New-York tribune., 1900-03-19
THE HOUSE OF LORDS.
HENRY w. LUCY DESCRIBES LORD ROSE
Berry AS CASSANDRA.
Westminster. February II.

Westminster, February a.
The House Of Lords is the fullest realization
Of the structure of comic opera left to a nation
of shopkeepers It abounis in anachronisns,
and is duly proud of them. 1t shares with the
parish beadle the retention of a cooked hat and
a scarlet gown as its official costume. IN it's
formula OF business there Is in seasonal use
one phrase spelled and pronounced in the Nor
man-French of the time Of Edward L 1t is
presided over by highly paid official who has
no power OF preserving order. In the House OF
Commons the Speakers call upon member TO
follow in debate is absolute. The Lord Chan
cellor. presiding in the House of Lords has
such authority. If two noble lords rise the
same time insisting their right to speak
next, the only thing to be done is for the House
TO divide the solemn question whether Lord
This or Lord That do now speak. When the
question is put from the Woosack noble lords
are not invited TO say anything commonplace
as ''Yes'' or No 'Those-that -opu-
ion -sa y-content- ent-contrary-not-content the
tents-have-it' Thus the Lord Chancellor,
breRthless.
AS matter of fact no one has said either
content" mot content" and it is only by
pure lima gination on the part of the Lord Chan
celor that he arrives at the conclusion that the
weight of opinion is side the other.
| In the House OF Commons, the putting Of the
| question is critical issues made the occasion
| of exciting demonstration. Those that
7 Of that opinion say Aye" the Speaker clearly
| articulates. A mighty shout OF Aye" rises
| from side Of the crowded House. The
| contrary No" Another storm of shouting
fills the House The Irish members regard it as
| a special mark Of the favor of Providence that,
| given equal numbers, No makes noise
| when shouted than does the shrer cry of
Aye"
Another, and. was shown on Thursday
night, an occasionally more important
| Quence Of the eccentricity of procedure in the
/ House Of Lords arises in connection with ques-
| tons. In the House of Commons the practice
/ of putting questions Ministers is fenced about
/ with many wholesome restrictions. a funda-
/ mental one is that question must not be Of
! argumentative character. The reply is studously
! short in form, and any attempt made after its
! delivery 10 launch upon debate is sternly
| pressed by the Speaker. In the House of Lords
| notice address question a Minister may,
| at the untrammelled viii and pleasure of the
noble lord who placed it the paper develop
/ into a speech Of an hours duration. opening up
| important debate.
| LORD DUNRAvENS LONG QUESTION.
Thus it befell Thursday night. Lord Dun
| raven, in pursuance Of notice rose to put a
series OF questions the Secretary of state for
! War on the subject Of the plans OF home de-
| fence set forth by him on Monday Lord Dun
| raven is sometimes witty-sedom brief His
| note of Interrogation was drawn out over the
! full length OF hour. The attendance OF peers
! was small, and they concealed emotional interest
with something more than ordinary success.
Among the few Ministers present sat the Prime
Minister in his favorite attitude, his head sunk
on his chest, his clenched fists dug into the
cushion OF the bench supporting his ponderous
| figure. This pose has special advantages, in
asmuch II implies close attention, while IL
affords opportunity for decenty dropping asleep
Her Majesty's Opposition represented by
thirty-four noble Iords-three strategcally dis
posed over the back benches Lord Kimberley and
Lord Tweedmouth sitting shoulder to shoulder
the front bench. At the corner OF the front
! bench below the gangway sat Lord Rosebery
| all alone. with mighty memories and burning
| thoughts.
His selection OF this is outward and
visible sign OF the political isolation he proudly
affects AS an ex- Minister-one who has led the
| Liberal party in the House of Lords and has
not separated himself from this place is with
his former colleagues on the front bench. There
is precisely parallel case in the House OF Com
mons Like Lord Rosebery Sir William Har-
court has retired from the leadership; but he
has not. therefore. withdrawn from the
panionship Of the front bench There is, how
ever occasional evidence that in matters small
or great the two statesmen and former col
leagues do eye TO eye.
LORD RosEBERY ENLIvENs MATTERS.
When Lord Dunraven made end Of speak
ing he followed by Lord Wenlock. Lord
Newton and Lord Blythswood. Depression
closed more heavily over the little congregation
Evidently it going be a duller night even
than usual. Lord Lansdowne would get up
make official reply and go home 10 dress for
dinner Suddenly Lord Rosebery was seen to be
on his legs walking toward the table. Instantly
attention concentrated. Lord Salisbury. pro-
foundly medtating on the curiously stubborn
resistance brick walls offer to the most piercing
human eyesight, shook himself together and
lifted his head. On ordinary occasions Lord
Rosebery does not greatly vary from the un-
emotional speech proper to an assembly which