After Sir Henry Fewler's speech, Mr. Rutherford moved and carried
the Closure, and then began a series of operations intended to obstruct the measure, which we have dealt with at length elsewhere, but which we must characterise here as an insult to the House of Commons and a disgrace to those who were responsible for them. If the main question could not be carried before 5.30, the Bill, under the rules of the House, could not be sent at once to the Standing Committee on Law. The discussion ended just in time to prevent such a result if Members had voted at the ordinary pace. But in order to defeat the measure a portion of the minority, led by Lord Hugh Cecil, the chief of what has been called the "Hooligan" party, deliberately loitered and delayed in the lobbies. The result of these discreditable manceuvres was that the second reading was not voted till after 5.30, but was then carried by a majority of 125 (249 to 124).
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