The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-26 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

TUESDAY. •
Petitions against the opening of places of amusement on the
Lord's-day were presented by Mr. Horsfall, from the congre-
gations of St. Peter's Presbyterian Church, Liverpool, Welsh
Independents of Bethel Meeting-house, congregations of
Christ Church, St. David's, St. Augustine's, St. Michael's,
and St. Michael's Church Sunday Scholars, St. Mark's, Dis-
trict Church, St. Paul's, St. John's churches, Liverpool, Welsh
Calvinistic Methodists of Mulberry-street, Rose-place, and
Burlington-street chapels, inhabitants of Seaforth, Lancashire,
Calvinistic Methodists of Garstan, Lancashire, and of Birken-
head, Cheshire, inhabitants of Henllan, county of Denbigh,
and Calvinistic Methodists, Sunday-school teachers and scho-
lars of Henllan, county of Denbigh ; by Sir W. Verner, from
the Rev. S. Fenton, of Wavertree, near Liverpool; and by
Mr. Tollemache, from Guilden Sutton.
THE BALTIC FLEET.—Sir C. NAPIER gave notice that on
the 4th of March he would move for a committee to inquire
into the operations of the British Baltic fleet in 1854 and 1855.
THE BANK CHARTER ACT.—In answer to a question, the
CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the present Bank
Charter Act did not require renewal. There was a power in-
serted in it to put an end to the exclusive privileges of the
Bank on certain notice being given ; but until that notice was
given the Bank Charter Act remained in force. With respect
to the provision by which the Bank of England agreed to pay
to those private banks which consented to withdraw their
paper circulation one per cent. per annum upon the average
issue of those banks in the three previous years, and to con-
tinue the same so long as the other private banks were per-
mitted to issue their paper, that was expressly limited to the
month of August in the present year. Therefore, it would
expire, unless it were previously renewed by the legislature.
In the event of no objection being made by the Bank of Eng-
land, he should be prepared, in the course of the present ses-
sion, to bring in a bill to continue that provision. -
THE CRIMEAN REPORTS.—In answer to a question whether
the document on the table contains the whole report of the
commissioners, and, if not, whether there is any intention on
the part of the government of laying the whole report before
the house, Mr. PEEL said, there is no intention of submitting
the report in any other form than that in which it iS at pre-
sent before the house.
MASTERS AND WORKMEN.—Mr. MACKINNON moved for a
select committee to consider the inconvenience felt from the
want of equitable tribunals whereby differences between
masters and operatives might be amicably adjusted. Some
amendment of the law on this subject he assumed to be called
for, and what he wanted, he said, was a committee, composed
of master manufacturers and gentlemen who had turned their
attention to the subject, to consider and decide upon the expe-
diency of the tribunals he suggested, which might conciliate
workmen with masters. The inquiry, at all events, could do
no harm.— Sir G. GREY said he had no objection to such an
inquiry, provided it was undertaken with
,a full knowledge of
what the foreign Conseils des Prud'hommes were, their
functions being administrative and judicial, extending to
questions of contract. He thought it desirable that tribunals
of the kind suggested by Mr. Mackinnon should be estab-
lished; but he hoped the house would not be led into the
error of supposing that such tribunals should regulate wages.
—The motion was agreed to.
THE STATUTES.—A motion by Mr. KING, that there be
prepared, under the direction of the Clerk of the Parliaments,
an edition of the statutes at large, for the use of the house,
omitting all such statutes and parts of statutes as are expired
or have been expressly repealed ; and that, in the place of the
statutes or parts •of statutes repealed, there be inserted the
titles of the statutes repealed, the numbers and abstracts of
the clauses repealed, with a reference to the statutes by which
they are repealed, was, after some discussion, negatived by
166 to 65.

