THE PEERAGE. Ventry, Dayrolles Blakeney, 4th L. (cr. 1800). Vernon, George Francis Augustus, 8th L. (cr. Poynton Towers, Stockport. Vivian, George Crespigny Brabazon, 4th L. Waldegrave, William Frederick, 9th E. (cr. S. Prince of. (See special L. (cr. 1780). Walsingham, Thomas, 6th Surname de Grey. B. 1843, s. 1870. LL.D.; (Pres. F.R.S.; F.L.S.; F.Z.S.; F.E.S. '89-'90); Mem, Soc. Ent. de France; Ent. Ver. zu Berlin; Nederl. Ent. Ver.; Soc. Ent. de Russie; Am. Ent. Soc. Phil.; Lin. Soc. N.S. W., etc., etc.; High Steward Camb. Univ. and King's Lynn; M.P. W. Norfolk '65-71; Lord-in-Waiting '74-5. Heir, Hon. J. A. de Grey, half-bro. C. Merton Hall, Thetford, Norfolk. Carlton, Isthmian. Wandsworth, Sydney James, 1st B. (cr. 1895). Viscount also of the Kingdom of Portugal. Surname Stern; e. s. late Visct, de Stern, who established in London the firm of Stern Bros. E. at Magdalene Coll., Camb.; Hon. 10, Warwick, Francis Richard Charles Guy, 5th E. Weardale, Philip James, 1st L. (cr. 1905). Sur- Surname Wellesley. B. 1849, s. 1900. K.G., Wemyss and March, Francis Richard, 9th E. 52, Westbury, Richard Luttrell Pilkington, 3rd L. (cr. 1861). Surname Bethell. B. 1852, s. 1875. Heir, Hon. R. Bethell, s. C. Carlton. Westmeath, Anthony Francis, 11th E. of (cr. 1621). Surname Nugent. B. 1870, s. 1883. I.R.P.; P.C. (Ireland); assist. priv. sec. to Rt. Hon. J. Chamberlain, Col. Sec. '98-1901; Sec. to Royal Commission on French Treaty Rights in Newfoundland '98. Heir, Hon. W. A. Nugent, Capt. 15th Hussars, bro. Pallas, Loughrea, Co. Galway. Carlton, Wellington, Kildare Street. Westminster, Hugh Richard Arthur, 2nd D. of (cr. 1874). Surname Grosvenor. B. 1879, s. 1899. Served in S. African war, and was A.D.C. to Lord Roberts; m. 1901, Miss Sheelagh Cornwallis West. L.L. Cheshire. G.C.V.O. 1907. Heir, Lord Arthur Grosvenor, un. Eaton Hall, Chester; 33, Upper Grosvenor Street, W. Westmorland, Anthony Mildmay Julian, 13th Wigan, L. (See Crawford, E. of.) Willingdon, Freeman, 1st L. (cr. 1910). Surname Freeman-Thomas. B. 1866; E. Eton and Trin. Coll. Camb.; M.P. (L.) Hastings 1900-5, and Cornwall (Bodmin Div.) 1956-10; Junior Lord of the Treasury 1901. Ratton, Willingdon, Sussex; 76, Ashley Gardens, SW. Willoughby de Broke, Richard Greville, 19th L. Wilton, Arthur George, 5th E. of (cr. 1801). Winchester, Herbert Edward, 87th Bp. of. (See founded 636.) Surname Ryle. B. 1856; s. of Rt. Rev. J. C. Ryle, Bp. of Liverpool. m. '83, d. of the late Major-Gen. Adams. E. Eton, Newcastle Scholar; Cambridge, Scholar of King's; B.A. '79, M.A. '82, D.D. '96; Hon. D.D. Oxford 1908; Principal of St. David's Coll., Lampeter, '86-8; Hulsean Professor of Divinity, Camb., '87-1901; Pres. Queens' Coll., Camb., '96-1901; Chaplain in Ordinary to Queen Victoria '98-1901; Hon. Canon of Ripon '95-1901; Bp. of Exeter 1901-3; Bp. of Winchester and Prelate of Most Noble Order of the Garter from 1903. Farnham Castle, Surrey; Lollards' Tower, Lambeth, S.E. Winchester, Henry William Montagu, 16th M. of (cr. 1551). Surname Paulet. B. 1862, s. 1899. Late Capt. Hants Carbiniers I.Y. Is premier Marquis of England. L.L. Hants; Chairman Hants C.C. 1905-9. Heir-pres., Capt. Charles Standish Paulet, c. Amport St. Mary's, Andover, Hampshire. Winchilsea and Nottingham, Henry Stormont, 13th E. of (cr. 1628). Surname Finch-Hatton. B. 1852, s. 1898. Heir, Visct. Maidstone, s. C. Harlech Merioneth. White's, Carlton. Winteratoke, William Henry, 1st L. (cr. 1906). Surname Wills. B. 1830. Pro-Chancellor of University of Bristol; President Bristol Fine Arts Academy; Chairman Imperial Tobacco Co., Ltd.; Director G.W.R.; M.P. Coventry '80-86, East Bristol '95-1900; Bart. '92. Blagdon, R.S.O., Somerset; East Court, St. Lawrence-on-Sea, Thanet; 25, Hyde Park Gardens, W. Reform, R.Y.S. Winterton, Edward, 6th E. of (cr. 1766). Surname Turnour. B. 1883, s. 1907. Í.P. M.P. Sussex, Horsham Div. See COMMONS. Winton, E. of. (See Eglintoun, E. of.) Wolseley, Garnet Joseph, 1st V. (cr. 1885). Surname Wolseley. B. 1833 at Golden Bridge House, Co. Dublin; s. late Major G. J. Wolseley. Served in the second Burmese war, in the Crimea, in India, and on the staff in the campaigns of '57-9, and received a brevet majority; as Lieut. Col. in the China War of '60; and as Colonel in Canada from '62-70; commanded the Red River Expedition; Major-Gen. commanding in the Ashantee War in '73-4; and as Lieut.