Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-07
.ELECT|NG A SPEAKER
Customs Of the British House
of Commons.
CHOOSING CHIEF OFFICER
Position Not Ruled by Politics and
Practically Permanent.
Is PAID $4,000 ANNUALLY
The Lord Chancellor Occupies the Cor
responding Place in the House Of
Lords-Receives $4,000.
IS PAID $4,000 ANNUALLY
BY WILLIAM e. CURTIS.

Written for The Star and the Chicago Record.
Herald.
The speaker of the British house Of COM
mons is the Right Honorable James William
Lowther. who was elected last spring with
out opposition by quaint procedure, which,
like other parliamentary customs. has been
In use for ages. The speakership is not
political office and is practically permanent.
The previous speaker, William Court
Gully. occupied the chair for more than
twenty years consecutively until his death.
He was member from Carlisle and be-
longed to the conservative party. Mr.. Low
Their comes from Penrfth. and has always
been elected without opposition. He is
liberal in politics. but has never been pro-
nounced partisan.
Election Of Speaker.
When the present house of commons as
sembled the clerk. who is not permitted to
speak. arose from behind his desk and
pointed his finger at the late Sir Wilfred
Lawson. the father of the house. who had
been member longer than any one else.
Sir Wilfred evidently understood what was
expected of him. for he arose and nomi-
mated Mr. Lowther for speaker. He put the
motion himself. announced that the vote
was unanimous. and conducted Mr.. Lowther
to the chair. The latter returned thanks in
a graceful manner, and the house sat 81
lently for a few moments, until the SER
geant-at-arms of the house of lords called
1.-The usher of the black rod" approached
the door of the chamber, which had pre-
viously been closed for that purpose, and
struck one of the panels three times with
his black rod
When the sergeant arms OF the COM
mons opened the door the black rod humbly
prayed for the privilege Of entering for the
purpose of delivering a message to the
members of the house of commons. Hav-
ing been conducted through the area in
front of the speaker the black rod an
nounced that the honorable members of the
house of commons were desired to attend
the house of lords. All Of these phrases are
historical and cannot be tempered with.
Many years ago, when there was an intense
feeling of jealousy between the two houses,
the black rod arrogantly announced that
the attendance Of the members of the COM
by the house of lords. and they emphatically
refused to go. The ceremony had to be re-
peated. and the invitation presented In
proper manner the next day.
Ceremony in the Lords.
When the black rod retired the speaker
arose from his chair, and. followed by the
officers and members of the house in pro-
cession. marched across Westminster palace
to the house of lords. where he announced
that:
His majesty's faithful commons. In obe-
dience to his majesty's command, had
elected speaker. and, as the object of
their choice, he submitted himself with all
humility to his majesty's gracious approba-
ton"
The lord chancellor, president of the house
of lords, representative of the king, arose
from the chair and announced that "his
majesty most fully approved the choice,
and confirmed the Right Honorable William
James Lowther as speaker of his faithful
commons"
The speaker, then, approaching the bar,
declared that the house of commons
"humbly claimed all its ancient rights and
privileges and, these being confirmed, he
bowed to the lords, and. followed by the
procession in order, returned to the house
of commons.
Having reassembled, the speaker, standing
upon his chair, took the ordinary oath of
allegiance to the king, and afterward ad-
ministered 1t to the other members, except
ing those who affirmed, on account OF their
religious belief
The speaker of the British house receives
g. salary Of $4,000 year and has suite
of apartments in the parliament house
which are luxuriously furnished and pro-
vided with servants at government ex-
pense, while the speaker of the American
house Of commons receives a salary of
5000, from which he is permitted to pay
his own house rent and the hire Of his
servants.
mons has a deputy, with a salary of $4,000
a year. who relieves him Of much labor and
presides over the proceedings when the
speaker is usually promoted to the chair
upon the retirement of his principal. Mr..
Lowther was deputy speaker for twelve
years. The deputy speaker is always chair
and means, which. however. has very diff
ferent Jurisdiction from that exercised by
the committee Of the same name in our
Congress. It's duties are similar to those
of the house committee of club. 1t super
vises the organization, the restaurant, the
stationery room, the printing and all the
business affairs of the house There Is a
deputy chairman Of the ways and means
committee. who looks after details.
officials Of the Commons.
By some ancient statute or custom the
clerk and the sergeant-at-arms of the
house of commons are appointed by the
king and cannot be removed without his
consent. They are the representatives Of
the throne In charge of the property Of the
government.
The clerk, Sir Courtney P. Ilbert, has a
salary of $4,000 year and the following
staff:
/. Chief assistant clerk, 1900
q Second assistant clerk. 5000.
g. Four assistant clerks at 81, 500 each.
H. Six assistants at 81 600 each.
g. Twelve reporters of debates and COM
mittee stenographers at $1,000 each and an
equal number at 81, 500 each.
The speaker of the commons also has
large staff, as follows:
l. Legal counsel, Sir E. Chandos Leigh,
salary $1,000 year, who gives advice upon
parliamentary questions and other matters
which the speaker does not like to decide
for himself.
2 Private secretary, the Honorable Ed
ward Gully, son of the late speaker, to
whom he was also secretary salary 81, 800.
8. Three assistants to the secretary, who
are stenographers, at salaries of $500,
81. 500 and $1.C0o year
4. Train bearer who carries the train of
the speakers robe as he enters and leaves
the chamber, who acts as keeper of the
robe and as valet and confidential messen-
ger Of the speaker, 81 GOO.
5. Chaplain of the house. the Rev. Arch
deacon Wilberforce, salary $1,000.
6. Two Librarians with salaries Of 81, 500
and 81 200 year.
T. Examiner of bills. whose duties are to
study all proposed legislation and submit
briefs for the information of the speaker,
which is Entirely superfluous, because the
speaker has nothing to do with legislation,
and probably nevE reads the brief of the
bills.
g. There are two taking masters but I
was not StQe to find any one able to ex-
plain to me what their duties are, hence 1t
is to be inferred that they are the relics
of some ancient custom which has become
obsolete like 1.-THE kings champion" who a