline and strict dec
Drum of British legislatures the degree
of liberty INDUCED in by the members
seems somewhat strange. There is
continual hum of conversation, con-
Stant moving about on the floor, the
frequent formation of groups OF mem
bers for consultation, and, what would
doubtless be regarded as treason by the
attendants in the gallery Of the mother
of parliaments, applause from the spec
tators at times. The American poll
tician is often accused Of overvehe-
nence and disposition to shout when
ordinary tones would better serve the
purpose. After an hour in the big
chamber of the popular house. with its
continual din, one can well understand
mat the member of congress comes
naturally by his strident tones and
strenuous manner. Without them he
would never be heard by his chatter
ing colleagues, and to the galleries he
would speak only by gesticulation. The
official reporters suffer greatly from
the noise. Instead of sitting at their
desks in front of the speakers chair,
they find it necessary to skip about to
whatever section Of the house a speak
er may be in, dropping into vacant
seat if convenient, but more frequent
Iy leaning against desk, pad in hand.
Unhappy indeed is that mortal in the
middle of whose take" there is a
change of speakers. Hemay have crept
close up to ''the member from Michi-
gam on the extreme left of the huge
semicircle in which the seats are ar
ranged. and may have to make run
like baseball player for his hoIe base
tC the other side to catch the opening
remarks of "the member from Arkan-
saS" as he rises to interpose an objec-
ton. .
1t sometimes happens that members
lose their tempers in the heat of de
bate. The bowie knife and the revolver.
contrary to the belief of many Of our
kinsmen across the seas. are no longer
the weapons with which these quarrels
are settled. They have been replaced
by the statutes in calf and the ink
stand, which are much more convenient
and less deadly. When a row breaks
out on the floor and the combatants
come into close quarters it is the duty
of the sergeant-at-arms to interpose
the mace between them. The mace is
the emblem of the civil power, but it is
somewhat different in appearance from
ours. 1t consists of bundle of ebony
rods bound together with ligaments of
silver and having on top silver globe
surmounted by silver eagle. 1t re-
sembles the fasces borne by the lictors
before the Roman magistrates. 1t is
known familiarly as ''the bird" just
before the declaration of war with
Spain the bird did duty in quelling
a row. An excited member had en-
forced his remarks by throwing the
law in concrete form at his oppo-
nent's head The latter made rush
at his antagonist, mutual friends held
them back. while from all sides Of the
house came the cry: Sergeant, bring
the bird." The bird was sent forward
10 4 he fighting line as rapidly as possi-
bic. and hostilites ceased. The man
who would dare to strike blow over
"the bird" has not yet entered con-
gresS-Torento Globe.