-Gen, commanding in the South African War in '79. Commanded in the Egyptian War of '82, and was raised to the peerage after the victory of Tel-el-Kebir; also commanded in the Soudan campaigns of '84-5, and was made a Viscount; received £25,000 for his services in Ashanti, and £30,000 for his Egyptian campaign. He has been High Commissioner to Natal and to Cyprus; Adjutant-General '82. Published his "Story of a Soldier's Life," 1903; of his "Soldier's Pocket-book" several editions have appeared. Ranger of Greenwich Park '88; Commander of the Forces in Ireland '90-95; Commander-in-Chief '95-1900; FieldMarshal '94, and published a biography of the Duke of Marlborough; Col. Royal Horse Guards (Blues) and Gold Stick to the King '96-1928; K.P., G.C.B., G.C.M.G., O.M. 1902. m. 1867. Louisa, d. of Alexander Erskine, Esq. Heiress (to the Viscounty by special remainder), Hon. Frances G. Wolseley, d. 1, Gore Street, Queen's Gate, S.W.; Hampton Court Palace. United Service, Athenæum. Wolverhampton, Henry, 1st. V. (cr. 1908). Surname Fowler. B. at Sunderland 1830; E. Woodhouse Grove School and St. Saviour's School, Southwark; admitted a solicitor '52; Mayor of Wolverhampton '63; first Chairman of the School Board '70; M.P. Wolverhampton '80-85, Wolverhampton East '85-1908; Under-Sec. Home Department '84, Financial Sec. Treasury, and P.C. '86; President Local Government Board '92, and took charge of the Parish Councils Bill; Secretary for India '94, and G.C.S.I. '95; Chancellor of Duchy of Lancaster Dec. 1995; Lord President of the Council 1908-10; Member of Council of the Duchy of Lancaster; D.L. Staffs.; LL.D. Birmingham 1909; was a prominent member of the Liberal League 1905. L. Woodthorne, Wolverhampton. Reform and Athenæum. Wolverton, Frederic, 4th L. (cr. 1869). Surname Glyn. B. 1864, S. 1888. Partner Glyn, Mills, Currie & Co.; Lord-in-Waiting '92-3; L.C.C. '98; Press Censor in the S. African campaign; Vice-Chamberlain of the Household 1902-5. Heir, Hon. George E. D. CarrGlyn, s. Brooks's. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Worcester, Huyshe Wolcott, 105th Bp. of. Wynford, Philip George, 6th L. (cr. 1829). Sur- berg). P.C.; Vice-Adm. Co. Lincoln; Capt. Lincs. York, Cosmo Gordon, 89th Archbp. of. Sur- Zouche of Haryngworth, Robert Nathaniel Cecil THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. The Act of Union with Ireland increased the number of members of the House of Commons to 658, and though it stood nominally at this figure until the end of the Parliament of '80-85, the disfranchisement of 4 constituencies returning 6 members, and the suspension of 12 writs in 7 cities and boroughs, had reduced the total of members to 640. The Redistribution Act did not alter the apportionment of members to Ireland or Wales, but increased the number returnable by Scotland from 60 to 72, and these 12 new seats being added to the nominal number of the House brought it up to 670. With certain exceptions any male of full age may be elected to represent a constituency in the House of Commons. English and Scotch peers are entirely disqualified, but Irish peers (with the exception of the 23 Representative Peers) may be returned for any constituency in Great Britain. All English, Scotch, and Irish judges; clergymen of the Established Church of either of the two kingdoms; Roman Catholic priests; the holders of various offices specially excluded by statute (including revenue officers); persons who have been convicted of certain offences; aliens (unless a certificate of naturalisation has been granted to them by the Secretary of State, and they have taken the oath of allegiance); imbeciles; Government contractors (except contractors for Government loans); and sheriffs and returning officers within the constituencies for which they act,-all these are disqualified. No candidate requires any property qualification, and no member receives any payment or allowance whatsoever. The Speaker is the first to take the oath and subscribe the roll in a new House of Commons, and is followed by the other members, who are presented to him by the clerk. Members returned after a general election are introduced A seat in the House is vacated on acceptance of any office of profit under the Crown; and there are certain disabilities attached to bankruptcy. The principal members of the Government, on accepting office, vacate their seats, and are eligible for re-election; but the rule does not apply to such offices as Secretary to the Treasury or other similar appointments which are not held direct from the Crown. No member of the House of Commons can, as a matter of fact, resign his seat, but this end is attained by his acceptance of the "Chiltern Hundreds." By