The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-05-18 00:00:00

LL

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

On Monday, May 13, the JAME OF LORDS reassembled after
the Laster Recess.

Lord Granville gave notice that next Thursday Lord Se].
borne would call attention to the question whether the
Indian troops excepted from the vote recited in the preamble
to the Mutiny Act could, consistently with constitutional
law, be employed in time of peace elsewhere than in the
Indian Pozsessions of Her Majesty without the previous
consent of Parliament.
Lord Beauchamp, in replf to Lord De La Warr, said that
he could give no information at present of the time when the
Bill now in preparation in reference to the liability of em-
ployers for accidents to their servants would be introduced
in the House of Commons by the Attorney-General.
The Ilailway Returns (Continuous Brakes) Bill was read
a third time and passed, and their Lordships then adjourned.
In the Koval: OF Common, Sir H. James asked the
Charles,Dor of the Exchequer what was the number of
the forces at present employed for the safety of the
United Kingdom and the defence pf the Possessions of
Her Majesty's Crown, including those to be employed
jet the depots of the United •Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland for the training of recruits for service at home
and abroad, but exclusive of the number actually serving
within Her Majesty's Indian Possessions; and whether, by
the addition of the native troops which it is proposed to re-
move from India, the number of forces so employed will ex-
ceed the number authorised by Parliament—viz., 135,452
men.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer : The native Indian
troops of Her Majesty are not and never have been reckoned
In the numbers mentioned in the Mutiny Acts. (Cheers.)
The native Indian troops recently ordered to Malta are not,
and are not to be, reckoned in the number mentioned in the
Mutiny Act of the present year. The number of the forces
mentioned in the Mutiny Act of this year is 135,452 men.
This is an establishment separate from that of the Indian
native troops, and on this establishment the present number
Is 136,167 men, being 715 ever the establishment, owing to
fluctuations of recruiting. This is exclusive of the Reserves
recently called out, which are added to the establishment by
the operation of existing Acts of Parliament. These are
about 35,000. (Cheers.)

The Marquis of Hartington asked when the Estimate would
be proposed to Parliament, and gave notice at the same
time that in consequence of the answer just given he should
move a resolution declaring generally—though he did not
commit himself to the precise language—that no Forces
may be raised or kept by the Crown in time of peace without
the consent of Parliament in any part of Her Majesty's
dominions, except such forces as may be actually serving
in Her Majesty's Indian Possessions.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer said that he was now re.
ceiving information from India, and would fix Monday, the
27th, for the discussion, when Lord Hartingtou, if con-
venient, could bring on his resolution. If he desired it, how-
ever, he could have an earlier day. Subsequently, Lord
Hartington said he would consult with his friends, and the
date might be fixed on Tuesday.

Mr. Chamberlain, pursuant to notice, asked whether any
facilities would be given for his motion on the Eastern
policy of the Government; and Captain Pim also asked the
Government to assist him in bringing forward his motion for
an International European Congress.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer said that as he had
given a day to Lord Hartington's motion, it would not be
possible to afford facilities for the other motions, on which
Lord Hartington subsequently remarked that the motion
was totally different from Mr. Chamberlain's, inasmuch as
he expressed no opinion on the policy of the Government,
but solely on the manner in which their policy had been
carried out.

_
In answer to Mr. Newdegate, Colonel Stanley said that the
Reserves would be the subject of a Supplementary Estimate,
as was announced in the Budget Speech.
The Adjourned Debate on the Third Reading of the
Budget Bill was resumed by

