Mr. Craufurd, as old maid of the House of Commons,
on Wednesday again banished the reporters—who in future should never report him—and the House debated in secret and, therefore, uselesalythe Contagious Diseases' Act. On Thursday, consequently, Mr. Henley, the moment Government business came on, "saw strangers," and work was stopped for half an hour. It is under- stood that in the interval Mr. Gladstone promised a Committee next session upon the subject ; but surely the matter is one for the House rather than for any Committee to decide. Why not leave every Member his privilege, which may sometimes be neces- sary, but declare by Standing Order that reporters are honorary officers of the House, and not to be expelled without a vote? That would bring the theory into some decent accord with the fact. Suppose the profession were to strike, and reduce the House to a powerless and rather ridiculous debating club.
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