Evening star., 1901-01-26
MORE SEATS NEEDED
To Accommodate Additions to the
House Of Representatives,
RESULT OF APPORqIONMENT BILL
Plan of the House of Commons
May Be Adopted.
GROW TIL OF THE BOD Y
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
The apportionment bill recently enacted
by Congress adds twenty-nine members to
the lower legislative body of the nation, but
where the grand total of $50 men-Ss6 rep
resantatives and four delegates-are to sit
after the beginning Of the Fifty-eiGhth Con-
gress is a problem now racking the brains
of the House leaders.
II has been proposed to tear out the
present amphtheatrical series of chairs
and desks and to substitute rows of
upholstered benches therefor. The seating
methods in vogue In various foreign parlia-
ments are being looked into. Whether to
adopt curved benches extending between
the present aishes and completing the semi
circular rows now formed by desks of men,
bers or whether to substitute straight
benches is a source of discussion.
The British house of commons is regard
ed by some members as good model for
imitation as to seating arrangements
Were its floor plan adopted the Speakers
desk would be removed from the center OF
the long side of the south wall and placed
In the middle Of enc end of the hall. Di-
roctly in front of the desk would be left
rectangular space extending to the oppo-
site extremity. Parallel TO this space would
be placed banks or terraces of benches, one
OH either side. The benches on one side
the other for the democrats. In the
house of commons the benches at the right
of the speaker are the recognized seats of
the government party. The opposition men,
bers take those on the left. The ministers
sit upon the front benches of the govern
ment side while the opposition leaders take
similar seats on the left As In our House
of Representatives. the clerks have their
desks Immediately in front OF the speaker,
while the reporters gallery is just above
him
Above the reporters gallery and behind
an iron grating are seats reserved for Ia
dies. Strangers are given places in an up
per gallery opposite the Speaker They are
admitted only by order Of member of
parliament. The lower gallery opposite
the chair is known as the Speakers gall
1ery." This can be entered only by the
speakers order. obtained by a member.
just in front is a row of seats reserved for
members of the peerage and distinguished
strangers. The galleries at the sides of
the house of commons are for the use of
members, and are regarded as part of
the house Beneath the galleries and on
level with the commoners' benches. but
outside the bar defining the limits of the
floor. are seats reserved for diplomats and
other distinguished visitors.
Desks Detract From Dignity of House
Our representatives would be as COM
fcrtabIe. 1t Is claimed by the advocates of
this plan. upon luxuriously upholstered
benches as upon individual chairs. The
removal of their desks would result In
more respectful attention to the delbera-
tions of the house. although 1t might Of
ten jeopardize the chances of keeping a
quorum Under the present arrangement
Il majority of representatives present at
ordinary sessions consume their time spent
upon the iloor in reading and answering
letters. perusing documents and newspa-
pers OF classifying and arranging sundry
effects The inqusitive spectator in the
gallery can take a laughable inventory of
the contents of members desks as they
are opened, here and there, during d:gni-
fed debate. In variety of contents they
place the small boys pocket and the pres
tidigitateur's magic box at naught. Chew
ing tobacco, garden seed, spruce gum.
laundry. cigars. cough drops, playing
cards, pipes, candy. discarded cravats.
poker chips, shoe strings, tobacco pouches,
photographs, cards of collar buttons. ear
muffs, match boxes, TASKS, tooth brushes,
cloves. whisks. mittenS, soiled handkcr-
chiefs, broken suspenders and empty
brcmo seltzer bottles are but a few of the
items which daily come to light during the
opening and reopening OF these smoothly
polished Catch-al!s.
Although the house of commons offers
hardly more than fourth the floor space
OF our Hall of Representatives, its benches
seat iI6 members-S6 more than will belong
TO our lower house. There are 60 mem
bers of the house of commons, and, there
fore 1874 would be without seats at full
session. But full sessions are unknown
in the British parliament While COM
moners interested in the deliberations Of
their house are seated in its body. others
having writing 10 do are busy In office
rooms provided with desks. Even during
votes upon important measures a large num-
Der of commoners are Invariably absent.
The members receive no pay and are, there
fore. more independent than our represen-
tativeS. On either side OF their chamber is
provided division lobby into which the
members pass whenever a vote is taken.
The ayes" retire to the lobby at the right
of the speaker; the noes to that at his
left. In the northeast corner Of the New
Palace of WestminSter-as the building
containing the British houses OF parlia-
ment IS called-is built the speakers resi-