TOPI,CS OF THE DAY.
MODE OF DOING BUSINESS IN "THE HOUSE."
IT is marvellous, that after experiencing the difficulty of getting through the business which catne before Parliament last session, no simile Member out of the 658 should be prepared with a plan
for facilitating its despatch in the session which has just opened. The very first night, too, Lord ALTHORP complained of the "want of time ;" and Mr. O'CONNELL yesterday urged the necessity of making some change in the hours of sitting. All will feel the incenvenience; but no effort to remedy it will be tried.
Without, however, making any alteration in the hours of sitting, and without adopting those radical improvements which we suggested considerably upwards of a year ago,* it would be easy to effiel some change for the better. The Government business takes precedence of, and in practice elbows out and puts a stop to every thing originated by private Mem
bers; who are only permitted by compromise and fits-our, to exercise
their functions as framers-d laws, or even as tnakersof motions. In the present session, notwithstanding the incommunicative character of the King's Speech, we presume the Government means to do
so/v./Kies: indeed, Lord ALTHORP, in his excess or candour, has confessed that a Tithe-bill is to be produced, and that some tax
law is to be altered ; he will also, in all probability, hring forward a Budget, or at least deliver a "financial statement." Well then, let the Government measures of the session—suppase them to be Tithe-Commutation, Corporation Reform, Poor-Laws Amendment Bills, and the Budget—be discussed at fixed periods—fixed now, for the measures are, no doubt, already perfected; and let them be take!' in succession. Let one measure be proceeded in till it is finished, and has passed the house: and then let another come on. Individual :Members will thus be able to calculate at about what period bills which they have the charge of, or motions wnich they intend to make, may probably receive attention. The saving of time and money, and anxiety, which will accrue to those who are interested in the passing of what are termed private bills, will be incalculable ; and every one thing will be done better. 'We shall soon see whether Ministers have employed the recess to advantage,—whether their measures are in such a state of forwardness as to bear sifting, end the rigid examination which they would undergo, if the attention of the House were called to them each successive day ; instead of being dissipated, as it now is, by the multiplicity of important bills and motions which crowd the table at the :same time, and are brought forward without any attempt at order or arrangement. Let us closely watch the introduction and progress of every measure of the Ministers this session; noting well their deviations front principle and reason, awl the alterations which may be necessary to mould them into feasible shapes. At the end of the session we shall see who the real wasters of time have been.
• -Working of the House of Commons ; a Supplement to the Spectator.
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