New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-02
LEGISLATIVE VAST
Glimpses of English Parliame,,
Partisanship.

tHe SOOu seHSs VI leslSld1lVe methods Thas 20
bill has been discussed for 275 bon-- llsla
budget resolutions. second reading ana o
sittings in committee. and only min. -. ''sa
seventy-fOUr clauses have been carris5 ia
to accomplish this beggarly result the -u'@
has divided its forces into relief ,,-s5
counteracted organized resistance from, ~. sat
ing sections Of the Opposition: and ,s.- .'.nAi.
been exhausting all night sessions vi,b ls's
Gus operation OF closure While the ,0,.-1as'
has an overwhelming majority. and r,, s...asns
registers it's will by sheer physical 4,-eJ
is prolonged struggle over every cI,r.-@s's
line OF the land section, and night - aa
for one-half Of each week minister, - On
of the bill are subjected to an intoIsrabI.- a
and members crawl out OF the Hous. !. 10
in the morning, pale faced, worn out a. ~
worst possible temper. From ever, .,~s
view this procedure is scandaIous ana -
i've. The closure is not avoided: sco-a, -
ments are passed over; no clause ~ r. s-s
adequately discussed or thoroughly rsvi.,s.
power Of the majority is not eSectiv.l,, 70
cised; the Opposition is unable to obs,-,...s
cisively this revolutionary financial 7,s..,-
the House is worn out with fatiR1a ana 4a
lessness- The Marian critic in the pals-,.
be likely to say that within the ranss. - -.
planetary courses there were no fools IN. IA US
fish legislators. ''F
The wonder grows when the system, a.
tive administration is scrutinized. Thu $50
Ministers are mainly in the lower bo,.. -
are conducting the business OF their oA5c..-
they are not tramping through the divfs,o, -
bfes and nodding on the benches AZ all 49,
the night. Such leisure as they have 49,
the early morning adjournment OF The -
and the reassembIing OF the weary and -
lent legislators is engrOssed with consul,,.,.-
with permanent officials. interviews with 49,
cations, attendance at Cabinet meetinev. -
OF correspondence and other business
They have social and political area,.
without end. and are constantly called nro, !.
make addresses out Of Parliament In go.
favorable circumstances IL is killing wo., =
responsible ministers OF the crown and -
there is a ceaseless drone Of debate dav -
night IL becomes absolutely nurderouv n.
direction and defence Of the budget fan r,s,u,,
upon the Chancellor OF the Excheouer. tina h.
tOrney General and Mr.. Masterman. and vhH.
they relieve one another and are sonetf,as -.
infOrced by Mr.. Haldane. they are ovsrvar,.s
week after week. and overwhelmed with "a
maddening pressure OF detailed criticism, ana
partisan obstruction. In no other CIVILIZED com,
try are ministers exposed 70 a similar strain
In no other capital are legislators subjected "a
all-night sessions month after month and
spurred and whipped up 70 their work by sucs
eXhausting processes. A broksn-doWn, sBaviust
body &C officials and political hacks viii b
turned out TO pasture when the session enis
some time before Christmas
The Marian observer on crossing the eorTi.
doris and glanciHg at the empty benches Of the
House OF Lords would be impressed with the
contrast between the two legislative haIla ssl-
dom indeed Is there anything doing on taat SIDE
of Westminster. The Lords ordinarily meet tF
ten or fifteen minutes once or twice a week ana
except when Lord Roberts brings in universal
service bill or some other persistent peer mounts
a hobby and shows a few progresses IN the ga
lery how well he can ride il the proceedings are
perfunctory. conversational and brief ne
Lords have not had any important work % d
since the opening OF Parliament in February
and II is not unlikely that they will order a long
adjournment and enjoy their shooting while he
struggle over the budget goes on in the CON
mons.
Only one Of the two engines or Legislation q
operation. but it is not unlikely that the ids
one will be abruptly started late in the aufulA
so as to reverse the action OF the one nov nov
ing at high pressure night and DAY. Lord Lans
downe has sounded a warning that when tass
are two legislative chambers. one OF them can
not be allowed absolute discretion in imposing
upon the nation any burden, however non
strous and tntoIerable or any new financial So
tenn. however subversive of society. Ths Fflu'
Minister will not explain in advance OF the CON
stitutional crisis what advice he will oaef
the King. but the contingency is one o. ~
r.aT
house is Iaboring breathlessly while the o'ns'
doing nothing and IN the end the sXhauSAHs
labors Of the Commons may prove fuuis -.
the idle lords return from their shoo'IsS
butcher the budget.
When an American or Frenchmah "a-14 49,.
from the gallery what goes NAT Westifps.-
he is likely to comment upon the waste OF ua'
and the ineptitude OF the legislative proves.
Both in Paris and in Washington measures
critically examined ny expert committees "a
revised more or less scientifically before -
report to the House. Debate is restri''s
time and the will Of the majority prevais -
derby course The functions Of the upper -.
are definitely. known. and no. vaguely '9-..s
ured from remote precedents ana sl,.,.a
rulings. and there are thOrough and wen V'I 80
processes Of revision. and when there s.~s
divergence of opinion between the '"a-,.,.sl
compromises are effected by joint Oi'-.,sn
on give-and-take principles. To the - n
or French spectator the English u''. .'..,,,s
LEGISLATION must appear clumsy ana "'-. ,ssa
How can there be any other JudsH'I~ .,1ssa
protracted sessions end in a deadoVA = n.
the houses and ministers, and meih0e
terlv worn out with exhausting laoVis ,,..f q.
Whatever may be the lessons OF pO". trona
perience in Mars. the holiday ouHs.- ~
either washington or Paris will be ani'- IVES.
the resources of invective employed a. !. ursr
minister Everything that is done or Is :, D car
to happen in public life is condemned y. y coa.
tisans as revolutionary The ConiiO 1.s,, is pro
sidering a budget in which land taNa'' md press
posed. and the Unionist land owners . -, riulF
unite in denouncing the conduct o. o,tsmpt %
ters as revolutionary. II the Lorus =, they %