Evening star., 1905-11-04
"MR. SPEAKER"
Compensation and Perquisites Of the
First Commoner of the Realm.

Michael MacDonagh In the Nineteenth century ana
After.
Above ALL Mr. Speaker must be scrupu-
lously fair, absolutely just, in rulings which
affect any Of the political sections of the as
sembly, for the most precious attribute or
the chair of the house of commons ls I'M
partiality. The speaker, like the king, Is
supposed to have no politics. That Is now
a recognized constitutional principle Or
course, he must have been returned to the
house originally as a political partisan 1t
follows also that on his first appointment
to the chair he was necessarily the choice,
or the nominee, of the political party which
at the time was in the majority.
But whether the speaker is first desig-
mated by the government or carried by the
majority of the government, he Is Deing
conducted by his proposer and seconder
from his place on the benches to the chair
he doffs his vivid party colors, be they bun
or blue, and wears. instead, the white flower
of a neutral political life, and once in the
chair he is regarded as the choice of the
whole house, from which his authority is
derived and in whose name it is exercised.
Henceforth he sits above all parties. Hence
forth he has no political opinions TO bias
his rulings from the chair. So he remains
speaker-being reelected unanimously at
the first meeting Of each new parliament
until he decides to resign or is removed by
death.
In former times the speaker was paid a
salary of f5 day, and a fee of f5 on every
private bill. This fluctuating income was
replaced Dy q 0XeQ salary tO,UUU a year
on the election of Henry Addington to the
chair in 1850. 1t also decided at the
same time that the sum of f1,OOO equipment
| money was to be given to the speaker on
his first appointment. Charles Abbot states
In his Diary that he paid his predecessor
in the chair, Freeman Milford, 91,060 for
the state coach, built in 1TO1, and still in
existence; f1000 for wine and 95O0 for
house furniture. The official residence or
the speaker then adjoined, as now, the
house of commons.
After the fire of 1884, which destroyed the
speakers house, with the house Of parlia-
ment, a residence was provided for the
speaker in Eaton Square. The present
house, conspicuous wing of the Palace of
Westminster, with Its carved stone work
and Gothic windows. extending from the
clock tower to the river close to west
minister bridge. was first occupied by John
Evelyn Denison in 1857. 1t Is furnished by
the state and the speaker enjoys it free OF
rent rate, taxes, coal and light.
In the reign of William " the salary of
the chair was reduced from 10000 to f5 go,
| to be paid, free of all taxes. out of the con-
solidated fund.- but for the first time an
official secretary, with salary OF $780, was
attached to the office. The ancient allow
ance of f1,00O as equipment money upon
first appointment still continues. There are
also some quaint yet pleasant little per-
quisites attaching to the Office. The master
of the buckhounds sends the speaker every
year buck and a doe from the royal pre-
serves at Windsor, and from the Cloth
workers Company of London comes, as
Christmas present, a generous width of the
best broadcloth.
The speaker gives several official enter
tainments during the parliamentary ses-
sion. There are dinners to the ministers,
to the leaders of the opposition and to pri-
vate members According to long estah-
ished custom member who accepts au in
vitation to dine with Mr. Speaker is re-
quired to appear either In uniform or court
dress. In the house of commons Joseph
Hume made frequent attacks on a custom
which, as he objected to wear court dress,
shut him out from the pleasure of sitting
at table with Mr.. Speaker. Cobden dur
ing his twenty-four years in the house OF
commons, from 1S41 to 1865 felt himself
constrained for the same reason to refuse
the speakers invitations to dinner John
Bright was another distinguished member
of the house who protested against this
restriction as to the suitable dress In which
to appear at the speakers table. But the
rule Is still rigidy enforced
The only departure from II was made by
Mr.. Speaker Peel. during the short liberal
parliament OF 1895. when he formed a sep
arate dinner party OF the labor members
OF the house, and ttild them they might
! come without any restriction as to dress;
but that precedent. at least, has not once
been followed at Westminster
| The speaker is attired at these functions
In black velvet court suit. knee breeches
with silk stockings, steel handled sword
/ by his side and lace ruffles around his neck
and wrists. The table and huge sideboards
In the oak paneled rooms are spread with
magnificent old plate, and the walls hung
with portraits Of many famous first COM
moners-" Mr.. Speaker was created first
commoner of the realm" by an act OF the
reign of William and Mary, and as such he
has precedence OF all the commonaity. that
mighty crowd outside the peerage.