Mr. Vivian, who condemned the movement of troops from
India to Malta as illegal and unconstitutional, and twitted
the Tory party with departing from the sound doctrines of
the country gentlemen of 1775, when Lord North was com-
pelled to seek an Act of Indemnity for a similar measure.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer must have known
that it was intended to bring over "foreign troops"
(at this description of the Indian Army there were
loud murmurs), and he should have told Parliament when he
brought in the Budget. But the Government had behaved
throughout with a want of candour, and among other things
he charged them with sending the Fleet into the Mediter-
ranean with a lie in its mouth, and with obtaining the Vote
of Credit by stating that none of it would be spent.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer gave this charge an
emphatic denial, and while pointing out that this was not the
occasion on which to discuss the legality of the measure,
admitted its gravity, and the right and duty of Parlia-
ment to scrutinize it. Dealing solely with the question
whether it ought to have been communicated to Par-
liament, he assured the House that it was not in his
power to have mentioned the subject in his Budget
Speech, for it was only four days before that it was decided
on by the Cabinet, and not until a week after that the first
order was sent to India sanctioning expenditure. The official
changes which occurred on Lord Deity's resignation and the
necessary communications with India led to delay, and the
Government, holding that they were under DO obligation to
communicate the measure to Parliament, were strongly of
opinion that secrecy was expedient and necessary for the suc-
cess of the expedition. 1 he constitutional control of Parliament
would be untouched, because if this should unhappily prove
to be a war measure, the Government would have to come for-
ward with further financial proposals, and if it should be
merely a measure of precaution it would not lead to any
special disturbance of the Budget arrangements, for the ex-
peisee would be ruoderate should the troops only be retained
at Malta for a Mort time.
The debate was continued by Mr. Dodson, Mr. A. Mills,
Mr. Henry, Mr. Rylands, Mr. Newdegate, Mr. Laing, and
several other hon. members, and a division being chal-
leegad on the Third Reading of the Bill, it was carried by
1.11 to 19.
Having gone into Committee on the Civil Services Esti-
mates, the House occupied itself for several hours in granting
supplies for salaries and expenses of the Lunacy Commission,
the Alint, National Debt Office, Patent Office, and Stationery
Office and printing. A little " scene" took place during the
consideration of the last,mentioned vote, Mr. Sullivan rising
and warmly protesting against certain noises, like those
made by animals, with which Mr. Gray had been twice
greeted while addressing the House. Mr. Raikes deprecated
the interruption, and hoped it would not be repeated.
Mr. O'Connor Power remarked that it would only be be-
coming on the part of the offender or offenders to rise and
apologize to the Committee. He believed hon. members
beside him were in a position to name at least one hon.
member opposite as having offended. If that hon. mem=
ber continkied to keep sitence he (Mr. O'Connor Power)
would certainly call upon his friends to name him. (Cries
of "Oh 1") Mr. Raikes remarked that once the ruling of
the Chair had been given it was not customary to pursue
the discussion of a question of Order. Mr. O'Connor Power
declared that if tie hon. member referred to did not volun-
teer an apology to the Committee, he (Mr. O'Connor Power)
would demand hi 3 being dragged to justice. (Loud laughter.)
Mr. Macclenald said he could point to an hon. member who
had emitted the sounds complained of, and that lie would
certainly do so if the hon. member in question did not ssi-ologise
for his conduct. Mr. Dodson tho7,ght Vois eaould hardly be
done after the ehairsssaa had been appealed to and a dis-
cussion had arisen; and that if a member were to be named,
it should be at the time of the disturbance, when a
process analagous to taking down an objectionable
phrase could be gone through. Zr. O'Shaughnessy remarked
thet it would luefe been impossible to take down the cries
complained Of. (Laughter.) Considering that there were
More offender's than one it seemed to him better to let the
PilNeet drop than to name one hon. member in particular.
Tile incident would probably be useful as a warning to that
hOn. member and others. After Mr. Gray had disclaimed any
feeling of irritation at the cries with which he had been received
the Rouse got thoroughly good-humoured again, and the
tYstuess wag peut:eeue...t 55h. 4srog.-44 WiSS tosa esposso
on the vote for statiengry, and the Uouse 'afterveards went
into Committee on the Sale of Intoxicating Liquors on Sun-
day (Ireland) Bill, and did not rise till half-past nine on
Tuesday morning, the sitting having lasted seventeen hours
and a half.
14 the ROUSE OF LORDS, May 14, Lord Selborne postponed
his motion respecting the movement of native Indian
troops to Malta until Monday next, in order that the dis-
cussion on the subject might come on in both Houses of
Parliament on the same night; but he added that he did not
propose to press his motion to a division.
On the queetion for the third reading of the Bishoprics Bill,
Lord Roseberry moved as an amendment that any neces-
sity for additional bishops should be met by an addition to
the number Of suffragan bishops. He thought the plan he
ptoposed was preferable to the mode contemplated by the
Vino which would only add to the present number of bishops
of different Wilda/ and would necessitate considerable ex-
pense to carry out. He thought the Isill would operate
injuriously to the Church, and not favourably as regards the
House of Lords, and that his proposition would be more
economical, more elastic, and more efficient than the pro-
position of the Government.
The Bishop of Lincoln, though he concurred in the sug-
gestion for the creation of suffragan bishops, at the same
time thought the present Bill was an absolute necessity, as
suffragan bishops did not alleviate the labour of the dio-
cesans in the administration of their ordinary functions.
Lord Denman expressed his objection to the proposed
amendment, and I,ord Beanchamp said he did not think that
any case had been made out against the Bill.
After a few words in reply from Lord Rosebery and from
Lord Oranmore and Browne, who suggested the propriety
of enforcing more strictly. the discipline and doctrine pf the
Church of England, the was read a third time, on a
division, by 107 to 33, and was then parsed.
In reply to a statement from Lord Belmore respecting the
recent constitutional crisis in the colony of Victoria, Lord
Cadogan gave an explanation of the practice with respect
to the passing of money vetes in New South Wales and
Victoria.
Their lordships then adjourned.
• In the ROUSE OF COMMONS, in answer to Major O'Beirne,
Colonel Stanley was understood to say that no officer or
soldier would be entitled to the advantages of the regula-
tions as to married officers and soldiers unless he had gained
the consent of the commanding officer before his marriage.
But, as a matter of fact, men who had married without
leave, as places became vacant opon the ruarria“e roll, if of
good character, were allowed to participate in the adVan-
tages of the regulations.
The Marquis of Harlington fixed next Monday for his
Resolution on the employment of Indian troops without the
consent of Parliament, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer,-
amid some cheering from the Ministerial Benches, said he
Would move the postponement of the Orders of the Day in
order that the motion might be brought on at the com-
mencement of the sitting.

