Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1904-10-17
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
HOW PARLIAMENT VOTES.

The way in which the British Par
lament conducts itself is ever won
der and u joy to the Americans, says
the New York Sun in humorous &c.
count of the proceedings. The trans
atlantic visitor gets into the gallery
somehow while the session is on, and
wants to know why the King is not
there; why the Speaker wears wig
and why the members wear their hats
why
''S-s-s- s-h-h" says an attendant.
Quiet. There's going to be divi-
sion"
sturdy figure begins to speak. He
leaves no doubt in anybodys mind
that he lacks faith in the existing
government. He thinks it should be
poleaxed. Failing to find a precedent
for massacring the prime minister off
hand. he moves that matter of a
few hundred pounds be knocked off
some appropriation or other. Or may
be he wants something else. His rea-
son for torturing the government does
not matter at ali. When he is through
big Scotchman leans forward and
seconds his motion.
Then another member climbs out of
his recumbent position. He is bored
at being disturbed. Words fail him
to express his utter Indifference to
what the previous speakers think
about anything, especially the govern
ment. Both gentlemen are useless EN-
expects the decent and clean-minded
part Of the House to stand by him.
"Now's the division" says the at
tendant to the American in the gal
lery. ITS fun"
The Speaker raps with his gavel and
calls the perfunctory, order. Or
DER"
AS nobody is out of order. he puts
the question to the ayes and noes
"Division"' yells everybody at once.
glass and turns it.
Then many things happen. Bells
ring. They ring everywhere. They
rouse up sleeping members and disturb
conversations. They wake up po-
liceman He has been sound asleep
but in the tenth of second after the
shout of "Division.' comes rafting
through the corridors he is on his feet
bawling out the word.
"Division"' roars a basso- prof,lndC
tn, I
passes on. Bells ring Tall gentlemen
and fat gentlemen in frocks and short
coats are dashing madly about. The
astonished and unenlightened locker.
on asks, where's the fire."
The gentlemen bolt into the House
They run and jump and lose their hats
and tempers, and the swinging doors
clash backward and forward. They
have been attending to business fairs.
or dawdling over lunch, or quarreline
over billiards; but now the bells and
the cries mean that the fate of the
universe is in the balance. and quick
action is necessary
In exactly three minutes the Speak.
and the doors shut with a suddenness
which collides unpleasantly with be.
lated members.
The Speaker begins to order the divi
sion. but is interrupted by very
young member who rises to ii point OF
order.
Hat" tliunders good half of the
House, and the young member recalls
the rule which forbds point of order
being made standing or uncovered and
blushingly puts on his hat But he
sticks to his point. He wants to know
what it is all about, and the Speaker
tells him.
The supporters of the government
file out of one door and the Liberal
benches empty into another. AS the
members trickle through they are told
Off by the tellers. The members re.
turn to their seats.
The very air is intense with appre-
hension. Then one of the clerks re.
ceives a slip Of paper and shouts ont
figures. and there Is a roar from one
side Of the House. The doors open
and the members begin hurryng out
Some of them are still befogged.
Look here. williamson" says one
to friend who is whrling past. What
was it all about?'
II don't know replies Williamson.
Don't know at ALL
They reach the yard and get back
to their occupations, disheveled and un.
certain.
The American visitor has seen how
Parliament votes.