The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-06-22 00:00:00

nYIRERIAL PARLIAMENT,

The EfisITSE OF LORDS reassembled on Monday, June IT,
after the Whitsun Vacation.
Lord Granville asked the Duke of Richmond and Gordon
Ith.ether the Memorandum as to an agreement between the
flhih and Russian Governments on the Eastern Question.
as authentic, and whether the statement as to the pro-
tectorate of Asia was correct.
The Duke of Richmond and Gordon replied that the publi-
cation of the document in question was unauthorised by the
Government and surreptitious. In answer to another
cluirY from Lord Granville, he added that he could not say
nether any further information would be given to the
Aouse in the course of the negotiations; and, in reference to
statement by Lord Granvillv, he denied that he had
ate. Mutated that the publication as far as it went was accu-
r

Lord Houghton thought that on a matter of such vital
itaportance it would be satisfactory if more satisfactory an-
could be obtained. He considered the publication of
:he document in question most unfortunate, for it was made
o appear that England before entering the Congress had
%Teed to a contract by which the British Government aban-
noned some most important points.
Lord Grey thought the House had7a right to expect that
;he Government would state in what respect the document
was not accurate.
The Duke of Richmond and Gordon observed that the
Government thought it for the public interest the matter
4hould not be further entered into at present. •
The subject then dropped, and their Lordships ad-
!Mimed.
In the HOUSE of COMMONS at the time of Private Business
nearly two hours were occupied in the discussion of a group
ot local Tramway Bills, which stood for a Third Reading,
ekaving passed through a'Select Committee. On the first of
group being called on, Sir W. Barttelot moved its
0/action, objecting mainly to the powers proposed to be
Elven to employ steam-power. He was supported by Mr.
Uillvsyn, Mr. H. Vivian Mr. Newdegate, and others; and on
the other side, Mr. A. Peel, the Chairman of the Select Com-
raittee, explained and justified its decision; and Mr. W. Holms,
Bates,
Egerton Colonel Beaumont, Mr. O'Conor, and Mr.
nates, members of the Committee, spoke in favour of passing
the Bill. Colonel Loyd Lindsay, Mr. E. Smith, Lord Sandon,
and others also supported the Bill; and, in answer to Mr.
atchball-Hugessen, the Chancellor of the Exchequer said
'bat If the experiment of using steam-power were successful
and largely developed, the question of taxation must be con-
sidered and dealt with On a division the Thtcd Reading
Was carried by 216 to 119, and the other Bills in the group
Were also read a third tine and passed.
the
R. Montagu gave notice of his intention to move that
ine Anglo-Russian Agreement is a departure from the
Policy announced by the Prime Minister and supported by
rarliament, and is a violation of the rights and injurious to
the interests of this country.
- - - •- • -

Mr. E. Stanhope, in reply to Mr. Herschell, said that de-
tatches relating to the military proceedings against the
40waki Afreedis had been forwarded by the Governor-
General of India to this country.
Colonel Stanley stated, in answer to Major O'Beirne, that
she Departmental Committee to whom the question of the
disposal of the annual amount derived from tines for
nrunkenness in Militia regiments had been referred had
Made their report and that their recommendations on the
Subject bad been forwarded to the Treasury, with whose ap-
Drove' he hoped they would meet.
Sir U. Kay-Shuttleworth asked the Vice-President of the
CO mmittee of Council on Education whether he could name
the day on which he would move the Education Votes in
Committee of Supply.
Lord G. Hamilton was afraid be could not name the exact
day, but would endeavour to inform the hon. gentleman as
early as possible when these Votes would be brought on.
Viscount Bandon, in reply to Colonel Beaumont, who asked
question as to the granting of licences for the experimental
Mie of mechanical power on tramways, said,—l have no
Dower to grant licences for the experimental use of steam or
Other mechanical power on tramways, and after what has
Passed on the subject in the House today, I think the hon.
gentleman will agree with me that, supposing we con-
sidered general legislation desirable, it would be almost im-
Possible for me to pass a Bill at this period of the Session.
The marquis of Hartington asked whether the Chancellor
01 the Exchequer could now say whether the " Agreement "
,as published in the Globe is authentic; and if it is, whether
the Government before the conclusion of the Congress will
4„Y papers on the table or make some statement to the
aeuae explanatory of the paragraph referring to the special
duty which will henceforth rest upon this country in regard
to Asia Minor.
Lord R. Montagu also asked whether any other agree-
ment had been concluded between Great Britain and Russia,
between Great Britain and any other Power, or between
Russia and any other Power, and whether they would be
laid before Parliament.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, premising that his
answer must be of a restricted character, said that the
Paper had evidently been obtained by some one who had ac-
cess to confidential communications, and in so far as the
Government was concerned, it was not only unauthorized but
anrreptitious. As a statement of policy it was incomplete
and therefore inaccurate. In answer to Lord Hartington's
second question he said, that at the proper and the earliest
. time the Government would be prepared to give the fullest
Information, but in the meantime they must appeal to
Parliament to support them in declining to answer all ques-
tions.
—--- • • • •