obtaining "the stewardship of His Majesty's Chiltern Hundreds, or the stewardship of the Manor of Poynings, of East Hendred and Northstead, or the Escheatorship of Munster," a member may rid himself of his duties. When a seat becomes vacant during a session, a new writ is moved for at the commencement of an ordinary sitting, generally by one of the whips of the party to which the late member belonged. During the recess the Speaker may, on the production of a certificate signed by two members that a member has died, or accepted an office held direct from the Crown, or has been called to the House of Lords, or that the seat has become vacant by the bankruptcy of a member, order a writ to be issued for a fresh election to fill the vacancy thus caused. But a writ may not be issued during the recess on the acceptance of the Chiltern Hundreds or of the like offices. 65 F Parliamentary Registration. The right to vote in the election of a member of Parliament is confined to those adult males whose names appear on the register of voters in force for some county or borough. No man can be registered who has within the twelve months preceding July 15th received parochial assistance other than medical relief, or who is an alien, unless naturalised. In counties the qualifications are as follow: Freehold of inheritance or by purchase of the clear annual value of 40s. and upwards. Freehold for life must be of the clear annual value of £5, unless the same comes by descent, marriage, devise, or promotion to any benefits or office, in all which cases 40s. clear annual value is sufficient. Freeholders by purchase are required to be six months in possession previous to July 15th; by descent, etc., no length of possession is necessary. Copyhold of the clear annual value of £5 or upwards. Copyholders are subject to the same terms of possession as freeholders. Leasehold, if created originally for a term of not less than sixty years, of the clear annual value of £5 or upwards; if for a term of more than twenty, but less than sixty years, the clear annual value must be £30. Leaseholders by purchase are required to be twelve months in possession previous to July 15th; by descent, etc., no length of possession is necessary. Persons qualified in respect of any of the foregoing qualifications must send in their claims to the overseers on or before the 20th of July. Counties and Boroughs: Occupation as owner or tenant of any land or tenement of a clear yearly value of not less than £10. Occupation as owner or tenant of any dwellinghouse. The term "dwelling-house" includes part of a house in which the landlord or superior tenant does not reside. When he does reside, his under-tenants are held to be lodgers. Occupation by virtue of any office, service or employment, of any dwelling-house which is not inhabited by a person under whom such office, service or employment is held. In the above three classes of occupiers the occupation need not be of the same premises, but may be of different premises, occupied in immediate and unbroken succession in the same constituency. Occupation as lodger of any lodgings of a clear yearly value, if let unfurnished, of £10. Successive occupation is also allowed in the case of lodgings, but it must be from one part to another part of the same house. In all cases of occupation, whether as owner or tenant, servant or lodger, twelve months' occupation is required up to the 15th day of July in any year. Lodgers must claim every year, and when claiming for the first time must send in their claims to the overseers on or before the 20th of August. The revised register comes into operation on the 1st of January in each year, Revising barristers are appointed every year, for London and Middlesex by the Lord Chief Justice, and for other places by the senior judge of assize. The barrister so appointed makes a circuit and holds open court for the revision of the register in each borough and at or near every polling place in the county. An appeal lies from his decision to the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court, but no further appeal is possible without its express sanction. Any person not having his name on any list of voters, or receiving a notice of objection, should apply to the registration agent for his district of the political party to which he belongs. Such agents are appointed and paid by the various party organisations in most constituencies, and make it their business to know the intricacies of the law on the subject. Election of a Member of