Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-07
lament house Is legally known. and Is re-
sponsible to his majesty for its care and

lament house Is legally known. and Is re-
sponsible to his majesty for its care and
safety. There are postmasters and several
other officials with similar salaries.
The official staff of the house is perma-
nent, although the several members are
formally reappointed at the beginning of
every new parliament. Changes are seldom
made. Sometimes man retires for age and
is given pension; sometimes a man drops
out voluntarily to accept a better position.
Several minor officials Of the house have
been elected to seats on the floor. The rule
of seniority Is strictly observed in making
staff began at the bottom and worked up.
Service In the British parliament Is life
career. The same is true in the house of
lords, where there Is a similar staff receiv-
ing similar salaries.
The Lord Chancellor.
The presiding officer of the house Of lords
Is the lord chancellor of England, who re-
ceives a salary Of $4,000 year. His pri-
vate secretary receives $1,000; his deputy
presiding officer, who acts as chairman of
the committee Of the whole, receives a sal
airy Of $12,5OO The clerk receives $4,000;
the sergeant-at-arms, $4,000. and other Of
flcials corresponding salaries. The gentle
man usher Of the black rod, General Sir
Michael Alfred Shrapnel Biddulph, K.C.B.,
receives salary OF 5000 year. The Of
fcials Of the house of lords consider them
the house of commons for obvious reasons.
and are the objects of almost universal
envy because their salaries are so large.
their work is so light. their duties are SO
agreeable, their position Is SO distinguished.
their employment is permanent and they
receive generous pensions when they retire.
Probably no other individuals In all Eng
land draw such large salaries for so little
work. The house of lords seldom sits more
than an hour or two a day, and only once
or twice a week for three or four months
in the year. During the rest of the year the
employees have to entertain themselves.
More Members Than Seats.
There are not half as many seats in the
house of commons there are members.
There are no desks and no writing or con-
versation or reading of newspapers is al
lowed. The benches are arranged in the
form of a rectangular amphitheater with
the speaker at the narrow end opposite the
entrance. Seats are not assigned, but the
members Of the government always occupy
the first bench at the right Of the speaker,
which Is known as "the government bench -
and the leaders Of the opposition occupy the
first bench at the left Of the speaker, which
Is known as "the opposition bench" Some
times obstreperous members seize the seats
of the leaders out of spite or to show their
contempt, but such tactics are frowned
upon Many years ago an eccentric men,
Der, named Cobb, always came to the house
before time for the opening Of the session
in order to secure the first place on the gov
eminent bench, which is always occupied
by the prime minister, who at that time was
Sir Robert Peel, his bitterest enemy. This
Cobb could show his contempt, and 1t gave
him great satisfaction. but Sir Robert calm
ly sat down beside him in the next place
and pretended not to notice the insult.