The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-06-03 00:00:00

4,0
----J3kITADAY-x-XUSE 18

IMPERIAL " PARLIAMENT.

In the HOUSE or LORDS, May t 9, the Inns of Wourt Bill and
the General School of Law BM were read a third time and
Passed.

The Select Committee on the iTnion of Benefices Bill was
nominated. - - - - - -

Repl}ing to Lord Camperdown, the tulle of Richmond aud
Gordon stated that the Ecelest4stical Commi:sioner, were
ready to allow the Agricultural Holdings Act to optrate upon
their estates if the tenants wished it.
The Merchant Shippl,g Bill, the Customs and Inland
Revenue Bill, and the ConsoLdated Fund (£11,0)4,0,..0) Bill
Were brought from the COILMCWS and read a first tline.
-

, The Orders on the Paper haviug been disposed of, their
Lordships al.girned.

- -
litthe HutisE or COMMONS, Mr. Russell Gurney gave notice
Meet on going iato Snowy on an early day he wilt call kitten-
tiou to the circumstances under which tee Tuchian Luau of
1854 was contracted, and will move a Resolution.
On the Third Reading of the Cuetoms and Inland Revenue
Blii,
_kr. Mitchell Henry moved a Resolution, declaring that no
tinaucial arrangements can be satidactory which cid not
relieve Ireland from a burden of Taxation beyOnd her
ability to pay, as compared with Great Britain. It waa
seconded by the O'Conor• Don; and in support of his arBa-
rnent that the Imperial Taxation, though apparently
equal, pressed with undue hardship on the poorer country,
Mr. Henry went deeply into statistics, showing that
While England is only taxed is. Bd. in the pound on her
annlial income, rateable to the Income Tax, at £800,000,000,
Ireland is taxedeat the rate of 45: Bd. on her annual income
of £18,000,000. Taking Imperial and Local Taxation together,
Great Britain only paid 10 per cent., while Ireland paid 55
Per cent. on her income. If Great Britain and Ireland
were taxed exactly on the same scale. one would pay
L 200,030,000, and the other £5,000,000:. The contribu-
tion from Imperial to Local Taxation In Great Britain
Was 3i millions, and in Ireland two millions, but of this
one million was contributed to tbe Royal Irish Constabulary,
Which was not a local force but an army of occupation.
Descending to particulars, Mr. Mitchell Henry dwelt on the
injustice of the Spirit Duties as compared with the tax on
beer, and, finally, he combated the delusion that the "unfor-
tunate island," as he described Ireland, is prospering, con-
tending that land is going out of cultivation, that manu-
factures are not increasing, and that the so called deposits in
the Savings Banks to a great extent are not deposits, but
loans credited to depositors. In fact. English policy had
made a desolation in Ireland and called it prosperity.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer remarked that those who
complained of the unequal prepure of taxation on Ireland.
always came to one of two things—that the Spirit Duties
Should be reduced, or that a larger contribution from Im-
perial sources should be made to Ireland for local purposes.
With regard to the second alternative, he pointed out that
It certainly could not lead to a reduction of Taxation in any
part of the United Kingdom; and, with regard to the first,
everybody shrank when it came to the point to propose a re-
duction of the Spirit Duties. Bat it was not possible, under
our present system of taxation, that a disproportionate
amount of taxation could be levied in the two countries.
Direct taxes must be in proportion to income, and indirect
taxes were levied on the same scale in both countries. Ile
Objected., however to the Income Tax assessment being taken
U a common measure of the wealth of the two countries:
and he read from a Report of the Commissioners of inland
Revenue, giving various reasons for believing that the In-
come Tax Returns did not represent the whole income of
Ireland. The argument that equal taxes pressed heavily on
Poorer communities might oe extended to the pool er parts
of Scotland and of England and alto to individuals. But
the tendency of recent financial legislation had been to
reduce the taxes which pressed on the poorer classes, and if
the aggregate amount of taxes had increated, it was because
he abilities of the taxpayers had increased. To say nothing
Of the large subventions and exemptions enj.)yed by Ireland,
If the Spirit Duties wet. excluded, the amount of taxation
In that country had decreased.
_Sir M'Kenna, Dr. Ward, and Mr. Butt made some brief
imarks on the Resolution, alter which Mr. Henry withdrew
ts House then went into Committee on the Commons Bill,
ct some important amendments having been proposed and
greed to, the other business was disposed of, and the House
adjourned at twenty minutes past two o'clock.

