The Monmouth inquirer., 1924-05-22
USE FOR HAT IN PARLIAMENT.
When 1t Must Be Worn and Can Be
Laid Aside.

hazard the speculation that good
deal Of the Parliamentary rites con.
nected with 1t have no symbolic or
igin, but arose from the simple cir
cumstance that the House of Com
mons has never provided itself with
hat rail, says the Pail Mall Gazette
The Lords have lordly hat pegs just
outside the inner doors of tho Cham.
Der, and you may see the peers
names boldly printed in proper Sc
quence CT precedence, beginning with
royal dukes and ending with the now
est barons. But the lowlter Commons
have to carry their hats about with
them, and SO laws had to be made to
govern the nice behavior OF a member
in relation to his hat.
A member may wear his hat at all
times in the Chamber except when he
is on his feet. Even if he be leaning
over a bench to speak to a fellow
member behind him he should raise
his hat, for his body is then in theo-
retical motion. But there is one point
in parliamentary debate when he must
wear his hat, and wear 1t sitting. This
is in the interval between calling di-
vision and clearing the House, when
the sand-glass on the table is turned
over to count the two minutes. If
member then wishes to raise point
of order, he must speak covered and
sitting in his place.
Some years ago a new member
wished to raise a point Of order after
a division had been called. He rose
in his place, and the House-always
a keen guardian to its etiquette
roared at him: s"Order, order!" In
the tumult the new members gather
ed from his neighbors that he must
wear his hat. So, putting it on, but
still standing, he began afresh. Then
the cries of "Order, order!" were
louder than ever, and the new mem
Der, catching the words, you must
do it sitting down." sat down-and
took off his haiti Still more furious
came the cries Of "Order, order!" and
the member, already beWildered, be-
came maddened by the instruction
He turned to his friends to shout:
How can l do both-sit down and
stand up?" And then, in despair, his
friends seized him, forced him in his
seat, put on his hat, and said: "Now
speak," But all he could then mutter
al fnrontfnY what I
was going to say"
1t was in a similar case that Mr..
Gladstone, having left his hat in
room, had to borrow one from a col
league VITO took very small size,
and the G. o. MS gravity heightened
the comic effect of small hat precar-
iously webbing on a massive head.
Mr.. Will Crooks recently had to re-
sort to the same expedient, when the
House was very excited, and what is
called IAN ugly scene" was brewing.
But the hat handed to him was very
rakish opera hat, of brimmy shape
and opulent curves, and the gathering
clouds were dispersed by the hearty
breath Of laughter.
The Parliamentary hat is useful
implement. 1t serves as a sort Of
workbox for the M. p, and is stuffed
with official papers, orders Of the day,
notes for speeches-and speeches that
are never delivered. If a member
is alluded to in debate, he raises his
hat is acknowledgment; when Min
lister answers a members question,
the member raises his hat; when UNI
opposed bills are going through, the
Patronage Secretary raises his hat
instead of opening his mouth and max
ing formal motion.
The ParliaE:e Mary bat, again, Sc
cures members seat for the sitting
if the member is present during pray
ers. But the procedure has had its
abuses, and led to rulings from the
Chair on the proper practice Of the
Parliamentary hat. During the great
Home Rule days, when all the $40
members turned up to struggle for
the 400 odd seats provided, a promi-
nent Liberal Unionist, son of a still
more prominent parsonage, entered
the House laden with ancient head
gear, which he strewed along the
benches claimed by the faithful re-
tanners of his father. An Irish mem
Der, admiring the device. copied It In