The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-05-08 00:00:00

THE HOUSE AND THE PRESS.

The Marquis of Hartington next moved his three Resolu-
tions relating to the Publication of the Debates and the
Exclusion of Strangers. With regard to the first subject he
read a long extract from a speech of Lord Campbell, in
which the origin of the existing Rules was related. These
Rules, however, have fallen completely into disuse,
and now it is universally admitted that the publica-
tion of the Debates is of service not only to the public
but to members. Nevertheless it was in the power of
any member to object to their publication, and on a
recent occasion the House had voted that it was a breach of
privilege. His Resolution which declared that the House
would not entertain complaints except when there was
misrepresentation, or when the Debate had been con-
ducted with closed doors, or when its publication had
been expressly prohibited, was rather intended as a rule
to guide the House than as an alteration in the law
of Parliament. It did not touch the ancient Privi-
lege, because occasions might be conceived in which it ,
might be necessary to invoke its assistance. For instance,
several newspapers lately had considerably shortened their
ordinary reports, but had indulged in sensational descrip-
tions of Parliamentary proceedings, and this style of report-
ing might be carried to a length which would bring
Parliament into discredit. The words of his Resolu-
tion, however, were wide enough to cover such a
case. Dealing with the exclusion of strangers, the
Marquis showed in a short historical retrospect how
the present usage—for it was not a Rule—had grown up,
and dwelt on the circumstances of each recent occasion on
which the privilege of excluding strangers had been exer-
cised. From this he concluded that strangers ought not to
be excluded by the action of a single member. He proposed,
therefore, that in future this should only be done on a
motion, and unless previous notice has been given this
motion must be determined without amendment or debate.
Mr. Henryhobjected strongly to abrogating the privilege
of excluding strangers, which, he maintained, had generally
been exercised for the purpose of securing accurate reports of
the Debates. At one time full and accurate reports were the
rule, but the condiqpns of reporting had altogether changed.
The Times alone and another morning paper, which he did not
name, now gave full reports, but in the cheap Press had grown
up a habit of giving sensational sketches or caricatures
of the manners and personal appearance of members.
The telegraphic agencies, too—with the internal organiza-
tion of which Mr. Henry showed a perfect familiarity—while
they reported some members at full length, crushed others
up into the smallest space. On the whole, he held that, with
a few exceptions, the reports were farcical, and gave
people very inaccurate and partial information of what
occurred in Parliament This, and the fact that " Hansard "
was a private speculation which might be dis-
continued at any moment, led Mr. Henry to sug-
gest the establishment of an official report, and he went
with some minuteness into the details of a scheme by which, ,
at the expense of some £B,OOO or £9,000 a year, a full report of
what occurred over night might be laid on the table every morn-
ing. Some of the papers, he believed, would subscribe to this
report •, and in order to examine into the practicability of his
Idea, Mr. Henry moved that no alteration be made in the
Rules until the subject has been considered by a Select
Committee.
Mr. Newdegate deprecated a hasty and inconsiderate
change in the Rules, and agreed with Mr. Henry as to the
necessity of establishing an official record of the Debate.
Mr. Disraeli explained that he had declined the task
undertaken by Lord Hartington because, having served
on several Committees, he did not see his way very
confidently to a solution of the difficulty. Criticizing the
language of the proposed Resolutions, he pointed out that in
the first, relating to the Publication of Debates, the exceptions
were so numerous and vague that it would fetter the
Privilege of Parliament without removing any of the incon-
veniences complained of. Both with regard to this branch
of the subject and the exclusion of strangers he showed by
the recent instances that the House already possessed
power to cure any abuse of privilege which might be com-
mitted. On the subject of Reporting Mr. Disraeli raised
a general laugh by remarking that what Mr. Henry
and Mr. Newdegate seemed to require was a "Speech
Preservation Act," and from his recent experience he was
not prepared to favour any such project. These Rules were
the result of the experience of many generations, though it.
might be necessary at some period or other to " consider "
them. At present, without greater experience of their
inconvenience, he doubted the wisdom of making a change.
Mr. Lore admitted that these Rules were the product of
the "wisdom of our ancestors," but the circumstances had
entirely changed. Now the House desired nothing more
than that its Debates should be published; yet, if any man
published them, he was liable to be treated as a criminal
So also the rule for excluding strangers was meant for
different times and circumstances, but now it was absurd
that the whole House should be at the mercy of a single
member.

