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"Great Britain," "with the commencement of Representation from a principle of common equity.' In Scotland, the payment was made in accordance with the terms of a statute dated 1427, which has been preserved, and is supposed to have been copied from an English statute that has been lost. Professor Thorold Rogers says that in the reign of Edward I. "the member of parliament had daily wages; the knights or county members receiving more-the amount is not invariable-than the burgesses. When the Parliament was prorogued or dismissed, the writs for payment were made out, and the time during which the House sat exactly calculated." A judgment of Lord Chancellor Nottingham after the dissolution of Parliament in 1681 proves that the payment was not merely a voluntary contribution by the constituencies. Thomas King, M.P. for Harwich, presented a petition stating "that he had served as burgesse in Parliament for the said borrough severall yeares, and did give his constant attendance therein; but that the said borrough had not paid him his wages, though often requested so to do." Notice being given to the Corporation of Harwich, and the facts being verified, a writ was ordered to be issued, de expensis burgensium levandis. This was probably the last order so made. "I know no reason," said Lord Campbell, commenting on this judgment, "in point of law, why any member may not insist on payment of his wages. For this point in the People's Charter-payment of wages-no new law is required." An Act of 1541 made the payment of wages depend upon attendance in the House throughout the whole session. Payment of members is required to enable constituencies to freely choose their representatives, to give the public complete control over them, and compel them to perform their duties with diligence and efficiency. The poor candidate would thus be put upon an equality with the richest. An equitable and convenient adjustment of burdens is made by the payment of members out of the state, and the election expenses out of the local exchequers. Payment of members is the law in almost every country where representative government prevails. A Table of existing laws on the subject will be found on page 18.

PART VI.

Triennial Parliaments.

45. The present and succeeding parliaments shall have continuance for three years and no longer, to be accounted from the day on which by the writ of summons the parliament shall be appointed to meet, unless this present or any parliament hereafter to be summoned shall be sooner dissolved.

Prior to the Revolution of 1688, with the exception of a few years during the Commonwealth, the duration of parliaments was entirely within the control of the Sovereign. One of the parliaments of Charles II. sat eighteen years. The Triennial Act was passed in 1694. Its preamble declares "that frequent and new parliaments tend very much to the happy union and good agreement of King and people." The Septennial Act, one of the earliest measures of the first parliament of George I., was nominally based on a desire to relieve the country of the "grievous and burdensome" expense of elections, and also from "the violent and lasting heats and animosities among the subjects of the realm," but was really aimed at the "restless and Popish faction," which was "designing and endeavouring to renew the Rebellion within this Kingdom and an invasion from abroad." The dangers of 1714 have passed away, and the Septennial Act should therefore have been repealed more than a century and a half ago, but all attempts at repeal have been unsuccessful. The reversion to Triennial Parliaments is the least reform that can be accepted, and perhaps combines most of the advantages of Annual Parliaments without their drawbacks.

Members of the House of Representatives in the United States are elected only for two years. The members of the Lower Houses in Portugal, Sweden,

and Switzerland are elected for three years, as are also those of Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, and New Zealand. For other countries see the table on the next page.

The precedents quoted in this tract may be found in the following authorities:

:

"Summary of the Constitution and Procedure of Foreign Parliaments; compiled by Reginald Dickinson, one of the Committee Clerks of the House of Commons, from reports respecting the Practice and Regulations of Legislative Assemblies in Foreign Countries," presented to Parliament in 1881;

"Problems of Greater Britain," by Sir Charles Dilke.

"The American Commonwealth," by James Bryce, M.P.
"Six Centuries of Work and Wages," by J. Thorold Rogers.

"Constitutional History of England," by Sir T. Erskine May (Lord Farnborough).

"Lives of the Lord Chancellors," by Lord Campbell.

"The Statesman's Year Book."

"The Government Year Book," by Lewis Sergeant.

"The Colonial Office List," &c., &c.

Table of existing Laws as to payment of Members of Legislatures. The duration of the Legislatures is given in the first column.

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Members of the Imperial Parliament
are not paid; but in the Prussian
House of Representatives they
receive £1 per day.

Members receive 2,000 drachmas (£70)
for each ordinary Session. Special
Session, from 1,000 to 1,500 drachmas
(£35 to £50). Salaried Deputies only
receive balance to equal
drachmas.

Members are not paid.

Members receive £600 a year.

2,000

All Members of the States General are
paid-

1st Chamber

8 florins a day.

2nd Chamber, 2,000 florins a year.

Free railway travelling during session.

Free railway travelling and free postage.

75 cents per hour of travel for each session.

All Members of the Storthing receive Travelling expenses.
13s. 4d. a day during Session of three
months.

Members receive £1 per day.

Deputies receive 100,000 reis (£22) a
month during Session.

COUNTRY.

PAYMENT TO MEMBERS OF LEGISLATURE.

OTHER ALLOWANCES.

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Members of the Lower Chamber re- Travelling expenses.
ceive 1,200 kroner (£66 13s. 4d) for
Session of four months; 10 kroner a
day for Extraordinary Session; 10
kroner deducted for each day's ab-

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New Zealand.. £1 a day during Session, subject to

3 years

actual attendance. No payment
under this head to the Speaker,
Chairman, Ministers, or Members
residing in the town where the Legis-
lature meets, or within 15 miles of it.