Parliament. Under the provisions of the Ballot Act, the returning officer is required, in the case of a county election within two days after the day on which he receives the writ, and in the case of a borough election on the day on which he receives the writ or the following day, to give notice of election. The day of nomination is to be fixed as follows: in the case of an election for a county or district borough, not later than the ninth day after the day on which he receives the writ, with an interval of not less than three clear days between the day on which he gives the notice and the day of nomination; and in the case of an election for any borough other than a district borough, not later than the fourth day after the day on which he receives the writ, with an interval of not less than two clear days between the day on which he gives the notice and the day of nomination. The candidate is nominated in writing, subscribed by two registered electors as proposer and seconder, and by eight other electors, who must also be registered in the same constituency. If at the expiration of one hour more candidates stand nominated than there are seats to be filled up, the returning officer is to adjourn the election and take a poll. The poll is to take place on such day as the returning officer may appoint, not being, in the case of an election for a county or district borough, less than two or more than six clear days, and not being, in the case of an election for a borough other than a district borough, more than three clear days after the day fixed for the nomination. Sundays, Christmas Day, Good Friday, and any day set apart for a public fast or thanksgiving are not counted. There is a special allowance of time in the case of the constituency of Orkney and Shetland. Where there is an equality of votes, the returning officer, if a registered elector of the county or borough, may give an additional vote, but shall not in any other case be entitled to vote at an election for which he is returning officer. But the returning officer may, if quali fied, decline to give the casting vote; and if he be not qualified, or if he decline to act, the names of the two candidates are endorsed on the writ and a double return made. Neither candidate returned may vote until the right to the seat has been determined. A petition may be presented by a person qualified to vote, a person claiming to have the right to be returned, and by a person alleging himself to have been the candidate; the petition may be presented on various grounds, and it may allege bribery and corruption. All election petitions are tried by two judges, who determine and report to the Speaker whether or not the election was void, and whether corrupt practices have been committed; the names of the persons proved to have been guilty of such corrupt practices; and whether during the election there was an extensive prevalence of corrupt practices. When such a report as the latter is made to the House, it is usual to HOUSE OF COMMONS. appoint a Royal Commission, on whose report, if it disclose a serious state of things, the writs for a fresh election may be suspended, so that the constituency remains temporarily unrepresented. Any member returned for two or more places in any part of the United Kingdom is to make his selection for which of the places he will serve within one week after it shall appear that there is no question upon the return for that place. Parliamentary Procedure. The most striking feature in the procedure of the House of Commons is the great power vested in the Speaker. The Speaker must abstain from debating, unless in committee of the whole House; and even there he rarely takes advantage of his right. The member of the House who is elected to the office of Speaker acts quite independently of party considerations. He never votes, save when the numbers happen to be equal, in which case he gives the casting vote. The chief duty of the Speaker undoubtedly is the preservation of order. He holds office until a dissolution. He has a residence in the Palace of Westminster, and receives a salary of £5000 per annum; he ranks as first Commoner, and is usually awarded upon retirement a pension of £4000 and a peerage. The following have been Speakers since the meeting of the first reformed Parliament: Sir C. Manners-Sutton (first elected '17), 33-5; Mr. J. Abercromby, '35-9; Mr. C. Shaw-Lefevre (the late Viscount Eversley), '39-57; Mr. J. E. Denison (afterwards Viscount Ossington, and since deceased), '57-72; Sir H. Brand (the late Viscount Hampden), '72-84; Mr. A. W. Peel (now Viscount Peel), '84-95; Mr. W. C. Gully (the late Viscount Selby), 95-1905; Mr. J. W. Lowther since June 8th, 1905. Chairman of Committee. The Chairman of Committee of Ways and Means is a member of the House of Commons who is elected when the House goes into Committee of Ways and Means, or Supply, for the first time in a new parliament, and holds office until the dissolution of that parliament. He is nominated by the Government, but is regarded as an officer of the House. The salary of the office is £2500 a year. The Chairman of Ways and Means usually presides when the House is in committee, whether on financial business or on a bill, and in his absence the Deputy Chairman, or failing him, the Chairman may request one of several temporary chairmen nominated by the Speaker at the commencement of each session to act for him. His place is not in the chair of the Speaker, but at the table where the Clerk, who retires with the Speaker, has sat. When the House is informed of the unavoidable absence of the Speaker, the Chairman of Ways and Means exercises his He may also authority as Deputy Speaker. take the chair as Deputy Speaker, when requested to do so by the Speaker, without any formal communication to the House. The recent holders of the office include the late Mr. Raikes, 74-30; Sir Lyon (afterwards Lord) Playfair, '80-83; Sir A. Otway, '83-5; Mr. (now Lord) Courtney, '85-92; Mr. Mellor, '93-5; Mr. James William Lowther, '95-1905; Mr. Grant Lawson, June 21st to end of session 1905; and Mr. A. Emmott, elected Feb. 1906. Deputy Chairman. The House made provision in 1902 for the appointment of a deputy chairman, who is elected in the same way as the Chairman of Committee of Ways and Means, and is also The Deputy regarded as an officer of the House. The salary of the Office is £1000 a year. Chairman, in the unavoidable absence of the Chairman of Ways and Means, is entitled to exercise all the powers vested in the Chairman of Ways and Means, including his powers as Deputy Speaker. The Deputy Chairman may also take the chair as Deputy Speaker, when requested to do so by the Speaker without any formal communication to the House. The late Mr. Jeffreys, M.P. for North Hants, was (Feb. 14th, 1902) appointed to the position, and was succeeded in June 1905 by Mr. Lawrence Hardy, M.P.; in Feb. 1906 he was succeeded by Mr. James Caldwell, M.P., who was succeeded in 1910 by Mr. J. H. Whitley. The Serjeant-at-Arms. He The Serjeant-at-Arms of the House of Commons carries the mace when the Speaker enters and leaves the House, places it on the table the table when the House goes into committee. when the Speaker takes the chair, and under He, by the messengers, notifies committees when the House is going to prayers. or his deputy sits within the House, near to the door, and executes any directions of the Speaker for the maintenance of order. Certain of the galleries, corridors, etc., are under his charge. Mr. H. D. Erskine, C.V.O., is the present Serjeant-at-Arms. The House in Committee. The business of the House of Commons is transacted very largely "in committee." When the whole House is in committee the Speaker vacates the chair, the Mace is placed under the table, and the Chairman of Ways and Means or another member of the House presides. Proceedings relating to the expenditure of public money take place in Committee of Supply, while in Committee of Ways and Means resolutions having reference to the funds by which such expenditure is to be sustained, are passed. There are also grand committees, Select Committees chosen for specific purposes, and committees for the consideration of private bills. Committee of Supply. The sums necesssary to defray the charge are voted annually by for the Army, Navy, Civil Services, Customs, in Committee of Post Office, etc., the House of Commons Supply. The sums required are granted for the financial year ending on March 31st. The Estimates, framed by the respective departments and approved by the Treasury, are laid upon the table soon after the commencement of each session, and any items which may be subsequently found insufficient, or any unforeseen Votes of credit for military and charges, are provided by the Supplementary Estimates. naval expenditure of an urgent character are also voted in Committee of Supply. On the resolution embodying the vote for the number of men for the army is founded the Army (Annual) Bill, which provides, during twelve months and no more, for the discipline and re67 |