The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-03-26
CLERK Of the House Of Common.


Pail Mall Gazette; The resignation OF
Sir Reginald Palgrave, X. C B.. Of the
clerkshlp Of the house Of commons is an
event worthy OF something more than
a mere passing reference. Alike IN the
conditions OF It's tenure and the vast
amount Of patronage which 1t has at its
disposal, the office which Sir Reginald
has just rellnQuished is one OF the most
important, If not the mos: important,
in the whole organization of the house
OF commons.
/ There is only one other official OF the
house Of commons who possesses the
same fixIty OF tenure as the clerk of the
house. That IS the sergeant at arms.
Both hold office directly under a patent
fromSher majesty, and they cannot, in
consequence, be removed by any lndi-
vldual. authority residing in the house
itself So long as they are OF good be-
haviof" they are secure in their posi-
ton, however parliaments may come
and 60. These are the only two officers
OF the house Of commons who enjoy the
advantage OF this strong tenure. The
speaker Is, OF course, chosen by direct
vote OF the house itself, the first bus
mess OF a new parliament being TO select
out OF lts own membership one who will
preside over Its deliberations The chair
man Of the committee is elected in the
same way. The clerk assistant and the
second clerk assistant are appointed by
the prime minister of the day on the
Recommendation OF the speaker, and
~. l. eN, nd mi n M
ent one So far as patronage is con-
cerned, three officers of the house have
control over various classes OF appoint.
ments. In the Gaze OF the speaker, the
library and its oCSsiais come within the
sphere OF his authority. That Is, prac-
tically. all the patronage which he e1-
ercises his Jurisdiction outside the walls
OF his own office.
Under ar act Of George III, the SER
geant at arms Is the housekecper of the
house. He is responsible for the main
tenance OF order throughout all parts
OF the palace OF Westminster allotted TO
the house Of commons. as well as the
approaches to the house. He Is In fact,
the head policeman OF the house OF COM
mons, or In other words. he is the ez-
ecutive officer Of the house. The chief
clerk, the office Just vacated by Sir
Reginald PalgraVe. has supreme con-
troll without any check intervening be-
tween him and them, owes all clerks
IN the house His standing salary is
now $4,000 per annum, but formerly his
Income was very much higher. Before
the fifty-second act Of George III. be-
came law the clerk Of the house OF COM
mons received all fees. Out OF these he
paid the various clerks under him, and
kept the balance. In the days Of Mr..
Hatsell, a former clerk. this balance OF
fees amounted to as much as 10000
per annum-
The cost Of the chief clerks depart
ment Is far and away beyond that OF
either the speakers or the sergeant at
arms department. In the last financial
year the expenditures on salaries. allow
drceS, postage and incidental expenses
in the department OF the chief clerk was
e25,OO0, while the expenditure In the
sergeant at arms department was
RlS,l5s. and In the speakers department
was Sl0,150. The chief clerk exercises
jurisdiction over the public bill office.
the journal office. the committee office
and the private bill office. In all as
many as forty-seven clerks are subject
to the authority of the chief clerk, and
as far as the positions Of these forty
seven clerks are concerned the clerk Of
the house has the absolute power OF APP
pointing and Diminishing.