ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.
EXTRACTED FROM THE DIARY OF TOBY, M.P.
"At the Sign of the 'Budget Shop."
House of Commons, Monday, April 24.—House nearly Counted Out just now, although it's Budget Night and usual Resolutions not yet passed. Catastrophe averted, and sitting continued. Childers come back to old scene. Looking on from below Gallery, says it's the quietest Budget Night he remembers. Usually scene one of seething excitement. One or more Trades expect taxes affecting them will either go up or go down. Lobby besieged by anxious representatives. Nothing of the sort to-night. When Squire of Malwood rose to expound his mystery, Benches not fuller than on ordinary night. Of those present there was no speculation in the eyes they turned upon the Chancellor standing at table. The Squire, a great Parliamentary artist, attuned voice and manner to prevailing tone; avoided anything approaching oratorical style; plain business statement to make; accomplished it in fine head-clerkly manner.
An unfailing tradition about Budget Speech is that it shall contain at least one quotation from the Classics. Mr. G. from year to year observed this custom with splendid effect. Lowe's Ex luce lucellum is famous in history; nearly became the epitaph of a Ministry; certainly was the funeral wail over a carefully-constructed Budget. The Squire to-night felt bound to observe tradition; but in accordance with his nature did it modestly, adventuring nothing more recondite than citation of the familiar line that serves to mark Wren's resting-place in Westminster Abbey. Tommy Bowles took opportunity of remarking that he was "disappointed with the Budget." This mental attitude, though not quite unexpected, threw fresh gloom over proceedings, and talk, reduced to whisper, finally died out.
Business done.—Budget brought in.
Tuesday.—The young men behind Prince Arthur out on the war-path. "Tell you what," says Legh of Lyme; "let's have Bryce's scalp."
"By the Holy Roman Empire, yes!" cried George Curzon, to whom genial observation was addressed. "Let's get at him about his snubbing Sefton, in matter of appointment of Lancashire County Magistrates. 'Twill serve a double debt to pay. We'll have a lark—'Quelles alouettes!' as it is written in the French translation of Great Expectations, in the passage reporting conversation between Pip and Joe Gargery. Moreover than which, we'll put a spoke in business arrangements of Mr. G., and stave off Home Rule by so long."
"Be careful," said Prince Arthur; "ticklish subject, you know. They're sure to have Halsbury up, and there unquestionably was a degree of monotony about his appointments to Commission of Peace."
"Oh bother Halsbury," said Curzon, to whom nothing is sacred. "He's used to it by this time. You know what happened to the viper who bit the Cappadocian's hide? Halsbury's all right."
"Boys will be boys," said Prince Arthur, looking at them regretfully, and thinking of his own forty-five years. "But perhaps it will be just as well if I clear out;" which he did, and so missed a lively debate.
That Elderly Young Man, Hanbury, not in best form for such operations. Lacks lightness of touch. Henry James also better out of it. Gave performance serious turn, when he declared that in borough of Bury Bryce, as soon as he came into office, appointed eight Magistrates, all Liberals. That sounded very bad; Mr. G. looked serious; some disposition shown on Treasury Bench to draw apart from Bryce. All very well to talk about Halsbury's goings on; but if this sort of thing done by Liberal purists, things seem rotten all round. When Bryce came to reply, he quietly added to James's statement of case that, when he went to the Duchy, he found of eighteen Magistrates sixteen were Unionists, only two Liberals. He had, it is true, appointed six Liberals and two working-men, whose politics he did not know. Bury Bench, accordingly, now consisted of sixteen Unionists, eight Liberals, and two working-men. Members wondered if James knew that when he made his statement? Hoped he didn't. All very well with wig and gown on, and brief in hand; but House doesn't like this kind of thing in debate.
Curzon's statement about sad condition of Magisterial Bench at Southport, owing to machinations of an iniquitous Chancellor of the Duchy, turned out to be not more completely based on fact than was James's. But difference of manner in dealing with case, everything. No one took Curzon seriously, and so no harm done. His explanation of preponderance of Conservative Magistrates on Lancashire Bench delightful. As good as some touches of Dizzy, of whose younger, lighter manner, he much reminded old-stagers. It was true, he admitted that, on Lancashire Bench, preponderance of Magistrates was with Conservatives. (Chancellor of Duchy gave figures as he found them arranged when he came into office. On the Borough Benches, 507 Unionists, against 159 Liberals; on the County Bench, 522 Unionists, against 142 Liberals, a proportion of nearly four to one.) But how had it been brought about? asked the Strayed Reveller from the Corea. "Why, it is because the disturbing, mischievous policy of the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite" (this with indignant sweep of the arm towards Mr. G., feigning sleep on the Treasury Bench) "has driven into the opposite ranks most of the intelligent, respectable men, from whom Justices are chosen."
