The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-02-22 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLTAMENT.

In the House of Lords, Feb. 17, the Earl of Carnarvon
moved for a copy of a letter addressed by the vicar ot hapton
to the Foreign Secretary, describing the condition of certain
Wativi.kshire Ishourers who emigrated to Canaruea, in
timid, and inquired whether such description was enlist..
tinily correct. His lordship sail that many went, and foumi
that the statements which induced them to go were far from
true, anti, in, consequence, they were reduced to a etat.
of destitution and privation. A large number of thou,'
labourers were from leaven, and its wished for the corr..
spondence upen the subject that had passed between the
vicar of that place and Earl Granville. Ile regretted to say
that this Case was hy no means solitary, and he quoted free
a newspaper circulating amongst labourers setting forth
those delusive statements Emigration was only goo i under
entails corohtiems. He was at a loss to understand how
En.-ish labourers could choose such places before good
Psngllall Colonies.
Earl Granville said he hail received the letter in question
on the 28th December lest, and at once forwarded it to the
Emigration Commissioner.. Ile also sent a repy to our
consul in Braid requesting Mint° ascertain if the facts were
correct, wed if so, to take all the necessary steps with the
Ilnazitina Government to remedy such a state of things. The
reply had not yet arrived, but directly it canto would be
laid open the table with the report of the commissiouer s.
The at:tutting order committee and the come like of selec-
tion were appointed on the motion of Lord liedeselale.
'I he Turks and Caicos Islands Bill was read a third time
and panted.
'the Earl of Leitrim asked when the purl of Land Cases
Reserved at Dublin will roske rules for the registration of
improvements under the Lsndlord and Tenant Act In the
i.mded Estates Court; and when the Government intend to
Nip Aid a second judge.
The Marquis of Limsdowne said the Government bad
already niade rules for registration, but it was not their in-
tention 10 211 the vacant judgeship.
In answer to the Duke of Somerset,
The Duke of Argyle said there had been no inletake made
In the map of Central Abia as stated, implying an incorrect
boundary line betweeu the territories of this country and
Russia.
The House adjourned at a quarter to six.
In the House of Commons, Mr. Cardwell gave notice (in
answering a quest' te. that on Monday next I.e would intro-
duce the Army Eatimates.
Mr. Cawley asked whether, considering the great Import-
ance of CCollollllilil,fc the consumption of coal, tee Secretary
for War hail any rhyection to the production oi this rrport on
the sehject made by the Super intendeut of Machinery in the
Woolwich Arsenal,
Sir, H. Storks said the subject was still under considerfre
tbri, and he, therefore, could not produce the report at
present.
Sir F. lisigate asked tho Chief Secretary for Ireland
wlnther he interideel to bring in any bill this eessiou to
give additional facilities for the erection et labourers'
houses In Ireland.
tine Marquis of Hartington said he hoped to do so, but
before he did so the House must be put Into possession of
ome reports on the subject.
Mr. Straight asked the Home Secretary whether he pur-
posed introducing a bill to amend defects found to exist In
the Licensing Act of last seldom
Mr. Bruce said there had been very much hiterelited em-
sgeeration of a murder of &deceit detects—(hese, hear)--but
as a matter of fact there had been only one decision con-
trary to the intent le n if the Government, and, as he believed,
el the Legislature also, in passing this Act. That might
hersieter be set right, but, at present he thought it w, dl
nut be expedient for the public interests to bring lu a bit
en the suoject.
Mr. Itathborre asked the President of the Board of T. ode
what course he Intended to propose with respect to the rail-
way amalgamation bills.