Newfoundland.. Legislative Council,

20 centimes per kilometre (24d. a mile) trav 1ling expenses.

20 cents. a mile for tiavelling, once per session each way, from residence to seat of Congress.

10 cents. a mile travelling expenses, once a session, from residence to place of session.

Members residing over two miles from the Council Chamber receive £1 a day travelling allowance.

Free travelling to and from Parliament.

4 years

President, $240

per Session.

Members, $120

House of Assembly, Speaker

$323

Members (Outpost)

$300

$200

New South
Wales..

3 years

South Australia.

3 years

Queensland

5 years

Victoria

3 years

Members (Capital)

Deduction for Non-Attendance.

By an Act passed in 1889, Members
of the Lower House receive £300 per

annum.

£200 a year to Members of both Houses
not in receipt of official salaries.

£2 28. for each day's attendance, not to Travelling allowance.
exceed £200 a year.

£300 a year to Members not in receipt

of official salary.

(ESTABLISHED 1883.)

HE FABIAN SOCIETY consists of Socialists.

THE

A statement

of its Principles, Rules, Conditions of Membership, etc., can be obtained from the Secretary, at 2L Hyde Park Mansions, London, N.W. Also the following publications :

"FABIAN ESSAYS IN SOCIALISM.”
(22nd Thousand.)

A full exposition of modern English Socialism in its latest and maturest phase. The book consists of eight monographs by G. Bernard SHAW, SYDNEY OLIVIER, SIDNEY WEBB, WILLIAM CLARKE. HUBERt Bland, Graham Wallas and ANNIE BESANT. The frontispiece is by WALTER CRANE.

Library Edition, 6s.; or, direct from the Secretary for Cash, 4/6 (postage 4§d.) Cheap Edition, Paper cover (published by Walter Scott, 24 Warwick Lane, London), 18.; ditto, plain cloth, 28. At all booksellers, or post free from the Secretary for 1s. and 28. respectively.

FABIAN TRACTS.

To be obtained from the Publisher, JOHN HEYWOOD, Deansgate and Ridgefield, Manchester, and I Paternoster Buildings, London; or from the Secretary at above address.

No. 1.-Why are the Many Poor P 25th thousand. Is. per 100.

Price 6 for id.;

No. 5.—Facts for Socialists. A comprehensive survey of the distribution of income and the condition of classes in England, gathered from official returns, and from the works of well-known economists and statisticians. Authorities given for all the figures. 25th thousand. 16 pp., Id.; or 9d. per doz.

No. 7.-Capital and Land. A similar survey of the distribution of property, with a criticism of the distinction sometimes set up between Land and Capital as instruments of production. 10th thousand. 16 pp., id.; or 9d. per doz.

No. 8.-Facts for Londoners. An exhaustive collection of statistical and other information relating to the County and City of London, with suggestions for Municipal Reform on Socialist principles. 5th thousand. 56 pp., 6d. ; or 4/6 per doz.

No. 9.-An Eight Hours Bill in the form of an amendment of the Factory Acts. Very full notes explain the Trade Option clause and the principles and precedents on which the Bill,is founded. A list of literature dealing with the question of the limitation of the hours of labor is appended. 20th thous. 16 pp., Id.; or 9d. per doz. No. 10.-Figures for Londoners (a short abstract of No. 8). 20th thousand. 4 pp., 6 for Id.: Is. per 100.

No. 11.-The Workers' Political Programme fully explains the politics of to-day from the working class point of view, and gives questions to put to Parliamentary candidates. 10th thousand. 20 pp., Id.; or 9d. per doz.

No. 12.-Practicable Land Nationalization. A brief statement of practical proposals for immediate reform. 20th thousand. 4 pp., 6 for Id.; or Is. per 100. No. 13.-What Socialism Is. A short exposition of the aim of Socialists. 30th thousand. 4 pp., 6 for 1d.; or Is. per 100.

No. 14.-The New Reform Bill. A draft Act of Parliament providing for Adult Suffrage, Payment of Members and their election expenses, Second Ballot, and a thorough system of Registration. 15th thousand. 20 pp. Id.; or 9d. per doz.

No. 15.-English Progress towards Social Democracy. The evolution of English Society, with explanation of Socialism. 10th thous. 16 pp., Id. ; 9d. doz. No. 16.-A Plea for an Eight Hours Bill. A brief answer to objectors. 50th thousand. 4 pp., 6 for Id.; Is. per 100.

No. 17.-Reform of the Poor Law. Facts as to pauperism, with proposals for pensions for the aged, and other Socialist reforms. 20 pp., Id.; 9d. per doz. No. 18.-Facts for Bristol (in preparation).

The set post free for fifteen pence.

The LECTURE LIST, containing the names of sixty lecturers, who offer their services gratuitously, may be obtained on application to the Secretary. Upwards of 1000 lectures were delivered by members during the year ended in March, 1890.

G. STANDRING, Priuter (Trade Union), 7 & 9, Finsbury Street, E.C.

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