- ---•
In. answer to Mr. Gourley, Lord Sandon said it was not in-
tended to proceed with the Merchant Seamen Bill this
Session.
Mr. IL B. Samuelson having asked what was the result of
the inquiry into the death of Mr. Ogle, and whether any
further inquiry was intended, Mr. Bourke referred him to
the papers just published, and Mr. IL B. Samuelson gave
notice that he would move a Resolution on the subject.
Before the Orders of the Day were called on, Sir W.
, Earttelot appealed to Mr. Hanbury to withdraw his vote of
censure on Mr. Gladstone, urging the inopportuneness of
such a discussion during the sitting of the Congress.
• •

Mr. Hanbury, in reply, protested that when he gave his
notice, he was extremely anxious for an immediate discus-
sion and a vote, but hitherto he had not been able to find an
Opportunity. He admitted, too, that there was a growing
feeling against his motion, and that it was not supported by
the Government and many of his friends; and, under all
these circumstances, not wishing to magnify divisions at
home or to spread further knowledge ot the language he com-
I?lained of, he was ready to withdraw his motion.
Mr. Gladstone, who was warmly cheered from the Opposi-
tion benches, said he had no desire to challenge Mr.
Ilanbury to go on with his motion, but would leave it to
the House to deal with it as it pleased. But such a no-
tice—which virtually amounted to a notice for the expul-
sion of a member—ought not to have been given without a
Arm determination to persevere with it, and Mr. Hanbury
Ought to have thought before of all the objections which now
occurred to him. Looking, however, to the language in
'which Mr. Hanbury had described the article in which he had
endeavoured to do his duty as a loyal subject of the Crown,
It was probable that a discussion would not be for the public
service.
The Epping Forest Bill was read a second time and re-
ferred to a Select Committee after some observations from
Mr. Shasv-Lefevre and Mr. Cowper-Temple expressing a
general approval.
The adjourned debate on Mr. Read's amendment to going
Into Committee on the Valuation Bill was resumed by Mr.
It. Yorke, and after a discussion, in which Mr. Itylands,
Mr. Whitwell, Sir A. Lusk, and several other hon.
members took part, the amendment was negatived by 131 to
107.
Mr. Hubbard then made some remarks, arguing that no
general Valuation Act providing a common authority for
local and Imperial taxation can be satisfactory unless it pro-
vides a common measure of assessment by charging Imperial
taxes equally with local rates upon the net or " ratable "
Value of real property.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer briefly replied, pointing
out that the question might be raised on the clauses, and
the House then went into Committee formally, the actiial
• consideration of the clauses being adjourned until Thursday,
The Enclosure Provisional Order (Oxford) Bill was passed
through Committee.
Some other Bills were forwarded a stage, and the House
adjourned at half-past one o'clock.

