The Washington herald., 1910-01-30
WHEN NEW COMMONS MEET
Pecuartes of Procedure the Opening Day in the Lover
Chamber at Westminster.

the Speaker can do nothing; but having
which, there is little that he cannot
do"
As soon as he has concluded his little
address. the leader OF the government
smiles across the body Of the House to
the leader Of the opposition, whereupon
both arise from their seats and conduct
t e speaker-elect to the speakers chair.
Standing before the latter. under its
snopy. and facing the chair, the
speaker-elect beckons to the sergeant
alarms, who. Withdrawing the mace OF
office from beneath the table, places il
Of the House rising VITA one accord to
their feet.
As soon as the mace has been placed
upon the table. the speaker. no longer
elect" but fully installed, gives a signal
10 the members TO reseat themselves, and
then the leader Of the government party
delivers a brief speech OF congratulation,
| IN response 10 which the speaker "un-
reservedly places" himself an the hands
Of the House"
Then, as people are just beginning
TO wonder what will happen next, the
speaker rises again to his feet, and in
his official volce-a distinctly different
and more authoritative organ than that
employed during the earlier proceedings
-exclaims: The question is that this
house viii now adjourn"
No objection being taken, the speaker
leaves his chair. and when he resumes
it, an hour OF so later. he is no longer
in plain street dress. but arrayed IN the
robes, the knee breeches. silk stockings,
and the full-bottomed wig Of his Office.
The members are then sworn in, this
ceremony taking place subsequent TO his
election. The speaker is therefore chosen
by the members before they have been
sworn in.
II is mentioned just above that the
speaker in acknowledging lis election
invariably requests that he may have the
support Of every member. without
which the speaker can do nothing. but
| having which there IS little he cannot
| do 1t is a question. indeed, whether
/ the speaker OF the House OF Commons
is not the most powerful parsonage OF
the British empire.
For the latter IS governed by Parlia-
/ nlent, representing the VIII OF the people
and by ministers N state. representing
/ the majority OF votes in the national
| legislature; and it is the speaker who Is
| the supreme authority over Parliament
| that is 10 say, the most important pOr-
ton thereof, namely, the House OF Com.
mons.
| BY virtue OF his Office. which by stat,
ute Of the reign Of King William and
| Queen Mary, bears the title Of FRS
commoner OF the land. he can suspend
a member he can stop the prime min
ister on a point Of procedure; he car
decide the most momentous constitutions
| questions by few words spoken IN pri
vate conference behind the chair he caI
| overru!e the cabinet on points which ma!
be vital 10 its policy. and which ma!
either enhance or diScredit the aUthorit,
OF the House; and il Is he alone who de
cides who IS % speak and who is 10 re
main silent. No secretary Of state, no
even the premier himself, is able 10 ad
dress a single remark in Parliament with
out having previously obtained the per
mission Of the first commoner by mean
OF the peculiar process known as catch
Ing the speakers eye"
There IS no optic in the world that Ia
played so important a part in histor.
as the eye" OF the speaker Of the Brit
ish House Of Commons. Its powers an
rights are based. like the English con
stitut!on, not on written Law. but on lon
established custom and tradition.
Very often several members arise 4
their places at one and the same time
lendeavoring 20 arrest the wandering Opt
Of the speaker. and fl is then free Z
that august Tunctionary 20 make hi
selection, and 70 indicate the member VII
has his permission 10 speak. This h
does, not only by means Of a look. bu
also by an inclination OF his head, an