The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-03-27
HATS IN THE HALL OF coMMoNs
Their Importance in Securing Seats
for Legislators.
From London Tit-BlCs.D
,.r,ys,r-.- aud T-ra-zsri1s o

rom London tLt-B4Lz-J
Il Is a curious and interesting fact that
the hats of our legislators play a part in
the Westminster drama only Jess imp0r-
taEt than that Of the heads they adorn
and protect.
4 quarter OF . century go the Unwrit-
ten law which regulated the headge4r OF
the gentlemen of the Commons was as
rigid IS the laws OF the Medes and Per
slams, and an honorable member would
as soon have been guilty Of treason IS Of
appearing IN the House in anything but
the immaculate ana shiny silk hat, the
emblem Of the highest Responsibility.
But the most sacred or SumpJudry laws
are powerlsSs against the tide Of refOr-
nation. which in this case found its Lu-
Their n Mr.. John Martin. the Irish mem
Der, who was the first TO Introduce
IoW-CrOwned hat TO the shocked precincts
OF the lobby But even AT- Martin had
reached the limit OF his aUdacity in the
lobby, and his heart failed him when he
entered the House Itself Removing the
offending hat from his head he carried il
fuTtiyely in his hand. and carefully snug
gled il Out of sight during the debate
But he was not TO escape punishment FOR
50 fragrant an offence. for Mr. Branch.
the Speaker. sent for him and read him
such a lecture on the Nervousness Of his
conduct that he never had the courage TO
offend again
4 dangerous precedent had. however.
been create, and Joseph COwen. the
member or Newcastle. who had a healthy
ScoTn Tor Il tall hat. was soon seen in the
lobby IN all the democratic glory of =
large nd soft felt hat His coura Ee. too.
failed him at the entrance 70 the House.
and his hat was always fearfuIIy slowed
away in one of his CdpaCiOIiS pockets
Since those days offenders against the
traditions OF the House have been nlzlv
John Burns has made il familiar V-:rh
a step farther and introduced q tweed
cap and during the hot weather lasI
summer one honorable member completed
the revolution by appearing at Westmin-
ter in a tail hat made Of straw
rs Is well known the hats of Iegisia-
tors play an important part in the Sc
curing seats Tor their owners very
necessary precauIion when we consider
that the body of the House of Commons
only has 3'G seats for go members. To
secure a seat IL used TO De sufficient that
a hat should be placed on IL the hat be
ing presumably that of its would-be &C
cUpant, who was supposed TO be waiting
IN the precincts Of the House to take
possession of il at pra yer-time.
But even the conscience Of an N =. IS
not always proof against temptation. and
II soon became the practice Of certain
members TO take a spare hat to the
House. deposit ii on the coveted seat and
then return home or 90 for a ride in the
park. knowing full well that the seat
would be sufficiently guarded from tres
paSSerS b. the Superannuated hat they
had left on it
Mitchell Henry was the first to expose
this amiable fraud for one day when
t.iEing to the House. he saw a fellow
member riding in the park in an ire
proachable tail hat. only To find on
reaching the House. tliat the seat h
wished TO annex was occupied by an
other less reputable hat. bearing the card
of me same member WhereupOn Mr.
Speaker Brand laid down the stern rule
that no member must boast two hats.
but must secure his seat by the hat he
brings on his head 10 the House
To show how this Salutary rule was ig
nored. ten years later a certain member
drove to the House with 4 CabTUl of harS
I which r. disposed on as many seats for