Evening star., 1911-06-11
RULED BY MINISTRY
Latter Has Things Its Own
Way in Commons.
MAKES SURE OF BILLS
No Policy Advanced Until It Is Ger
tain of Success.
HOW MEASURES ARE PREPARED
Compromises and Concessions to
Members Necessary to Insure
Adoption Of Laws.
HOW MEASURES ARE PREPARED
Special From a STAFF Correspondent.

Special From a STAFF Correspondent.
LONDON. June 1. 1911.
Save when an English ministry is los
ing ground and approaching the day of
defeat. it has things practically its own
way in the house of commons Its ma
jorities on divisions may vary from time
to time according as the party whips
have been efficient or persuasive in get
ting out the vote. but except on impor-
tant occasions no one takes notice OF the
precise margin by which propositions are
carried for or negatived by the govern
ment. This is because when a line Of
policy is advanced the leaders make cer-
tain in advance that they will have sup
port. Things are pretty much cut and
dried before the house gets a chance at
them. The performance in the open is a
bit OF public maneuver.ng that In 70 wise
affects the results.
Sometimes important measures are pre-
pared In the privacy of the ministerial
offices and no one beyond the prime min
lister and very few Of the leading men,
tails until the bills are introduced. This
was the case of the national insurance
bill. which was recently presented by
Lloyd George. chancellor of the ex-
cheQuer. and at this writing under de-
bate in the house of commons and a SUBJ
ject of very serious discussion in the
newspapers and various private and pub
lie organizations.
1t was in the first instance the idea
of Mr.. George, who visited Germany per-
sonally to investigate the system there
in vogue. Upon his return he and Sid
ney Buxton. chairman of the board of
trade-which is an important branch of
the English government-together with
Winston Churchill, home secretary. franz
ed the bill. with the aid of the stan of
the board of trade. 1t was known long
in advance that such scheme would be
proposed. In fact. the government had
promised to do something more for la
bor.' having already provided old-age
labor exchanges. But no inkling of the
details Of the plan was had by the public
until 1t was actually laid before the house
In the course of long explanatory speech
first appearance in the commons in a long
time.
Terms Not Made Known.
In accordance with the leisurely style
of English legislation. not even then
were the terms of the measure itself
made known. Two or three days later
the bill itself was introduced. Then
came another delay, Of two or three more
days. before the prints of the bill were
ready for public sale. l happened by
chance to be in the Office of the printing
establishment which entoyes the very
lucrative contract for publishing the par
liamentary proceedings and other govern
ment documents the morning when this
print was ready, and by a lucky COIN
cfdence at the very minute of my call, for
copy Of the small holdings report re-
Gently described in q letter, the first
M hn
waiter from the bindery to the little
sales office In Fetter lane. There were
then dozen waiting purchasers-taking
from one to 100 copies each-and. the
earlier in the day. in few minutes there
were dozens OF others. In ten minutes
fully 1000 copies had been sold-at eight
pence ha' penny each, about IL cents
American. / learned later that the first
printing of 10000 copies was exhausted
early that first day. and it was expected
that the sale would eventually run up to
100000. SO keen was the interest in the
least letter of the proposed new law.
I do not intend at this time to write
most inviting topic for later treatment
1t fs important, however, to cite this
instance Of the way In which the gov
e ernments propositions are placed be,
lin camera" as 1t were. Most of the
measures involving serious political
proposals or departures from the es-
tablished order are thus prepared, and
commons at sittings Of the house in
committee of the whole. Many other
bills, however, are referred to standing
committees and are there shaped to
sometimes the case. to conform to its
political limitations and obligations.
AS the government lives or dies ac-
cording as 1t commands or lacks ma
10 in In
last degree important that all its
measures should be shaped so as to
pass, If possible. This. of course. in
wolves compromising and the granting
of concessions to groups Of members
and even to individuals who. though
party men in the main. are none the
less likely to ask for consideration IN
matters of moment to themselves or
tailed work of the leaders and whips
in satisfying the party majority is
done in the greatest secrecy. thougn
hints of the methods employed get
ington when bills are being framed
or conference committees are in ses-
sion. Still, the open committee ses-
sions throw some light on the process
nearest approach to legislative CO.
operation between the parties the mouse
of commons affords.
I attended a session OF the commit
tee A.. then COnSlucIIuS eHS A'
consolidate all the old statutes relat-
ing to copyright and write certain
new provisions to conform to modern
conditions. There are between thirty
and forty members OF the committee
in ordinary circumstances. proportion
ately divided between the political
narties: but for the purpose OF con-
sfde dering the copyright bill some thirty
more members had been added. so that
nearly seventy were sitting at the
weekly sessions.
Sat in Historic Room.
The committee sat in large room
like an ancient chapel. setting OF into
the palace yard from the old West
minister Hall, where Charles / was ar
raiRned by his parliamentary accusers
and executioners, and where q year
ago King Edwards body lay in state.
Somewhat the same arrangement pre-
vailed as In the commons and lords
chambers, the chairman sitting at q
table at the end OF the room. slightly
raised above the floor. and the MEM
bers occupying benches stretching at
right angles from this dais. facing
each other. the governments support
ers on the right and the opposition on
the left. A very small space was rallied
of at the entrance end Of the cham
Der for the press, attorneys and the
public.
On the morning Of my visit there
were three or four reporters present
and several especially interested per-
sons including Hall Caine. the author
and Lionel MOncktOn, COMPOSER OF q