Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-02-19
BRILLIANT SCENE IN HOUSE OF PEERS
Clerical and Political Dignitaries Will
Attend In Quaint and Varied Garb.
GREAT CHANGES In uoJsE OF COMMONS
Result of Recent Election Brings
Many New Faces TO the Front
and Interest is Increased
Accordingly.

LONDON, Feb. lo.-1ne first session OF
the second Parliament of the reign of King
Edward VII. and the twenty-seventh OF
the United Kingdom will be opened tomor-
row afternoon by the king Since his ma
jesty ascended the throne nc has personally
opened each Of the six sessions of Pariis-
nient. adding much to that most cers-
nonious occasion. Tomorrow event has
the added interest in that it will be the
first new Parliament to be opened by the
king. but more particularly because of the
great change that has come over the per
sonnel Of the House of Commons as re-
suit Of the recent general election. The
pageant will be much like those that have
gone before. somewhat detracted from by
the absence of the queen. who is at Copen-
hagen to attend the funeral Of her father
King Christian. and the prince and princess
of Wales who are in India and who In
the past have preceded the king and queen
TO Westminster giving additional color to
the show Weather permitting there Will
be no diminution. however, In the size
of the crowds who will turn out to witness
the procession and show their loyalty TO
the sovereign. The quadrangle on which
Buckingham palace faces and all the open
spaces in the vicinity will be crowded with
people. while the mall which skirts St
James park. the horse guards parade
Whitehall and Parliament streets and Old
Palace yard will be lined by thousands
who will stand for hours and for that
reason possibly will cheer more heartily
than ever as the gold crusted state coach
drawn by eight beautifully caparisoned
cream horses passes at a slow walk. The
line OF the procession will be nankcd by
the foot guards and police. not for protec-
ton. but as a part OF the ceremony. while
a sovereigns escort of the Household cav
airy. in addition to detachment of the
Yeomen of the Guard, will act as body
guard The state coach will be preceded
by six state carriages occupied by the
women and men of the household.
In the Chamber OF Peers.
This procession and the return journey
from Westminster TO Buckingham palace
is for the benefit Of the general public.
The great spectacle is for the favored ones,
who will find themselves in the peers
chamber of the House of Lords. There
will gather an imposing assembly of peers,
peeresses. ecclesiastics. judges. ambassadors
and ministers of foreign countries with
their wives. The peeresses will be the first
to arrive and will have taken their places
before the peers reach the House.
Except in the case of the dukes, for
whom a bench Immediately below that of
the duchesses Is reserved. the order Of
precedence among the peers is not OBJ
served, the early arrivals taking their
choice OF the seats and the late ones
wherever they can f1nd room, liberals. con-
servatives. free traders and tariff reform
crs freely mingling All will wear their
heavy crimson robes. The bishops in scar
let robes with long ermine copes, the
Judges in black and gold or crimson and
white. will increase the impressveness of
the scenc. Amidst all this the amba ssadors
and ministers OF foreign nations wearing
their varying uniforms. broad green or
crimson sashes stars and decorations, will
constitute the most brilliant group in the
assembly. Among them Will he whitelaw
Reid. the American ambassador. in plain
black court dress. In tho galleries every
seat will he occupied by somebody Officially
or socially prominent.
Arrival of the King.
The approach of the king, who will be
met at the entrance to tho House of Lords
~ the great officers OF state and escorted
10 the robing room, where he will don his
lnantles OF purple and ernine. will be an
nounced by heralds in medieval tabards
Preceded by ofncers of state bearing the
imperial crown. cap of maintenance and
sword OF state, the latter in its scabbard
held sloft. all having distinctive signih-
cance. the king will proceed TO the House
OF Lords and soon afterwards dispatch the
gentleman usher of the black rod to sum
mon the members OF the House of Com
mons. many OF whom. anticipating the
command, will have already crowded into
the galleries. This will not interfere with
the carrying out of the formslity, hla ok
rod proceeding 70 the lower house and
there delivering the kings message as fol-
lows:
Mr. Speaker the king commands this hon
nrahle house to attend his majesty in the
House OF Lords to hear the kings speech
read
Those who wait patiently for the sum-
mons, chiefly the older members to whom
the ceremony Is not new. will accompany
the speaker to the bar OF the House OF
Lords, whom the king. reading from a
printed copy. will deliver his message 10
the legislators. The forniality will soon
he over and the king will pass out OF the
chamber in the same manner as he entered
II.
what the King May Say.
II is understood that the kings speech
at the opening OF Parliament today will
include an expression of satisfaction for
Great Britains continued peaceful rela.
uons In Europe, especially with France
and desire for friendly solution of the
Moroccan conference. II will also contain
an announcement concerning conditions in
South Africa, the appointment of a COM
mission to proceed thither to examine into
the question Of franchise. and that mean
while the Importation of Chinese to the
Transvaal shall be stopped and that the
terms of the Chinese ordinance be sub
jected TO revision. The suggestion of the
following legislative program will be made
An educational bill trade dispute bill a
workmen's composition act an amend.
ment OF last years act for the relief OF
the unemployed, tho repeal OF the Irist
coercion act. the Introduction of a Scot
tsh education bill and of bills for tn,
equalization of rates In London and Other