MINISTERS' MoNET.—Mr. FAGAN moved a resolution, that
the house immediately resolve into a committee, to con-
sider the act 17 and 18 Vict., c. 11, with the view of amending
the same, so far as respects the tax thereby enacted to be
levied, in lieu of "Ministers' Money," in order that the tax
may be wholly abolished.—Mr. HORSM A.N admitted that, as
regarded the operation of the existing act, it was not satisfac-
tory, and that in some respects the act required amendment.
Agreeing, therefore, in Mr. Fagan's proposition to introduce
a measure to amend the act, he should reserve any observa-
tions on the part of the government until the second reading
of the bill.—ln the course of the discussion which ensued,
Lord J. RUSSELL observed that there was no necessity for the
house to come to a resolution upon the subject, and suggested
to Mr. Fagan that the most proper course was for him to move
for leave to bring in a bill to repeal the tax.—After some
observations from other members, the motion was withdrawn,
and leave was given to Mr. Fagan to bring in a bill to repeal
the tax.

IRISII TENANT RIGHT.-Mr. Moore obtained leave to bring
in a bill to provide for compensation to tenants for improve-
ment of lands in Ireland.

Mr. Dunlop obtained leave to introduce a bill to make fur-
ther provision for rendering reformatory and industrial schools
in Scotland more available for the benefit of vagrant children,
and a bill to constitute all legally qualified persons in Scotland
Commissioners of Supply, without being named in an Act of
Supply.
The select committees on Adulterations of Food, &c., on
Civil Service Superannuation, on Silver and Gold Wares, and
on Ecclesiastical Commission, &c., were nominated.
The Civil Service Superannuation Bill was read a second
time, and referred to the select committee appointed to consi-
der the whole subject of superannuation allowances.
The house adjourned at a quarter to nine o'clock.

WEDNESDAY.

Petitions against the opening of places of amusement on the
Lord's-day were presented by Mr. Ewart, from the minister
and congregation of the Independent meeting-house, Great
Crosshall-street, Liverpool; by Mr. Barnes, from Wesleyan
Methodist congregations at Chew Moor, near Bolton ; Fletcher-
street, Bolton ' Bridge-street, Bolton ; Leigh, near Bolton ;
and Bedford, Lancashire; from teachers and scholars of the
Wesleyan meeting-houses, Ridgway-gates, Bolton, and Bedford,
Lancashire ; from the officers, teachers and elder scholars of
Wesleyan Sunday-schools at Belmont, near Bolton; and Bridge-
street, and Fletcher-street, Bolton; from Sunday-school teachers
at the Congregational meeting-houses Farnworth, Bolton,
Dixon-green and Kearsley ; and from the Young Men's Christian
Association, Wesley meeting-house, Bolton.
A petition was presented in favour of opening the National
Gallery, &c., on Sunday, by Mr. J. Ewart, from Liverpool,
signed by 2,875 persons.
Petitions were also presented by Mr. Barnes, from the Mayor
and corporation of Bolton, in favour of the Local Dues on
Shipping Bill; and by Mr. Thornely, from the medical and
surgical officers of the Liverpool dispensaries, in favour of the
Medical Reform Bill.

The Episcopal and Capitular Estates Bill was read a second
time, and referred to the Select Committee on the Ecclesiasti-
cal Commission.

MEDICAL REFORM.—On the order for the second reading
of the Medical Profession Bill, Lord R. GROSVENOR objected
to certain provisions of the bill, which, he said, would create a
monopoly of practice, to the exclusion of homoeopathic prac-
titioners, and insisted that, before the House gave such large
powers to a medical body, securities should be provided for
their impartial exercise. He did not oppose the second read-
ing of the bill.—Sir G. GREY agreed that some clauses in the
bill required very careful consideration in committee, and that
precautions should be taken to prevent arbitrary exclusions ;
but he hoped the House would read the bill a second time.—
After a short conversation, in which Mr. HENLEY,Mr.NAPIEn,
and Mr. HEADLAM participated, the bill was read a second time.
The Drainage Advances Acts Amendment Bill passed
through committee, after an explanation of its objects, by Mr.
WILSON, in reply to Mr. W. WILLIAMS and Mr. HENLEY.
The House adjourned at 10 minutes past 1 o'clock.