New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-17
THE BRITISH COMMONS.
4 RustysMackine Cracking Again
q =. Playing the Game.
LONDON. July Z

"a ot.en repaired and stiffened are clutches
,vhfch 90 not bear her weight She cannot con-
-rol hey own time, nor transact ordinary bust
ress nor discuss questions Of real importance.
1egsa.ion Of every class is blocked either in the
,-o-p mons CT n committee: and even debate is
o,rt-ucted hen subjects ike tariff reform, the
commercial crisis IN South Africa the Army
.-or,-lssson's report. the Tibetan expedition and
chinese labor are brought forward. July has
o,.sped With government business in arrears the
Licensing bill hung Up in committee. the Aliens
hill boueiessly INSTRUCTED in Standing Committee
ana aB other measures sidetracked and, while
The session has been wasted in dilatory and in
significant debate, there is discussion Of great
gustions in which the country is deeply in
rerested. The government has majority Of %
gen when al OBJECTIONS on its own benches are
Accounted for; and the Prime Minister is one OF
the best racUcians ever seen at Westminster;
1et business IS blocked all along the line and
closure by compartments is necessary If the
budget IS 10 be carried and single number OF
an exceptionally light legislative programme
completed Meagre as are the results Of the
session. everybody in the Commons has been
kept o. the march IN the division Hobbies. and
constantly harasse6 by warnings from the
whips. Veterans on each side % the House ad-
nit that there has not been IN their remem-
branoe < more wearisouae and irritating session
NJ. Ba-four himself arranged reformed pro-
cedylre. which was designed 10 prevent obsrruc-
ton and 10 enable the ma5ority in the Commons
u control the business Of the session; but apart
from The shortening Of the question hours and
TIE regulation Of dinners and weekend visits,
little has been accomplished Obstruction has
been conducted by groups and gueriIlas on The
Opposition side. without system or Dreconcerted
Ilanl bur il has been as effective and demoralz-
HaS IN ne
The government supporters have been constant
" exposed 10 anlbuscades surprises and IN
expected divisions. and their spirits have been
impaired by enforced attendance early and late
when matters Of simple routine are transacted
They have been kept on guard ana rung Ip
from the committee rooms. tea. dining and
smoking rooms when debates were dragging
and when dilatory motions were the chief source
81 excitement; and the government measures
have been loaded down with trivial amendments
and one Of them has been held up By organized
resistance in Standing Committee. II has been
most difficult for the Prime Minister and the
whips 10 enforce discipline when the warfare is
so Insignificant and business in the House so
dull; and attendance at all hours has been
severe test OF party loyalty. Unionist Free
Traders who have not crossed the floor OF the
House with Mr. Churchill and Major Seely
aware that their seats will be challenged by
tariff re1ormers at the general elections. and CO
not find 81 agreeable 10 sacrifice their time and
comfort for The benefit OF an ungrateful govern
rnent- There are also many Conservatives who
have decided not 10 stand for Parliament al the
next general elections and they consider the
daily muster OF the governments forces al 3 and
al q o'clock most irksome. when they have no,
zesF for small politics and are languidlv serv-
ing out the remnant OF their term. II these cir
r11fr Pal
four undoubtedly is, could succeed in keeping
his followers together.
Mr.. Winston Churchill was the ceverest OF the
youngsters on the Conservative side until he
crossed the floor OF the House as a convinced
Free Trader; and he Is now cooperating with
the most brilliant debater on the Liberal benches
IN obstruction manRuvres. These dashing cam
paigners do not wait FOR signals from the front
Opposition bench. but take advantage Of every
opportunity for harRssing the government and
'TeIarding public business They know what
they are about, even when Sir Henry Campbell
Bannerman and Mr.. Asquitb are nodGing al
their posts and the whips are dazed and waiting
for instructions; and they have rallied about
them determined body OF followers who ike
decisive leadership. Nj Churchill who inherits
much OF has fathers political ability has carried
obstruction upstairs into the Standing Com
on the Aliens bin TO q line or even word al Z
sitting. He has also been most active IN OBJ
s1rueting the passage OF the Licensing bill and
las irrltated the amiable Prime Minister by his
GOODNESS, energy and resource While he and Mr.
'@a0yo-George, who has the sharpest tongue and
me readlest wiz IN the Commons have failed 20
OHg about any great stroke, they have impart-
&c new courage and aggressive force 20 the Op-
Position benches; and they have mastered the
Art OF cogging legislative business by serious
discussion Of side issues and petty details Pos
SHY. IN their ardor for guerilla warfare they
nave been too active sk1r-nishers, for they have
gwen the Prime Minister pretext for applying
drastic methods OF closure az an unusually early
gage
Closure by sections was MI Gladstone's inven-
I'oa Tor securing the passage OF the Home Rule
OIL when It had been discussed for twenty
eight days and the forces in opposition were
Dent upon wasting tine and wearing out the
Prime Minister'S patience. The same expedien-
vas employed by Mr.. Balfour IN carving the
-aoeation BIZ. but lot until Il had been dis
eAsseo Tor thirty-eight days Two other meas
~ies nave been enacted by similar means so thai
Ge procedure has been sanctioned By both par
~es. M. Saltour. IN taking the same course
VIA the Licensing bill, Is not bringing into use
lew mechanism, but Is merely applying II when |
's SIX Gays have been occupied with detailed |
seusslon OF the measure Partisans on each
1--e are making a great ado over this contro-
sE out II is doubtful II the public takes a
se-'oas Interest In IT, The Opposition leaders
- iagns when they assert that the business OF
s- SESSION has been mismanaged that the Licen-
;. ''A was kept back too long and that the use
-. suiiiotine is hardly justiiable when there
- DeeA So little discussion; and the Opposition.
-'-- me exception OF the Irish group Is united
OAEi1ng Resistance 10 it. Ministers, on the