The British Parliament And The Press

Mr. Sullivañ, a member of the Bntisli House of Oommons, ■ day Dr two since gave notioe that, in order t bring about a change of the anomalous eondition of the iiv:i. in.l Uk llor.w, ka intaadfiii ta daily notify the House oí the presenee of strangers. ïhis seems soaiewhat singular in this country, where the legislative halls are free to the public. Theoretically, all persons èxoept menjbers and the necessary olliccrs are excltided from the hall wiiilo the House of Commons is in session. There is a small gallcry m the hall, fenced off by a wire grating. Admission to this gallery, which wül seat bnt comparatively few persons, is obtained by tickets from members. The hall of the House of Commons itself is a dingy, inconvenient room, of very limited proportious, and not eapable of seating more than ouelialf the mombers. AV7hcn the attcndanee is largo, those not able to olitain seats must stand or iind refuge iii some of thd various small ante-rooms adjoining. The atteiidance of strangers is lo! --rated by practice, but prohibited by rule. Offlcially the House is not aware of the presence of reporters ; and the publication of debates is in violation of law, i law wnicü is uot, no wever, cni'orced. British statesrnen. liko all others, have great auibition to be reportod, but none of them have the courage to propose a legal authorization of the publioation of the debates. Under the nües, it is suflieient for a membcr to cali the attention of the House to the presence of strxngers, whcn business is suHi-fiuled and the gallery is cleared. lt requires no motion for this purpose ; as soon as the Speaker is informed that there are strangers present, be raust order their exclusión. The reporters for the Londou papers are admittod to a part of the strangers' gallery upon tickets issued to them by the Speaker ; but this is in an unoflicial way, and gives them no right. They are regarded just the same as any othei etrahgers, and must go out. In f act, their presence is a doublé violation of law, because it is unluwf ui to kake notes or publish any of the debates of Tarliament, the House having in its history repeatedly declared sueh publicatioa to be a breach óf the privilegias of the House. This oíd rule rests upon tho as.sumption that the publication of the debates is an abrid grnent of the freedom of debute, that it tends to mate the member