The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-08-03
STUDYING LABOR CONDITIONS
ABROAD
Continued from Page Fifteen.)

AS a spectator in the House Of Com
none, / spent one our one evening
listening to the debate. [ was given a
seat on that little bench for eight per-
sons Under" the gallery, where a Sc
lect few constituents are at times per-
nitted to whisper to members during
the progress of the debates and bills.
The oak panelled hall as we all have
SO often read is the reverse OF spac-
ious without desks, and with two, long
sets Of uncomfortable benches running
lengthWise and mounting upward from
a quandrangular area in the middle.
To get the go members into the 476
narrow seats, being quite Impossible,
the over flow on field day must take to
the galleries. AS l saw it, the force
operating the LAY making mill was
about $50, the opposition and tie code
Government facing each other opposite
rows of benches except that the abor
and that the Irish members are seated
en- the same side with the same side
with the opposition.O On the first of the
lower benches are the heads of depart
ments seated in line, looking sQuare1y
into the eyes Of the prominent mem
bers Of-the party who want their
places. AS the discussions are carried
on mainly by these " platOons the
scene is at times gladiatorial. Mr..
Lyon George and Mr.. BalfOur were
tossing repartees and compliments
from time to time during the proceed
ings which / witnessed. The famed
House of Commons manner of
speech was so closely adhered to
that individuality in addressing the
house was hardly observable. This I
was told, was especially the case as the
body was in committee. | enjoyed the
action with a lively appreciation. The
accepted Code Of mannerism for a
speaker in this gentlemen'S debating
club begin with an apologize de-
meanOr on the arising; then
come a preparatory smile and a hest
tating utteranCe. AS he proceeds his
voice, in thin conversational tone, the
speaker frequently stammers Il, [, L,
or "ah, all, ah," meant to be expressive
Of a brain working profoundly but
difidently and modestly. AS if, how
ever, hooking at his own possible SER
~iousness, a vein Of fippancy runs
through the honorable members re-
marks. [ am told any display Of feel
ing, a ring in the tones, a play Of deep
or high voice, would be deemed out OF
place. To the listening members be-
longing the right to show approval or
disagreement. Those who side with
the speaker some times loudly say
Hear, Heart" while his opponents de-
ris:vely utter "Oh, OH Wavelets Of.
these expressions which occasionally
swell to waves accompanied every adj
dress I heard, however brief. A fea-
ture of the session not to be over
looked was hat far toward the ceiling
in the squeeze of q small gallery be-
hind q lattice work sat a few
the wives of members. Since the
suffragette 'invasion'' of the House Of
Commons. women who are not related
to members are nOt admitted to the
House.
The bill under discussion was the
80 4Ao+ ~n~$ fhA hocfc
vested rights into shock and shivers-
that providing for the taxation of land
values. I was much interested in listen
ing to the speeches on the subjects as
on many q Summer and winter evening
in America, through the course Of the
last thirty years, I have heard the sub
ject more than preached by impassion-
ed Single Takers. But as the debate
on various clauses of the bill proceed
cd it became apparent thai the con
fscation" SO feared by opponents of
this tax is yet many a long day off.
ri A-onr;oop Cvcfonn Of tavsnr -ooV