Mr. Hardy had just risen to reply to Mr. Lowe when Mr.
Sullivan called attention to the presence of "strangers," and
the Speaker, remarking that he had no alternative, ordered
the Galleries to be cleared. This happened at twenty minutes
past twelve o'clock. When the reporters were readmitted
at half-past one o'clock the House was found to be adjourned,
and it was understood that the Debate had been adjourned
until May 21.

CLOSING OF PUBLIC-HOUSES IN IRELAND, ON SUNDAYS.
In the HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 5, Mr. R. Smyth, in moving
the second reading of the Sale of Intoxicating Liquors on
Sunday (Ireland) Bill, in favour of which a large number of
petitions had been presented, said it proposed to extend
the prohibition of the sale of liquors during certain
hours on Sunday in Ireland to the whole of that day.
Ireland was, he said, asking the House to pass this Bill
as a boon to the country, and the measure had the
support of all classes. These same restrictive laws had been
in operation in Scotland for over twenty years, and he would
be very much surprised if any Scotch member were to come
to the House and state that the Sunday closing law in that
country had been attended with bad effects. The only sub-
stantial opposition to the Bill came from those
actually engaged in the liquor trade, there being
no opposition from any class of persons besides
those interested. The stale beer question for Sunday's
dinner did not at all apply to Ireland, where
the people drank whiskey, and cared nothing for beer; and
with regard to lodgers and bond fide travellers, due provi-
sion had been made for them in the Bill. In conclusion, he
urged that the strong feeling in favour of the measure was
shown conclusively in the fact that 200,000 Irish people had
petitioned in its favour, while no petitions had been pre-
sented expressing an opposite view.
Mr. Callan moved that the Bill be read a second time that
day six months. He stated that he was not in any way con-
nected with distillers, brewers, or licensed victuallers, but
he opposed the measure on the ground that he believed sin-
cerely that if it were to become law it would be followed by
the establishment of shebeens and other irregular places, and
cause evils greater in extent than were to be found under the
present system. He denied that this had been made a
special question at the last general election, or that Irish
members had either pledged themselves or voted since in
Parliament to the extent which had been stated in favour
of the bill. He desired to promote sobriety, but he trusted
the House would distinguish between restriction anditotiLL
'prohibition.
IMajor O'Gorman seconded the amendment, and urged
that the Rouse should not make one law for the rich and
another for the poor. It was a great misfortune, he thought,
when it was declared that a club should be on the same
footing as a private house; there must be a difference, for if
a man went to a club he had to pay a bill before he left.
Closing the public-houses on Sundays must tend to en-
courage illicit drinking and to the increase of informers.
A long discussion followed, in which several hon. memberif
took part, and eventually the Bill was talked out.
•The other business was disposed of, and the House ad,
ijonrned.

PHILADELPHIA CENTENNIAL
EXHIBITION.
The following are extracts from The Live Stock Journal
and Fancier's Gazette
It has been decided by the Bureau of Agriculture of
,the International Centennial Exhibition, to be held a
,Philadelphia in 1876, that live stock shall be exhibited
during the months of September and October in that
year; the periods devoted to each class and family
being fifteen days, and the division as follows :—Horses,
;mules and asses (as one class), from September Ist to
15th. 'Horned cattle (of all varieties), from September
t2oth to October sth. Sheep, swine, and goats (as one
'class), from October 10th to 25th. By the latest regula-
tions, which have only reached us this week, it appears
that exhibitors will be expected to furnish their own
attendants, on whom all responsibility of the care of
feeding, watering, and cleaning the animals, and also
of cleaning the stalls, will rest. They will also be ex-
pected to provide for feeding their stock. An officer
of the Bureau, specially charged with the duty, will
furnish, at cost prices, all forage and other food, at
depots conveniently located within the grounds. A.
veterinary inspection will be made both prior to ad-
mission and daily, animals being removed in case of
illness to a suitable enclosure specially prepared for
comfort and medical treatment.