Mr. Osborne Morgan called attention to the question of
land registration, and to the working of the Acts of Parlia-
ment regulating the same; and moved for a select com-
mittee to inquire into and report whether any and what
steps ought to be taken to simplify and secure the title p
land, and to fapilitate the transfer thereof. Mr. Gregory
seconded the motion, which reeeived a general support from
all sides of the House, and was assented to by the Attorney-
General on behalf of the Government.
Sr H. James then called attention to the mode of election
of certain judges having extensive criminal jarisdiction, and
moved a resolution affirming the inewediency of allowing
indictable offences to be tried before judges elepted by any
representative body. He diviaimed any desire to criticise
any recent election, and did not wish tp attack the power of
the City of London, hut he desired to give to the Crown the
power of nominating all judges.
Mr. C. Lewis moved, as to cudment, that the nrivileze
of electing the judicial officers uf 003 .Cotpoiratioil of tile City
of Lce,don vested in the Corporation, haying been approved
by the Royal Commissioners appointed in 1854, the House
wag of opinion that no circumstances had since transpired
which called kir therterference of parliament.
Mr. Herschell ha a motion cni tne pappr setting out the
inexpediency that officers elected by any representative
body should, in consequence of their being so elected, he
empowered to try indictable offences; and this alternative
woposi lion.
eir 11. James in4;l3d h!ft willingness to accept, in
preference to his owh 'Motion. • •
After some further discussion, in which the motien was
gupported by Mr. Lowe and opposed by the Attorney-General,
the motion vas rejected by 102 to 57.
The Attorney,Genaral then hrought in his Bill for modify-
s, and amending the law relating to indictaoie offences,
"which he e-i 41104 been drawn up mainly by Sir J. Stephen,
and the provisions a ,Thlo he explained in some detail.
He dwelt, however, chiefly on the alterations which it pro-
poses to make in the law, and stated in the first place
that it abolisbes tpe distinction between felony and
misdemeanour, and substituta4 co,'• them the term
" indictable offence." Accessories befere ifist
also done away with, and accessories{ and criminkla
are dealt with on the same footing, and there is alto 'a large
diminution in the number of mcpint#ltt punishments, with 4
provision against accumulated penalties of 'mid Übe=
. The term "malice " is entirely omitted from the law, con-
structive murder is done away with, and a more reasonable
and intelligible definition of provocation introduced. The
definitions of larceny and theft are greatly simplified by
sweePing away the present refinements and complications, and
the law of forgery is plaeed pI p. more definite and consistent
footing; and, On the whole, the .t.t.ttornO-peneral said that
thts part pf..pe 'fill would supersede dozens Of tet books,
saoral.44Aag &TAM ent, ant; piles Of legal declis tont. The
seconetpart of I eßill refers.to .procedire, and among the
principal altoraticimi tinder this head he Mentioned the
entire abolition of the subtleties oi thp law of" Tel%. ffecuri-
ties thlit ample nollce flail 1e Oven wriiia.prWMOis 640