Mr. Chichester Fortescue weld he meant to move a resolu-
. Men to the effect that all railway amalgamation bills and
canal bill, should be referred to a joint committee of both
Honses. He would also move an alterati m of the standing
orders, in order to give public bodies a locus ttandi before
such committee.
Mr. Fykyn asked whether, considering the difference he. I
tween Loudon and Liverpool to the price of coal. the Board I
of Trade knew anything abut the restrictions which were
seid to be placed by the London and North-Western Railway
Company upon the transit of coal between Rugby and
Lot don ; And whether the Midland and other companies ,
having testae' in G elm afforded every facility for the ad- I
misaion of coal into the metropolis.
Mr. Peel said the Board 01 Trade had no information on
the subject, nor had they any means of giving an explanation
on the question.
The Attorney-General, in moving the Second Reading of I
Lice Juries Lill, stated that it Ives printed exactly in the 1011111
In which it had I. ft the Select Committee ;set year, but in-
dicated various points on which, not concurring with
the Committee, be Intended to move amendments He am !
proved the reductien of the number of the Jury from 12
to 7, but he was strongly in favour of Composite
Juries—that is, of a certain admixture of Special and
Commin Jurymen on every ordinary Jury, leaving the power '
of summoning • Special Jury. Though the Meet Committee I
had defeated him on this mat,- or, he pointed out that it was I
a recommendation both of the Common Law Procedure ,
Commission and of the Judicature Commission. Ile also
wished to do away with the necessity loran unanimous e'er-
diet, although both with regard to this aid the number of ;
the Any be proposed to except trials for Treason, Treason- '
Eulogy, and Murder.
Mr. S. Hill, being of opinion that the bill could not ad- .
equattly be discussed as It had ashy been printed that fdter-
boon, °loved the adj.•urnineut of the debate: but Mr. Lopes
urged him to allow the Second Iteetoiog on the understand.
. beg that the Committee was not taken before Rater.
ter. M. Chambers and Mr. Alderman Lawrence !
spoke strongly against the reduction in the number of I
Jurymen, and the proposal t. take the vote of a maj rity ;
and Mr. H. James also asserted that the opinion of the pro-
(mime was against this last change and the Composite Jury.
Mr. Hari y and Mr. Gregory made some obeervatinns, and
ultimately the bill was read a second time on the under-
standing that ample time will be allowed berme the bill Is
immunised.
Tee Epping Forest Bill, the object of which is to extend
the duration of the Commtmten row setting, was real a
second time after some slight rpnosition from Sir H. Selwin-
lbbetson, who dwelt on the hardships caused by the rolon-
gation of the preaent state of idling. Mr Locke, one of the
Commissioners, defended their proceedings, and assumed the
House that the inquiry must come to an end if the bill ware
not passed. Mr. Straight also supported the bill.
The Pullin; District, (Irelaed) Bill passe.' through Com-
m the, and in C smmittee of Supply several Supplementary
Eattmetes were agreed to in the. Navy and Civil Services Esti-
mates,
The Marriage with a Decanted Wife's Sister Lill was pasessd
through Committee; toed H Scott, who had Riven woke of
his intention to move to defer It until March 17, not thinking
It worth while to persevere in • House which, hp- this time,
scarealy contained a quorum. Mr. J. G. Taibot in like
manner withdrew a notices he bad given to negative the
retroepective provisions; and both concurred in dismissing
the Mil, with all its 31113 on its head, to "anchor place," to
be dealt with there accordiog to its deserts.
bills were brought In by Mr. Ilibbert as behalf of the
Atturney•lienerel) to provide for the formation of one Re
gieter br Parliameetary ant Muntdpal Elections; by Mr
Baxter, to amend tee law relstine to the Valuation of Rate
able Property (Ireland); seed by the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer, to authorize the acquisition and appropriation by the
Metropolitan Board of Works of certain land on the Thames
Embahkment, and the House adjourned.

in the House of Loris, Feb. 18, Lord Buckhuret, in moving
the second reading of the Regulation of Itailwsys Bill, said
that from the inauguration of railways acciderts had formed
one of theirprincipal drawbacks. P.n.s, ger trt file had largely
Increased, for whereas in 1859 170,000 WY passengers
had travelled, in 1871 30,000000 passengers had been
conveyed over our system of railway. Some legislative
Interference with the almost uncontrolled power of
the railway companies was needed. Ms bill prohosed
to deal firitiy with collisions, which were shown
by the report of the Board of Trade to form nearly threes
fill,, of the total number of accidents. Part of these were
from defective signals, others from not leaving sufficient
time between the traina. lie proposed to introduce the
telegraph block system, by which no two trainn could
be upon the suns line between two signal-boxes ;
further, the intcrlocking of points at Mations, by
which a rail could hot be disturbed without a corre-
sponding alteration In the signal. The system was
used upon the Oath-Eastern Beltway with the happiest
results, anl the Board of Trade thought so much of it that
they had repeatedly sent out circulars advocating its exten-
sion. In spite of this only a very 0174.1 portion of our rail-
ways were fitted with the system He thooght the directors
nnght have done mote in the pubic 'safety, and he trusted
that tht se of the 40 directors of railways sitting in this
House who might be prs sent wouil Use their best influence
to procure an alteration for the better.
Lord Cowper thouitht the more general adoption of the
proposed system would be desiroble, but the bill was too
stringent a mea.ure to be adopted without further coned-
deration. The block system bad been introduced on the
railways most crowded with traffic, And Parliam,ntary In-
terference with their management should be most jealnusly
watched. He suggested that the bill should be read &second
thee, and then referred to a Select Committee.
Lottl Aberdeen gave his support to the bill, for he Mitred
that a great number of accidents would be prevented by the
adoption of the block system and the interlocking of the
points and signals.
Lord Houghton objected to the bill, and moved, by way of
amendment, that the second reading be postponed for six
montha. Satoh a measure could not conveniently emanate
from an urn Melia member of Parliament. The bill would
Interfere with the cslerlty and frequency of trains, and the
matter had better ho left to the diacretlou of railway
directors.
-- •

