The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-05-31
PARLIAMENT's ODD WAYS.
Translation of some of the "Techni-
cnI Terms" Used in the HOuse-Ex-
PLANTATION of Curious Customs.


PLANTATION of Curious Customs.
From the London Express.
When in the course of the debate on
Mr.. Balfour's new rules of procedure
In the House of Commons an honor
able gentleman gravely committed
himself to the statement that "her
majesty's ministers are the only MEM
bers of the House who have no need
to pray" the occupants of the Strang-
ers' Gallery were doubtless mystifed.
The speakers meaning. however, was
perfectly clear to his fellow members.
He had no intention of conveying the
idea that the members of the govern
ment have reached such nights of piety
that prayer in their case is a mere
work Of superrerogation.
The explanation of his apparently
cryptic utterance lies in the common
place fact that the ordinary member
of Parliament, If he wish to reserve a
seat for the day. must attend the brief
devotional service with which the
House prefaces its daily labors. He
may then place card in a slit at the
back of the bench, and until the House
rises that place is his.
The speaker quoted was not. how
ever, altogether accurate. A member
who is engaged on a parliamentary
committee may reserve a seat without
attending prayers, and ex-ministers
who occupy the front Opposition bench,
are, like the government, not liable to
find their places invaded by private
members.
There is a legend at Westminster Of
an NJ. p, renowned for his piety, Of
fering strong opposition to a proposal
to enlarge the chamber on the ground
that If every member were provided
with a seat of his own the attendance
at Parliamentary prayers would be
painfully meager.
The jargon of Parliament, notably
when the House is discussing questions
of procedure or internal economy, is
Greek to the unlnitiated listener.
1--WE hope to get Mr.. Speaker out of
the chair before dinner" is a phrase
not infrequently used by the leader of
the House in making a statement as
to the course of public business. Here,
again, the novice might conjure up a
picture of Mr.. Gully so entranced with
the oratory of the elect of the people
as to display resentment at the notion
Of being invited to exchange his seat
in the chair for a seat at the dinner
table.
Or. as once happened to a new and
unimaginative member the. stranger
might suspect the leader of the House
of fell designs on the First Com
moner.
A newly elected NJ. p, breathless
with excitement and bursting with i'm
portance, beckoned two old Parlia-
mentary hands into a corner. Look
here" said he, mysteriously, "the To-
ries are plotting against the Speaker;
ne isn't docile enough for the govern
ment"
What do you mean?" queried one
of the listeners.
Mean, sir" he cried. why, heard
Balfour say to another minister, We
must have Mr.. Speaker out of the
chair tonight Isn't that enough %
The old hands exploded with laugh
ter, and then explained to the aston
ished mare's-nester the real inward
ness of the parliamentary situation.
When the House goes into commit
tee either to discuss a bill in detail or
to vote supplies the speaker leaves the
chair and the chairman of committees
acts as president. But 1t is an old
constitutional maxim that redress of
grievances precedes supply" and when
money votes are about to be asked for
grievances connected with the depart
mentS concerned In the particular
votes may be ventilated on the mo-
ton that Mr.. Speaker do now leave
the chair"
The government. DESTROYS of secur-
ing their supplies, are naturally anx-
ious to get the speaker out of the
chair with all dispatch, but a debate
lasting many hours-and perhaps even
more than one sitting-may take
place before this end is attained
The motion being eventually agreed
to, the Speaker departs, and the SER
geant-at-arms steps forward, and,
taking the mace off the table. places
II beneath that article of furniture
Meanwhile the chairman of commit
tees. whose official attire is evening
dress has taken his place as president
mot I'm the speakers chair. but at the
head of the table, I'm the seat usually
by the clerk OF the House.
Laws of Debate.
A member has only the right TO