Mr. H. H. Fowler publishes in the Times of Wednesdas
a new plan for improving the control of the House of Commons over the Estimates. He would appoint three Committees at the commencement of each Session, to which the Army, Navy, and Civil Service Estimates should be presented. Each Com- mittee should consider the Estimates item by item, especially those which are to be disputed, and should report on any vote which ought to be omitted or reduced. The whole House in Committee of Supply would consider these reports, would decide on the points raised, and would then vote the Estimates class by class, any disputable item being, however, fairly con- sidered by the whole body. Mr. Fowler thinks this system would not only increase control, but diminish opportunities of obstruction. The former advantage we see clearly, and, like Mr. Fowler, look for close control, when that is wished for, to Select Committees ; but we do not see how the latter is obtained. Those who wish to obstruct can still raise debate upon every clause in the Estimates ; and though the general sense of the House will be more against them than it is now, because the Select Committees have reported, what will the objectors care for that P They do not want either to improve the finances or to conciliate the House, but to waste time, and there would be under these rules no means of stopping them. The only gain would be that the Closure could be applied with less risk of misunderstanding in the constituencies.
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