lii the HOUSE OF LORDS, May SO, the Customs and Inland
Revenue Bill and the Consolidated Fund (C 11,000,00 Bill
were read a second time, and, the Standing Orders having
been ti ispended, were readeelhirdeinie,and peeled.
Lord De La Warr asked whether any official information
had been received by the Government respecting the abdica--
tion of the Sultan of Turkey.
ord Herby replied that he could confirm the truth of the
Statement which had appeared in the evening papers re-
sPecting that event. He had seen two telegrams—ore
Turkish
from Sir Henry Eliot, and the other from the
earkish -Embassy—both stating that the Sultan had been
dethroned, and shat his nephew had succeeded him: lie
was not able •to give any details; but in both telegrams it.
was dated that the revolution had been accomplished with:
oilt any diaturbance. 4 • esee : ,
The other business having been gone through, their lord-
ships adjaurned.
In the HOUSE OF. COMAION.3, Mr. Bourke stated that the
Government had received ileormation from the Turkish
Ambassador here and from our Ambassador at Constanti-
Maple that the Sultan Abdul Azlz had been deposed and
his nephew and heir Mohamme'd Mourad had succeeded
to the Throue. No particulars had been received, except
that there had been no dlaturtances at Constantinople; end
intelligence had been received from Saionica that the new
Sultan had been proclaimed there the previous morning with
general approbation.
On the Motion of Mr. Disraeli that the House at its rising ,
edjourn over the Derby-day, a lively and entertaining debate
ensued, and on the House dividing it affirmed the motion by
207 to 118:
Mr. Trevelyan rose In a very thin House to call attention
to the anomalies of our Electoral System, and moved two
Resolutions—that it is desirable to adopt an uniform Parlia-
mentary Franchise for boroughs and county constituencies,
and that it is desirable to redistribute pelitical power so as;
to obtain a more complete representation ot the Electoral!
body. In the first place he pointed out that he now for the
first time submitted the question of Electoral Reform in a
complete shape, and that the House had redistribution
as well a reduction of the franchise submiteed to it.
This course he had taken not merely in deference to the
Opinions of influential Lieerals, and to the challenge thrown
put by Mr. Disraeli, Lord Hartington, and others, but also
because at the anomalies of the present distribution of power.
Into some of these Mr. Trevelyan went in detail, showing
the disparity between the number of electors and elected
both in boroughs and counties in various parts of the c iuutry
and he quieted the apprehensions of those of his friends who
thought that a redistribution of seats meut have a political
effect adverse to their interests, by assuring them that the
most adroit manipulation of figures could not alter the
fact, that the over-represented districts at present
were most backward in trade, education, pepulation,
d'es, and vice versa, In support of the extension of the suf
frage, Mr. Trevelyan argued that household suffrage in
boroughs had greatly influenced the poetical conduct of
members and had increeseci their political knowledge, and he
repeated his argument that the representation of rural house •
holders in Parliament is necessary for the proper treatment
of such questions as the Commons Preservation. The Educa-
tion Bill, the Burials Bill, the Game Law question, short ser-
vice, dee. The question, therefore, he insisted was urgent ;
and, in reply to the objection that there is no demand for
the measure he pointed to the meeting at Exeter-hall.
Mr. Fawcett, in seconding the Resolution, combatted the
Objection that redistribution would necessarily lea I to equal
electoral districts and the extinction of small boroughs, and
admitting that the question was not ripe for adoption by the
Ministry, be apologised at considerable length for pressing it
forward at the present moment.
Mr. Dalrymple, though he had supported Mr. Trevelysin's
Bill, and thought that household suffrage must be granted at
• the proper time, declined to support the Resolution, be-
t. cause it could lead to no .practieal result, bat he pointed
out that there was nothing in the antecedents of the Conser-
vative Party which made it impossible for them in good
• season to extend Household Suffrege to rural householders.
In.the course of subsequent debate the motion was sun-
perted by Sir C. Dilke and Mr. Burt, and opposed by Sir W.
• Barttelot. -
Mr. Lowe maintained that these Resolutions, it carried
t'
into effect; would chinge the centre of our political gravity
and that at present no -precticat grounds had been sug,ested
for so serious an undertaking. The only argument offered
' was an assumption, that every man bad a right to the tren-
t chise whether it would be fir the advantage of the State or
• not, whicli Mr. Lewe altogether denied. He judged of
L. politics' entirely by experience, and there was no experience
e to show that Assemblies were good in preportion as they
were elected by larger numbers. An extens .on of the suffrage
• Was not to be justified because it removed a stigma from a
see, class, but by its Effact on the House of Commons. This
'Mange Mr. Lowe insisted would in time lead to equal elec-
• Loral districts, and in time to a reconstruction of our institu-
ec. Pons.
os Mr. Bright, who-replied to Mr. Lowe, after remarking on
le the much more tranquil atmosphere in which their ancient
Controversy was renewed, went on to point out that the
.e; tosrtY opposite had first proposed that the franchise in
„ - roughs and counties should be identical, and also that the
`eta .franchise in boroughs should be Household Suffrage. Con-
• Sequel., by adopting this measure, the party opposite
. Would only be acting logically. Household Suffrage had
Worked well in boroughs. It had satisfied the country,
and the same rea on which j waffled its applicati -in to towns
I°'• 'would recommend its exteesion to counties. But to j in
together the Re-distribution of Seats and th.e eeduction
silee eta the Franchise, in Mr. Bright's opinion, was unwise. If
ea the suffrage question were once settled, the distribution of
*eat s would follow without argument.
Le Mr. Disraeli observed that Mr. Bright had completely
ke thrown ever Mr Trevelyan and his supporters because they
e had recognized the force of the obj-ctions urged against
▪ them in former years by proposing to scompany Reduction
lu of Franc:his° by Redistribution. Nevertheless ar. Trevelyan's
-.lee • Vague Resoiutten abut Redistribution did not satisfy the
se Fee:, 'necessities of the case. It did not show how he pro-
posed to redress the inequalities which, on a , ppreviouse
Lusfeere 111 r. Disraeli had shown would be the effec., of
Bo neet
lielsteus
Suffrage in counties. Mr Disraeli recapitulated
the st
Which he had u .ed in his last speech,
01144i'! towing that while under Ile.usehold Suffrage some
jasse,e,e _ 0,000 county voters would return only 143 members,
1,200,003 borough electors would returre297 members. This
glaring inequality, Mr. Di.raeli said, must lead to such a
es„ redistribution of seats as would amount co a break up of our
L, borough system. It might not lead to equal electeral dis-
• trjets, but it would change the character of the House, aid
by robbing it of its variety would make it less of a popular
assembly This was still the question to be decided, not-
est et, Withstanding the second Resolution, which did nut eft rd
. any guide to the plan of Reoistribution.
tee Mr. Trevelyan, in his reply, alluded to Lord Hattingten's
ei
"' alesence, which he connected with Mr. Lewes speech, ad
• . Mr. Newdegate made some inaudible remarks t 3 an tat-
patient audience. Tne Hmse then divided on the first
.Resolutlon, which was negatived by a majority of 99-264 to
eel 1,05, and Mr. Trevelyan withdrew the second.
seif . Mr. Disraeli moved that the Resolution of last Session
et : relating to the exclusion of strangers be made a Sessional
4- • Order, but, a debate arising, is was agreed to adjourn it.
The other business was disposed of, and the House ad-
- 3oUrned at twenty-five
. •e• • minutes past one o'clock.