On Division, Vote of Censure on Bryce negatived by 260 votes; against 186. "I'm not sure," said Jokim, whose views of humour are limited, "that, what I may call the gain of three hours lost, is worth the price paid; to wit, the opportunity given to Bryce of disclosing the actual state of things in Lancashire in the matter of Magisterial Bench, and the consequent doubling of the Ministerial Majority."
"Well, as I remarked before," said Prince Arthur, who had come back for the Division, "Boys will be boys."
Business done.—Employers' Liability Bill, with aid of Closure, read Second Time.
Thursday.—Pretty to watch Mr. G. struggling with feeling of expediency against temptation to make a speech. House in Committee on Budget Bill; Jokim been discoursing at large on its proposals. Quite lively. Squire of Malwood looked on, listening with generous approval, albeit he was target for Jokim's jocularity. This time last year positions reversed. It was he criticising Jokim's Budget. Now it was Jokim's turn, and the Squire magnanimously stood the racket. Mr. G. sat by his side, an attentive listener, evidently strongly drawn to join in the fray. But it was plainly the Squire's show, and its direction must be left to him. When there followed long succession of eminent men discussing Budget, Mr. G. felt that if he remained any longer he must yield to temptation. Accordingly, withdrew from scene. Returned again an hour later; still harping on the Budget; the Squire had spoken twice, and there seemed nothing to be done but to work off whatever remaining speeches had been prepared in Opposition camp.
Dorington dragged in case of farmer, and small landowner; conversation turned on Depression of Agriculture; the Woolwich Infant presented himself to view of sympathetic House as specimen of what a man of ordinarily healthy habits might be brought to by necessity of paying Income-tax on the gross rental of house property. A procession of friends of the Agriculturist was closed by portly figure of Chaplin, another effective object-lesson suitable for illustration of lectures on Agricultural Depression. Mr. G., feeling there was no necessity for speech, had resolutely withstood the others. Chaplin at the table, proved irresistible. To him, Chaplin is embodiment of the heresy of Protection, Bi-metallism, and other emanations of the Evil One. When Chaplin sat down, Premier romped in, and, having delivered the inevitable speech, went off home, soothed, and satisfied.
Business done.—Budget Scheme passed through Committee.
Friday.—Almost forgot we still have House of Lords. Shall be reminded of their existence by-and-by. For the nonce, they are courteously quiescent, the world forgetting, by the world forgot. Just a little flare-up to-night. Ireland, of course; Camperdown wanting to know what about the Evicted Tenants Commission? Are the Government going to legislate upon it, or will they forbear? Selborne supernaturally solemn; dragged in James the Second as the nearest approach to any head of a Government quite so wicked as Mr. G. Lords much interested in this. Don't hear so much now of James the Second as we did when at school. The establishment of points of resemblance between Governments of his day and that presided over by Mr. G., a novelty in debate. Imparted to political controversy a freshness long lacking.
Just after seven, debate adjourned. For all practical purposes, it might as well have been concluded. But House doesn't get many opportunities of debate; not disposed riotously to squander this chance one.
Business done.—Commons had Morning Sitting; scrupulously devoted the last five minutes of it to public business.
Operatic Note,—There's not much magic about The Magic Ring at the Prince of Wales's until the Second Act, in which the extravagantly comic "business" of Messrs. Monkhouse and Kaye, the burlesque acting of Miss Susie Vaughan, and the comic trio dance between the two low comedians and the sprightly soprano, Miss Marie Halton, are worth the whole of Act I. When is burlesque not burlesque? When it is Comic Opera. Burlesque was reported dead. Not a bit of it, only smothered; and it may come up fresh for a long run, or at all events, "fit" for a good spurt.
Even the old-fashionedest Toriest of Tory Farmers are longing, hoping, and even praying, for the downfall of the Rain. If we don't have it soon, and it may have arrived ere this appears, Marrowfats, as articles de luxe, will be "Peas at any price!"
