SCENES IN HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1193, 31 July 1911, Page 5

SCENES IN HOUSE OF COMMONS.

COMPARED TO A MENAGERIE, Mr. James Grant remarks, respecting scenes which have occasionally occurred in later days, that Lord Brougham once compared the House to a menagerie, and the application of the term would have been most appropriate to a scene ho himself witnessed in July, 1535. . Had a blind person been that night conducted into tho House, and not told what the place was, ho would assuredly have supposed he was in some zoological establishment. Tho question beforo the House was the recommittal of tho Municipal Corporations Bill; and a member (Mr. Hughes Hughes) rising to address tho House, was assailed with tremendous uproar. Tho "Morning Post" of the following day thus described tho scene:—"The most confused sounds, mysteriously blended, issued from all corners of the House. One honourable member near tho bar repeatedly called out 'Head' (to tho member endeavouring to address the House), in an exceedingly bass and hoarse voice. At repealed intervals a sort of drone-like humming having almost the sound of a distant hand-organ or bagpipes, issued from tho back benches;—coughing, sneezing, and ingeniously extended yawning blended with the other sounds, and produced a 'tout ensemble' which we have never hoard excelled in the House. A single voice from tho Ministerial benches imitated very accurately the yelp of a kennelled hound." The most graphic description (continues Mr. Grant) would fall short of the scene itself.' One honourable member imitated the crowing of a cock so admirably that you could not have distinguished it from the performance of a real chanticleer. Not far from the same spot issued sounds marvellously resembling the bleating of a sheep, blended occasionally with tho liko imitation of tho braying of an ass, by an honourable member a few yards distant. There were yelpings worthy of any canine animal, and excellent imitations of the sounds of sundry instruments not mentioned by tho "Morning Post." The deafening uproar was completed by tho cries of "Chair, chair!" "Order!" groans, laughter, etc., which proceeded from all parts of the House. The House had determined on a division, and a division on the question had the effect of restoring order. A Scone in the Commons in 1872.

On March 19, 1872, Sir Charles Dilkc rose iu the nouse of Commons according to notice, "to call attention to tho Ciwl List," and to move for certain returns. There was a very full House to hear him, much excitement having beeu produced by Sir Charles's lectures in various parts of' the country on royal expenditure, etc. lie was received with groans, but listened to attentively, and Mr. Gladstone followed him with a forcible reply. Mr. Auberon Herbert then rose to second Sir Charles's motion, and tho pentup wrath ot" tho Houfe was showered upou him. Groans, hisses, and other interruptions assailed him. but ho persisted in tho attempt to make himself hoard, UP OI J which hundred of members rcso and Jolt their peats in a body, many remaining below the bar. Presently the honourable member was heard lo avow himself on advocate of republican principles, and the declaration was received with a s.iout of indignation. As he went on, other tactics were adopted. A member moved that the House be counted, and the motion was repeated until that ceremony had been performed three times in about ton minutes, but without tho expected result. A young nobleman then declared ho "espied strangers in Hie gallery," and tho House was consequently cleared of the reporters, etc.. but it happened that the occupants of the ladies' gallery were allowed to remain. The scene that ensued .was dcicribfid iu the "Daily, ' from

"a trustworthy source""The interruptions which had taken place during tlic earlier portion ui Mr. ' Herbert's speech v;ero now redoubled. From the loss prominent parts of the House, to whicli tho Conservative members had retired, an incessant clamour arose. . Cock-crowing in every variety, from tho hoarse cry of tlio cochin to the shrill note of the bantam, and other farmyard sounds, together with repeated imitations of' the'rise and fall of Mr. Herbert's voice, prevented a single sentence of the speaker from reaching the pars of those who were assumed to bo tho auditors. When tho clamour was at its height, Mr. Dodson (Chairman of Committees) made an earnest appeal to tho Chair, asking whether the sounds which issued from behind the Speaker's chair and from below the bar were not gross violations of order. Tho Speaker, in reply, stated (hat the sounds wore undoubtedly out of order in that House, and he could not refrain from expressing the extreme pain with which ho had witnessed tho scene that had taken place. In tho slight lull which followed, Mr. Herbert, announced that if tho House .would, listen to him for five minutes he would undertake to finish his observations. Aiuid considerable interruptions, Mr. Herbert was allowed-to proceed; but when, on tha expiration of tiio live minutes, ho manifested a desire to continue his speech, the clamour burst forth afresh. Mr. Herbert said that tho interruptions had deprived him of a minute and a half of tho time granted him, and that if tho House would give him, that minute and a half he would be content. The Speaker hereupon called Mr. Herbert to order, stating that it was irregular and improper to appeal to tho House, and that he ought to address himself to tho Chair. Mr. Herbert then resumed his seat, amid tho greatest excitement and confusion." Mr. Mundella followed hir.i with a speech against the motion, and the galleries were re-opened after about ah hour had elapsed. Eventually a division was taken on the motion, and there were found supportiug it only Sir Charles Dilke and Mr. Herbert, the numbers against them being 270. •

Defying the House, Lord Palmerston wrote to ; a relative, February 27, 1810:—"We had last nipht a most extraordinary display of folly, coarseness, and vulgarity from Fuller, who, because Sir John Anstrutlier. Chairman of the Committee, would not take notice of him, when he several times attempted to rise, in order to put some vo.ry gross and absurd questions to Lord Chatham, ilew out: into such a passion, and swore, aad abused the Chairman of tho Ilouye to such a degree that it became at last necessary to commit him to custody. As he went out ho shook his fist at the Speaker, and said ho was a d insignificant little puppy, and, snappink his fingers at him, said he did not care 'that' for him or the House either. He is now amusing himself with tho Sor-geant-at-Arms, and I think was very lucky in not being sent to Newgate or tho Tower.'