Evening star., 1901-05-11
FROM PRESS GALLERY
A Visitors View of the Canadian
House of Commons.
DIGNITY. EARNESFNESS and ABILITY
Little Interest Taken in the Sen-
ate's Proceedings.
COMPARED WITH CONGRESS
Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
OTTAWA. Canada May 3. 1901.
The present session of the dominion par
IiameEt will probably come to an end the
latter part of this month. The principal
feature of the debate this winter of inter
est to people of the United States is the
irritation shown by the members of the
Canadian parliament at the indifference of
their big ncighbor to their overtures for an
exchange of fayors. The Canadian parlia-
ment meets every year, each session gem
orally lasting about three months. The
Iaw-makiug power of this body is practical
ly vested in the house of commons which
corresponds to the American House of
Representatives. The senate possesses the
nominal right of veto of house measures.
but rarely exercises this privilege.
Viewed from the narrow press gallery,
in which hardly a score of reporters can
find comfort. the Canadian house of COM
mons makes d rather favorable impression
for dignity, edrneStneSS and ability. Gray
heads pTedomnate. especially on the con-
servative side. though even the liberal rep
resentatinn maintains much higher aver
age of years than does the House of Rep
resentatives in the United States. Younger
men are coming i'll each year, however eS-
peCially from the western provinces. and
should this tendency continue there Will be
within the near future.
The house of commons meets at 3 in the
afternoon and when called to order the
seats are generally well filled. The ses-
sfonS last until midnight and except for
the dinner interval and the coming or
going of members with other engagements.
the business i'll hand fully occupies the at
tention of generous quorum.
One of the most regular attendants is Sir
Nilfrid l-aurier, member from Quebec
leader of the liberal party and premier of
the cabinet. From his seat in the front
row of the liberal benches he keeps close
watch upon the proceedings. prompts the
ministers when they are called to book by
the opposition indicates to the various
members of his own party when il is time
Tor them to speak, and otherwise directs
and guides the course of debate and legis-
latIon. 1t is doubtful whether any man
could reach such a personal control of
party in the American House of Repre-
sentatlVes as is exercised by Sir Wilfrid
over his followers in the Canadian parlia-
ment. Ills efforts resemble those of a stage
manager IN their close attention to detail.
There are 213 members in the house of
Commons. the entire body being elected
every I'VE years. The conservative party is
at present very much in the same diSor-
gdnized condition the democratic party
III the United States. and its only hope for
the future is some gross error the part
of the liberals some development which
VIII give them cause u appeal TO the voters
for another lease IF power. The liberals
do not consider. however. that they have
any assurance of long reign this ac-
count. for the political situation changes
with such rapidity in the dominion that an
election IS always a matter of extreme
doubt as 10 the outcome.
The Hat-Wearing Custom.
A privilege enjoyed by the members of
the house Of commons is that of wearing
their hats when sitting in the house. and
nearly all of them avail themselves of this
prerogative. II is old d-time custom, so
old, in fact. that many of the members do
not remember how it originated One of
them when asked to It's origin said that
he really didn't know. but perhaps it was
because they had no other place to put their
hats. Members are required to uncover
when Speaking, and as they rise to their
feet they take off their hats and lay them
ON the desks. In the latter hours of each
session a number of members can be seen
with their hats tilted well forward over
their eyes they slumber peacefully under
the sopOritic influence q a budget speech
by one OF the ministers.
The record of the proceedings of the house
of commons, called the 'hansard," is a
stenographic report of everything said but
there Is no lraveStO print given the mem
bers. hence the record is not nearly as
hulky as that Of the House of Representa-
tiyes Six shorthand men. relieving each
other at intervals of ten minutes, are the
force required To take down the proceed
ings. and when these reporters at work
the decOrUm of the hall is great that
they can sit their desks in the center
and report everything which is said
one of the most Interesting cha cterS IN
the house Of commons is Sir John BOurinot
n. G. VI. c.. LII. D.. ID. e. L.. ID. L.. the
clerk Of the house, who. robed in his flow
ing black gown. sits with his great book of
record before him directly in front of the
speaker. The press gallery is advantage
ously located Immediately over the speak
er's head. and the room being obing in
shape. the liberals seated at one end and
the conservatives at the other. no word
can be spoken without being heard by the
press Tt porterS-
The hail in which the house sits is a very
handsome apartment. scientifically and
thoroughly lit from the ceiling the win
dows on the sides being Of stained glass of
harmonious designs There is ample gall
lery room for spectators, for the galleries
are seldom half filled
Little Interest in the Senate.
AT the other end of Canadas beautiful
parliament building sits the senate, a body
of venerable men, appointed for life by
the party which happens to be in power
when vacancy occurs. This body has no
real legislative function. 1t is modelled
somewhat after the house of lords in Eng
land. and its proceedings are regarded with
so little interest that the galleries are sell
dom II ever occupied by spectators. and no
accommodations are provided for press re-
porters. The story goes that the aged SEN
atOrs at times become anxious TO see
themselves in print that they subsidize
newspapers to keep man to report the
senate proceedings. II Is unusual for
any to want to listen to the senator's
that spectators are made welcome at the