In the discussion on the Naval Estimates on Thursday, Mr.
Arthur O'Connor defended Mr. Ashmead-Bartlett'e salary of -21,000 a year from attack, on the ground that it served to secure his silence in the House of Commons, which was, he said well worth £1,000 a year, even though he did discourse at length and indulge in revilings of the Irish Members out of the House. This caustic estimate of the beneficial effect to the House of Commons of shutting Mr. Ashmead.Bartlett's lips was rather feebly echoed by Sir E. Reed, who seemed to think that Mr. A. O'Connor's joke would not be appreciated until he adopted it. We are glad to see any trace of regard for taciturnity in Parnellite Members, as well as in Sir E. Reed. Does it not suggest a really valuable hint towards making the House of Commons more efficient ? Suppose we adopt the payment of Members, but subtract something from the Members' official salary for every sentence uttered in the House P Might we not then obtain a really reticent House ?
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