Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-28
HOUSE OF COMMO Ms
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AMERI-
CAN AND FOREIGN CUSTOMS.
Strange Accidents to Speeches Elk
plained-Unspoken Words
Printed.
From the London Mail.

FROM the London MAIL.
There are three estates in parliament,
said Macauay once in a speech in the
house of commons, "but in the reporters
gallery yonder there sits fourth estate
more important than them ALL
This famous declaration-which is now
regarded generally not as a mere rhetorical
figure of speech, but as the literal truth
was not received with loud and prolonged
cheers by the representatives of the press.
In the French chamber of deputies it is
a common episode for the reporters to APP
plaud sentiments in accord with the policy
of the newspapers they represent uttered
by representatives on the floor below. The
only incident of the kind that ever &C.
Cured in the press gallery of the house of
commons was when an eXcitable reporter
on the staff of the Dublin Freeman's Jour
nal enthusiastically waved a copy of that
organ about his head and loudly cheered on
the conclusion of Gladstone's great speech
introducing the home rule bill of 1886
Speaking to the Reporters.
In the gallery the reporters are most or
derry. They never display their feelings
there. But in the writing rooms be-
hind, where the reporters, after bad
quarter of an hour in the box wrestle with
the hieroglyphics on their note books, tories
may be heard denouncing Mr.. Brodrick for
dropping his voice. and radicals SAYING un-
complimentary things of Mr. Asquith for
tearing along at rate no shorthand writer
could oyertake.
Nor are the reporters proud Members
make show of addressing their remarks
to the chair Mr.. Speaker, SIR" each be-
gins Ihey also pretend in their elaborate
SNOW OF argument to be anxious to bring
honorable gentlemen on the opposite side
OF the house around to their own views
and opinions. Instances of votes having
peen diverted by speech from one lobby
tory of parliament No, the volume of
talk, talk, talk. which flows unceas nelv
during the session, is intended exclusively
Tor the journalists, busy with pen and pen
Gil III the gallery over the speakers chair.
A Small Audience.
During the time of dining-between Z and
o'clock-when as a rule the undist in
gufshed members of the house have the
only opportunity at their disposal of stat
ing their views an honorable gentleman
may be seen addressing an audience con-
slsting solely, so far as the floor of the
mouse Is concerned, of the speaker and the
clerks at the table He however is NOT in
the least disconnected by the meagerness
or his audience. He has sent the manu-
script or his speech to the local organ of
ms constituency, or he Is aware that the
representative OF that newspaper is in the
reporters gallery taking down almost every
word that falls from his lips. Why, then
should he bother because his colleagues
prefer the delights Of the smoking room.
the dining room or the terrace to listening
to him?
A few years ago there happened to be
two members named Power in the Irish
party. John wrote out a most eloquent
speech, which he proposed to deliver in an
approaching Irish debate and sent 1t be-
forehand to Dublin daily newspaper.
Reported, but Not Delivered.
On the night of the debate the other
Power (Richard) succeeded in first catch
ing the speakers eye,' and next morning
the Dublin daily newspaper, assuming it
was John that had spoken, came out with
the report, five columns long, of grand
speech. which, though it was plentifuliy
supplied with Cheers loud laughter"
hear, hear and cries of mo, no." had
never been delivered.
That night, when copies of the Dublin
daily newspaper were delivered at the
house of commons. John had to endure an
unmerciful amount of banter. Yet he boldly
got up in the house later on. amid roars of
derisive cheers and laughter. and proceeded
to deliver-an entirely different, but quite
as eloquent speech.
Such Incidents contribute to the fun of
reporting parliament.