The last improvement intended to prevent obstruction caused some excitement.
The strongest weapon of obstructives is their power of demanding useless divisions, which may consume hours and it is therefore proposed that the Speaker should, in his discretion, be able to take a division by calling on the minority to stand up. The obstructives were very unwilling to give up their privile;o, and, moreover, they like, as one of them put it, in almost so many words, to advertise themselves a little. Mr. Parnell therefore argued, followed by Mr. Childers and many others, that it was most improper for divisions to be taken without constituents knowing how the Members had voted. Mr. Smith adhered to his rule, which is, indeed, indispensable; but agreed that it should be limited to occasions on which the Speaker suspected obstruction, that the division-bell should be rung, and that the names of the minority should be taken down and pub- lished. With these alterations, and after four hours of debate, the new rule was passed by a majority of 236 to 93. It is to be regretted that the names are to be published, as it should be the object of the House to suppress notoriety-hunters ; but the Members, though they all support the ballot, are shocked at the idea of secret voting within the sacred precincts. We should agree with them if we regarded these bogus divisions as " proceedings " at all; but they are in most instances either tricks, or mere adver- tisements for those who demand them. The new rule, however, will work well enough, and, with the rest, will help to give the House the control of its own time, and enable it, when necessary, to pass Rules or, if necessary, Acts of real severity.
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