The HOUSE OP LORDS sat for a few minutes only on Tues-
day, June 18, and the only business done was the passing of
a couple of Provisional Orders Confirmation Bills and the
forwarding a stage of several other measures of a similar
kind.
The HOUSE oF Costmong had a Morning Sitting, which was
spent in Committee on the Scotch Roads and Bridges Bill.
Clauses from 21 to 57 were agreed to, and the further pro-
gress of the Bill was fixed for Thursday.
At the commencement of the sitting Sir G. Campbell gave
notice of his intention to move on an early day a resolution
declaring that the House, while it recognizes the injustice to
the people of this country of engaging in war single-handed
to redress the wrongs of Roumania, regrets that the Govern-
ment by a pre•arrauged agreement should be accessory to the
seizure of Roumanian territory.
In reply to Mr. Serjeant Simon, the Chancellor of the
Exchequer said he had heard complaints, and he believed
they were not infrequent, as to the supposed dearth of small
silver coins, especially sixpences. From inquiries he had
made, however, he had ascertained that the dearth, it such
there were, did not arise from any failure on the part of the
Mint to provide a proper stock of coin. He was informed
at the present moment the stock in the Mint ready for issue
was as follows ;--Shillings to the amount of £13,000 ; sixpences,
£19,000; and threepences 4.3,000. A much larger amount
of shillings and sixpences, he believed, was in stock at the
Bank of England, .through which all silver coins except
threepences were issued to the public. The demand for
silver coin at the Bank was very small at present owing to
the depression of trade, and no difficulty was experienced in
Meeting it. The explanation of the scarcity referred to no
doubt was that small coins gave considerable trouble to
bankers, and that bankers consequently were apt to give
their customers an undue proportion of heavy coins, though
they could,always obtain the coin they required at the Bank.
Perhaps if the hon. and learned member put a little pres-
sure on his bankers, the inconvenience he complained of
would disappear.
At the Evening Sitting, Mr. W. Uolms called attention to
the relative position of the various Religious Denominations
In Scotland. in a long historical retrospect he traced the
causes of the successive disruptions in the Scotch Church,
and went at length into the statistics of the comparative
numb, rs, income. &c., of the various bodies. As to the pre-
sent feeling in Scotland, he contended that it was impos-
sible to say in which direction it preponderated, and he
moved, therefore, for a Selec Committee to inquire into
the operation of the Patronage Act of 1874, and how far the
people of bcotland are in favour of maintaining the con-
nexion between Church and State.
Mr T. Stewart, in seconding the motion, argued that Dis
establishment was the first step towards union.
After speeches from Mr. Parker Mr. C. Dalrymple, Sir A.
Gordon, Mr. Baxter, and the Lord Advocate,
Mr. Gladstone said he agreed entirely that inquiry was
needless and inappropriate as far as the relations of Church
and State were concerned, and the people of Scotland had
ample means of making their opinions known to Parliament
Without the machinery of a Committee. The Patronage Act
had opened the question of Disestablishment and a large pro-
portion of the people of Scotland had pronounced int, your of it.
It was by the opinion of the people of Scotland alone that the
question must be decided; and while professing that he him-
self had formed no opinion on the subject except that a
Church could not be called national which was the Church
of a minority, he complained that the friends of the Church
of Scotland had offered no arguments for just tfying her con-
tinued existence.
Mr. Cross characterized Mr. Gladstone's speech as an echo
of Lord Hartington's at Edinburgh, which without commit-
ting him to any opinion of his own invited the people of
Scotland to get up a cry of Disestablishment of which he
could take advantage, and he protested warmly against such
a line being taken by men in the responsible position of
Leaders of a Party. If no arguments had been offered in
favour of the Established Church it was because it had not
been attacked by the motion Uefore the House, which was
for inquiry. To this the Government could not consent,
holding it to be entirely uncalled for.
Mr. Dillwyn moved the adjournment of the debate, and
Lord Hartington, in supporting it, justified his Edinburgh
speech. Mr. Newdegate protested against the tone of Mr.
Gladstone's speech as a violation of the Act of Union. Sir
O. Campbell and Mr. Laing also made some remarks, and the
debate was then adjourned.
Some other business was disposed of, and the House
Adjourned at a quarter to two o'clock.

In the HOUSE or COMMONS, June 19, the Sheriffs of
'London appeared at the bar of the Howe, in their official
robes, and presented a petition in favour of the Epping
Forest Bill, praying also to be heard in committee on the
amendments proposed to the Bill.
'Several petitions having been presented in favour of the
Women's Disabilities Removal Bill, Mr. Courtney moved the
second reading of the measure, and said he felt his responsi-
bility in the conduct of the Bill steadily increasing. The
Political reason for granting the prayer of the Bill appeared
to him to be undeniable, but the reasons why he urged it
were these, that he believed they would develope a fuller and
a nobler woman by admitting women into the sphere of
Political thought and political duty, and by advancing
women they advanced men at the same time.
Mr. Banbury moved the rejection of the Bill. He fol-
lowed Mr. Courtney in desiriug to see general progress, but
he did not believe this Bill would in any way conduce to that
object..
In the debate which followed, Mr: Palmer, Mr. Smollett,