The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-26
Mr.. DAVl11'S VIEWS
He Brilliantly Contrasts the Work
~ ings of the House With Those
e. of the English Commons.
Mr.. Chamberlain as a Debater-
): Gladstone as an Orator-Some "
..... "reminiscences. .s
From The Journal Bureau, Room 49,, Post Build
ing, Washington. = ~ = 4..,

From The Journal Bureau, Room 49,, Post Build
ing, Washington. - ..r g 4..,
washington Dec. 26.-Michael Dayitt,
the noted Irish political leader, was in the
gallery of the house of representa- tiVes
this month listening to the debate on the
london dock bill Some. Of the methods
and customs and things that he observed
led him to speak Of the relative, ways Of
the American congress and the British
parliament, of which he was a member
from the early nineties until 1899, when he
resigned because he could not .consci-
entiously remain while England was
waging a, war against the South African
republics Then for a, time he discoursed
on English political institutions and at
fairs with some "reminiscences of his own
strenuous career. Here Is what he said:
H4Ar.'Loolzng down over the house here it
surprises me to see so few members with
bald heads, because, it is in striking con-
trast with the members, of the English
Commons. There a, very large number are
e Id. But think understand the rea-
son. Middle-aged men appear to pre-
dominate here. I notice comparatively
sfewaold men, or young. men. Now, in the
commons the great majority of the mem
bers are either. quite old or quite young.
Another thing is the large number Of
women in plain view in the galleries. I
have visited the house of Representative
on each of the several occasions that
came to washington and have before COM
mented on the facilities for women to
watch the proceedings. In the commons
the women have to. crowd into a gallery,
where they are practically hidden behind
an iron grill work. -
Strange English Customs.
i II observed member a few minutes
ago rise and make some remarks with
out facing the speaker If member Of
the commons did that he would be
promptly caleld to order However, while
the hall of representatives is a magnifi-
cent assembly ROOM as the capitol itself.
and it's location here on a hill overlooking
the country for miles around are the finest
in the world, the hall has one defect-that
is, it is so large that member stand
ing in some parts Of it and facing the
speaker cannot be heard in all parts, I'M
less his enunciation is exceptionally dis
tinct. So it is sometimes necessary for
d member to face around: The house of
commons, as you may know. Will accom-
modate only about 400 OF the 700 mem
bers. When a vote is to be taken on a
very important measure which brings out
a full attendance, chairs have to be placed
in the aisles,s and at that some of the
members have to go to the galleries for
seats ....z =, r
'There has never been disposition to
enlarge the commons chamber. 1t was
DullC many generations ago "nen tIneH
sought election to: parliament not to at
tend the daily sessions and make laws for
the kingdom, but to get into London So,
ciety. In that period, which was in the
reign of Charles l., it was decreed that
forty members should be quorum and
that decree seems to be as immutable as
the British constitution. So long as the
decree stands it is unlikely that the cham
Der will be enlarged. 1t is as inmutable
as the decree which made a little sand
glas sa utility on the clerks desk: When
a point Of no quorum Is raised or 1t is
desired to have adjournment for the day,
the clerk turns the sand glass. Notice is
sounded, in the corridors and committee
rooms If. when the sand Is run out, there
is still no quorum or demand that the
sitting continue, the speaker declares the
house adjourned. And (here Mr.. Davitt
turned a. little jockey believe the British
constitution should be fractured If the
house adjourned without the sand glass
being turned. 1t has been turned reg1l-
larly for the daily adjournment since
Charles I. was king.
- The speaker of the house Of repre-
sentatives Is it appears to me is hedged
In with no more dignity than the members
With US the speaker gets $4,000 year
and a, mansion while he is in office and
when, he retires he receives a pension OF
5000 a, year and a peerage. But the
speaker OF. the commons is very import
ant parsonage. He ranks as the first com
moner of England. He has far more in
fluence than the lord chancellor who is the
presiding officer Of the house of lords for
1t Is well understood that he Is chosen for
his position by the representatives OF the
prevailing sentiment Of the country which
strictly speaking the lord chancellor is
not: Mr.. Sulley the present speaker was
up to the time Of his appointment
regarded by the Irish members as one OF
their English friends OF course, as speak
er, he has to be strictly neutral. But the
Irish members have no fault to find with
Speaker Sulley He is fine type Of the
cultured English gentleman and is highly
respected by all parties in parliament
The Irish OF Mere Agitators.
| by the way the Irish members Of parlia-
ment are not the vioiators of rules and
order in some Of the daily sessions that the
press reports would have it appear. The
reports Of the trouble they create at some
.sittings are aggerated-well i should
say about 10 per cent. They are by. nc
means the persistent disturbers of order
lin parliament that the press ports would