The New York herald., 1921-05-01
COMMONS HONORS
RETIRING LEADER
Lowther Goes Out, Whitley
Becomes Speaker, in Old
Time POmp.
OFFICE is A REAL PLUM
Carries $4,000 a Year. Be-
sides Free Taxes, Rent Rates,
Coal and Light.
OFFICE is A REAL PLUM

spcctol Cable to THE New YonK HERALD.
Copyright, 1891, by THE New York HDHALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
London, April 30.
The House of Commons, with all the
dignity and the traditions of 600 years
behind 1t, held one Of its historic cere-
monies this week in connection with
the retirement of Speaker James w.
Lowther and the election of James
Henry Whitley as Speaker. Mr. Low
ther has just retired after twenty-six
years service in the House Of Com
mons, first as chairman OF the COM
mittees and then for sixteen years
as Speaker. In this period he has
through some of the stormiest times
in it's history without creating ami
mostly.
Warm tributes to him by members
of the House of Commons followed his
retirement. He will leave here on May
IL to present a replica of the Speakers s
chair to the Canadian Parliament.
The Speakershp Of the House OF
Commons Is a real plum in British Par
i!amentary life. It carries with 1t
handsome salary princely home In
one corner Of the Palace OF Westminster
and innumerable privileges and preroga-
tives as the personal embodiment OF the
British Commons. Technically the office
Is a gift of the King, but for many years
the custom has been for the King
atA - fha
Commons to choose its own presiding
officer.
When Speaker retires, as Mr. Low
tier did. because of advancing age, the
House OF Commons cannot carry on it's
business when the chair Is vacant. The
mace Is removed from the table and the
hrst business Is to choose new Speaker.
Five Contests In 100 Years.
In the last one hundred years, since
the Parliament of the United Kingdom
was established, there have been only
fve contests for the Speakership. Lead
ers Of the House of Commons generally
agree on a Speaker before the place is
vacant. This was true In the present
case.
There was some talk OF contest, but
only as n protest against an established
precedent the Government naming the
chairman Of the committees to succeed
to the Speakership. The contest was
abandoned at the last minute and the
election of wr. Whitley proceeded with
stately dignity.
Mr. Whitley has had long service III
Parliament and is highly esteemed, not
only by politicians but in the British
Industrial world, where he is the father
of the whitley Councils" in which
thousands of employers and employees
Join In effecting democratic control Of
various industries.
Originally the Speakers salary was f5
a day and a fee Of f5 for each private
bill. This was changed in 1889, when
the salary was fixed at $4,000 a year,
but It was reduced to 5000 a year In
the reign OF William Nv However. the
Speaker Is free from all taxes. and has
house rent, rates, coal and lights free.
Entcrtains EIaborately.s
Every year the Speaker Of the House
Of, Commons gives elaborate entertain
ments for each group in Parliament. 1t
Is an invariable rule that evening dress
must be worn at these entertainments,
and such distinguished men as Cobbett,
Hume. Golden and John Bright have
thus been debarred from accepting the
Speakers hospitality. In these days,
however, the speaker gets over tne ulI-
ficulties of the large Labor membership
in Parliament by inviting the Labor
members to a luncheon.
The dinners given by the Speaker are
Just as ceremonious as they ever were.
The Speaker wears a>velvet court suit
with knee breeches and lace ruffles at
neck and wrists, besides carrying a
sword. The huge sideboards in the oak
panelled dining hall are spread with
magnificent old plate and the walls are
hung with famoua portrafta