The House of Commons showed commendable spirit on Monday by
refusing to consider a "guillotine" Closure moved by Mr. Bonar Law for the purpose of concluding all the financial business by March 25th. Major Hills proposed as an alternative that a small Committee of private Members should decide how the business was to be done " with general assent and the maximum of free discussion." The revolt against the old mechanical method perfected by Mr. Asquith was so complete that Mr. Boner Law wisely abandoned his " guillotine." Mr. Wood put the case for the alternative very well when he said that " the House itself would be lost if it did not take itself seriously," especially in the debates on Supply. And Major Hills declared, with much truth, that the Closure was largely to blame for the decline of public interest in Parliament's doings. The House was becoming, like the old Parliament of Paris, a place where Government decrees were registered.
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