Dr. Lyon Playfair and Mr. Whitbread have both spoken this
week on the subject of the reform of procedure, and though neither of them has given any explicit opinion on the question of closing a debate by an absolute majority, the remarks of both appear to us to be entirely in sympathy with such a principle, while Dr. Playfair expressly said that he could not understand the fear with which it was viewed. The reserves with which Mr. Whitbread accompanied his remarks on the reforms needful, in his speech of Tuesday at Bedford, are reserves which we, at least, in speaking of the effect of the Closure, have always made, and which any politician who cares for the greatness of the House of Commons would always make. Dr. Lyon Playfair, who, as Chairman of Committees, has had unusual opportunities of mastering the subject, expressed in his speeeh last Wednesday, at Edinburgh, a very clear view that the time for questions should be strictly limited, as the time for petitions has already been limited. Dilatory motions for the adjournment of the House should, said Dr. Playfair, be also effectually limited, since they had risen from about twenty in a Session, to no fewer than 122 in last Session. On the whole, we should say that both Dr. Lyon Playfair and Mr. Whitbread probably approve of a rule vesting in the majority of the House the right to limit the time of a discussion.
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