Ie

gm. ,
THE ENGLISH FLEET in the LEVANT.
bah, • • - .......______
ii,k
...4.. - • The Daily Newsremarks:—"ln a few days the finest
I 'fleet of ironclads that ever assembled under one
command will b ) found in the Mediteranean Under
CIL, • • the orders of Vice-Admiral Sir James Drum' mond.
•••Aiready • that fleet ,which coilaisted of six ironclads
fp- • many.,k,ops, and three gunboats, ha l) been aug :
' -.eivto 'by ,the..-..2"iriumph and .t4e Miinarch, fr(iiu
litiot." : • tho-Obannel-Squadron,.the former touching .at Malta '
to take on •board Admiral Rice, who proceeds to
';L'• ' Turkish waters as .second in 'command. Now four
' , '• tither armoured. broadside ships are ordered to
ir
-Gibraltar with all despatch—the Sultan com-
'''' '...inanded by his Royal Highness the Duke of Edin.
4411 burgh • the Rupert, from Chatham ; the Raleigh, and
IS it ''''' •• the donsrch. To make
.good the vacancies thus
!and in the Channel Squadron, several of the coast-
..gaard ironclads have been ordered to join the flag of
1604,4'"•-......_' •...6.dmiral, Beauchamp Seymour, who is just now oft
V441k.r., -•ffuttile Spanish coast with the Minotaur, the Back Prince,
the Resistance, the Heel°, , and the Iron Doke. It these
• vessels together with the Achilles,and two or three
other A the coastguard ironclads, are ordered to Gib-
s* raltar also, as seems to be the intention of the Admiralty
, . at present, Great Britain will be represented in the
ressik, Mediterranean by no fewer than twenty formidable
44•4414,21r0nc1ad5, with probab!y ten thowand seam.-n and
sa.iisT-.inarines on board. As it is, Sir James Droll-a:timid
Will be in command, within the next fortnight, of a
dozen of the most powerful ships afloat,iyogether with
nine minor vessels, as large a fleet possibly as that of
all the other foreign nations combated. One of our
'vessels on the station, the Devastation, which carries
four of those heavy cannon that have been nicknamed
'Woolwich Infants,' is by far the mcst powerfully
armed, and most stoutly defended with armour, of any
ship, native or foreign, in those waters. Altogether,
therefore we may consider ourselves very adequately
rePreaenied Nat now in the Levant.",