This Week in Parlament

The Commons ---

P:Stiffened with chivalrous disapprobation as Laborite J. J. ("Jumping Jack") Jones twice called Viscountess Astor a liar while she flayed corruption alleged to exist in his constituency, West Ham.

P:Relaxed chuckling when Jones, admonished by the speaker, "apologized," declaring that Lady Astor had been guilty not of a "lie" but of a "terminological inexactitude."

P:Noted that Lady Astor remained straight lipped, even when Jones achieved the excruciating West Ham witticism of shouting at Home Secretary ("Jix") Joynson-Hicks: "You're getting coal every day from filthy German Huns to break the coal strike! All right! Get your coal from Hell!"

P:Approved by a majority of 129, Sir William ("Jix") Joynson-Hicks' project to devote -L-3,000,000 ($15,000,000) to the importation of coal. Said "Jix": "The Government's decision to purchase coal in quantities is prompted by a resolve that the poor must not be deprived of fuel. . . . The Government will not supply coal to large users who can import it on their own account."

P:Were informed by Secretary for Mines Lane-Fox that over one million tons of coal have been imported since the beginning of the coal strike (TIME, May 10 et seq.).

ܡeethed, and betrayed acute concern while the Lords debated the anti-strike bill jammed through the Commons by Premier Baldwin (TIME, July 12) to lengthen coal mine working hours temporarily from seven to eight so that the owners can offer a wage high enough to tempt the miners back to work.

P: Burst into unseemly shouts of "Hi! Ho! Hum!" when His Majesty's Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod rapped thrice on the Commons' door to summon them before the bar of the Lords.

The Lords

P:Were informed by Viscount Cecil that the Government would not seek immediate ratification of its anti-strike bill, because certain (Yorkshire) mine owners had refused to offer their men what the Cabinet deemed adequate wages on the basis of the eight-hour day contemplated in the bill.

P:Were apprised of the Yorkshire mine owners' capitulation to the Government in the matter of wages, and began to debate the bill.

P:Grew restless as the hour of their august dinners approached and the Earl de la Warr, Viscount Haldane, and Barons Parmoor, Arnold, Thomson, ("Labor Peers") began a determined filibuster against the bill.

P: Followed the Marquess of Salisbury into the lobbies in a body, leaving the filibusterers to address empty benches for an hour and a half.

P: Returned under the banner of Lord Salisbury who cried: "It is quite obvious what these noble (filibustering) Lords are trying to do. It is an abuse of the traditions and privileges of the House. I move that the question be now put!" (The bill passed 44 to 4, was signed by the King-Emperor.)

P: Lifted disdainful eyebrows as the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod shepherded before the bar of the Lords many an M. P. -- several grumbling audibly at their obligation to hear read His Majesty's assent to the bill.

The clerk intoned in Norman French the immemorial affirmative command: "Le Roi le veult!"

Mocking Laborites shouted : "Bon soir! Good night! Honi soit qui mal y pense! A murderer's bill! A murderer's! MURDERERS!"

Witnessed an unprecedented scandal: collision between the doubled fist of one M. P. and the head of another in the House of Lords.

The Right Honorable E. Roy Bird, Conservative, strapping six footer, to whom appertained the fist, declared later to newsgatherers: "The scene was extraordinary. There were even catcalls. I said, 'It's a damned shame to make such a scene!' Then someone made an offensive personal remark to me. I turned around and hit out, striking Mr. Gardner (Socialist) who it seems had said nothing. Immediately three or four Socialists had me by the arms. I thought Mr. Gardner was going to attack me and tried to trip him. Then he explained that he had said nothing. . . .

"I said I was sorry I had hit him and we were able to go off together and settle it amicably over a drink. I must say Mr. Gardner took the matter like a sportsman."

Rotund, cheerful, the Right Honorable J. P. Gardner said: "He hit me only a glancing blow. When I saw his fist coming I ducked a little."