New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-18
THE TYPICAL BUSY DAY OF A BRITISH NJ. P.



his cosey West End study for nearly two hours and
half in cancelling. with fairly satisfactory re-
suits. some heavy arrears OF private work. says
Daniel Chilly, in The Pail Mall Magazine" de-
seribing the days work Of British member Of
Parliament. 1T II o'clock in the fore
noon. and he due in No. Is committee room at
the House of Commons at II 30. A quick drive
aoled him to pass through Palace Yard and draw
UP at the members entrance with minutes to
spare. As he entered the members cloakroom
where legislators prosaically deposit their coats
and umbrellas on common cast iron hooks in the
beautiful cloisters, he met Sir John Bouverie, the
experienced chairman OF the committee to which
he was making his way.
Good morning. Mr.. Segrave' was Sir Johns
salute; am glad to you we'll up to time
Let me tell you that it is only the young man who
is punctual and constant in attending to his
mittee work who hope to make successful
parliamentarian. The House. by itself. breeds
chiefly hores and takers OF dull pattudes. 1t IS in
the committee rooms where ones attention has
be kept keenly rveted the matter In hand. that
our novices get the true groundwork of their bust
ness
Having hung his topcoat and umbrella on his
own special hook and glanced at the latest news,
which the tape machine was merrily clicking out
letter by letter. the member for Bridgeforth
assembled the members staircase.
Passing into the members lobby he saw. he
glanced toward the postofice. in the left hand
ner. that several members were already at the
small window applying for their morning cOrre-
spondence. To save time he crossed the lobby into
the legislative chamber Itself. with a view to secur-
ing a choice seat for the remainder of the day-an
admirable precautOn. not merely because the de-
bate of the evening going be an important
one. but also because he had intention to speak
himself II he could only succeed in catching the
Speakers eye He had already written his name
on the small card bearing the word Prayers which
entities member to any seat for the evening that
he may select. provided he follows up the deposit
ing Of this card on the benches by being present
when the chaplain opens the sitting by saying
prayers. when he remembered that, as he
ing on committee he could his seat,
whether he assisted at prayers not. by taking
larger card and leaving it. along with the smaller
one. in the place he wished to occupy.
This piece Of formality over. his next proceeding
was TO ballot for seats in the Ladies' Gallery,
act Of gaIantry which he rarely neglected. Turn
ing into the NO Division Lobby, the left OF the
Speakers chair. he a small desk at the end
Of this lobby, where he subscribed his name to
ballot paper for the Ladies' Gallery. I suppose 1
shall have my Villanously bad luck again, he
remarked. he folded up the paper and dropped it
into the ballot box. The chances certainly
against him, as, indeed they against every leg
islator who takes part in this lottery. Out of the
hundreds OF members who may daily try their
| chance in this ballot only eighteen win. The
fortunate secure two seats each the day for
which their names come out successfully; but
when they thus favored they are debarred from
balloting again for full week. From this explana
ton it may be seen that members win places
in the Ladies' Gallery very frequently during the
| session
Calling at the postofice. he found that his
| correspondence was exceptionally heavy. A pre-
liminary sorting of his letters enabled him to
sign to the large wastepaper basket. which stands
| beside the postoftice window. number of favors
which required special answer An urgent whip
| from group Of members interested in the Indian
| opium trade asked him to be In his place the
following Friday TO vote for Indian opium bill.
A resolution Of the Central Council OF the Society
/ OF Amalgamated Mechanics drew his attention TO
the alleged iniquity Of certain government meas
Five different pamphlets on five different sub
tects. which In way or another were before the
House for consideration. led him to wonder If any
member had ever been industrious or curious
/ to read all the pamphlets which the post brought
him. Then there the usual deluge OF circulars
! directing his attention wonderfully fine
| wines-to carriages that being offered for
nero song-to cigars the Ike Of which statesman
/ had ever smOked-to fats and houses which were
regally superb in their appontments-tO stationery
| which no self-respectng legislator ought to be
/ without Assisted by the wastepaper basket men
| toned a moment ago. these quickly disposed
| of: but a weighty balance Of communications still
| remained behind, which would need much care and
| time In answering in the course Of the day.
! when he reached No. 10 committee room he was
soon deep in the work of graphing with the details
| Of the gigantic railway scheme embodied in tho
! private bill which being promoted by that
| monarch among railway corporationS-the Great
! METROPOLITAN
some hours his labor here OF the severeSt KIND
Anxious 10 act IN q spirit OF impartial Justice TO all
the large interests involved. he concentrated
attention to the huge mass OF intricate technical
| evidence that submitted and followed the
Epeeches of counsel with keen intellect that kept
| waksfullv alive to every argument adduced To
! leave the room for any length OF time was inpossi-
! b1e "a without his preseSce quorum Of the COM
mittee could not be maintained. and matters would
| then have to come u standstilL Vast issues were
| - hafO
necessary to give rigid scrutiny TO each successive
clause as IL for judge TO sift every atom Of tes-
timony that may be submitted to him In court The
particular labor in which Mr.. Segrave was now en-
! gagged was neither SNOWY exciting-it was not
Of the kind 70 attract popular enthusi-
! asn; but nevertheless. the patient energy OF sir
| John Bouverie and his colleagues meant consld-
erabIe easing Of the pressure under which, without
! II Parliament would have to be driven All COM
rfttee are required 10 suspend their sittngs on the
sneaker taking the chair in the House below. but
| when necessary extension OF time Is given 10
| finish tina examination OF a witness or 10 ANo!u
breo1io, tbe thread of almost completed section
! q, the case at hearing. Such an extension was
necessary on this occasion. and when at length the
committee found itself able to adjourn for the day
| the member for Bridgeforth felt very tagged
Some slight reward awaited him for his strict
| attention 20 duty upstairs, when. on descending
| 20 che members lobby once more. he was
| handed an envelope by an attendant which
| on opening he found TO contain a cara N
| forming him that he had been successful In
his previous days ballot for the Laoles Cal
-, mi. was an unexpected piece of luck. his
| an s,,ccass IN this lottery having become almost
o,,erbial with him One result OF receiving this
! aava vas that the paper which he had dropped
TITO the ballot box few hours earlier would now
| ~ ,saless Assuming that it came out among
| - e. oigb+een It would be simply cancelled BY
| 49, c,als in favor OF the nineteenth name which
| d n be drawn. Nor could he now ballot
| again for another week ~
| "a brief visit TO the chamber where inli44S'e
| - a. the moment answering questions. told MIN
| We -. .-iardIv colleague had duly placed in