The Duke of Richmond concurred in the suggestion that
the bill should be referred to a Select Committee, and
believed that a great many railway aecidents would be put a
atop to by the passing of eorne each measure.
Lord Hap said the hill was a very little pert of a great
gmation,.and the subject of railways ought to be dealt with
as a whole •
Lord Grey main. alnen that the existing system of railway,
required the interferenes of ffarliament, tor railway Direc-
tors, though they irequently establiahedsseellei t regulations,
yet in some balances winked a: their being siit aside
Lord Carnarvon supported the bill and the reference of It
to a Select Committee, for this was jest smatter which might
be cut off from the question of the a hole system of railway
management and dealt with by itself.
Lord Granville could not see any objection to the appoint-
ment of a Csiumittee aitle powers to consider this particular
point.
The amendment having been negatived, the bill was read
a second time, and ordered to be teierred to a Select Com-
mittee, and the House adjourned.

In the House of Commons, Mr. Al lerruan Lawrence gave
notice of his intention to move • resolution in favour of the
repeal Of the house duty.
fhe ieConor lam gay,' notice that in the event of the
Irish Uoiverity Itritteation Bill going into committee be
should move a revolution respecting the Queen's colleges,
and should alto move the rejection of the Mange which pro-
vided a grant of £15,000 for the building of a Protestant
theological college.
Nfr Sciater booth asked whether a contract had been en-
tered into for the construction of the Natural History
mecum at Kensington.
Mr. Ayrton said that St persons had tendered, but tiny
were all very much in exceut of the stun it had neen deter-
mined to spend. A contract had, hoivt.ver, since been en-
tered Into within that amount.
- •

Mr. Corrance este.' what steps had been, or are being,
taken to secure the rights of British subjects poriewsing
property within the territory recently ceded to the Unitt
states under the treaty of Washington, 4110 Ni.thOt any
COnCerning the naturalisation of such pertains
lied keen arrived it with the American thicernuient

- -
Mr. Gladstone said that no territory had beim ceded to the
United States, but we had only retired Isom territory to
which we had no rhlit. Measures were being taken for
securing the rights referred to, bat as to naturalisation, 110
question as t, the holding of land turned upon it, and there-
fore that matter would not arise : hot it woult be a matter
forth° consideration of the parties themselves, who would
have no difficulty in obtaining it,
In reply to Mr. 'Adel: Mr. Bruce said the Government
Intended to appoint an assistant to each inspector of miner.
• •

Lord Enfield Informed Mr. E. Smith that no official iiews
has been received of the relea•e (.1 the Murillo ; and Mr.
Gladstohe, in reply to Mr. Cross, declined to produce the
list of the Mat 20 Or 'teary Members of the Dublin University
Council until the bill has made some progrell in Committee
Mr. Vernon Harrohrt moved his Resolution In favour o'
Pubic Ecomimy, de.dsrli•g that the pre: ent expenditure Ii
excessive, and that the H man desires It should be reduced
Poe his text he top* the etartling fact revealed by a Parlia-
mentary paper just eirculat,l, that It, the last year the &-
senile loul reached £77,1,83,000, the largest sum ev.r ralsmi
from the English people even 111 trills nit qr.., and MI Mei-ease
of a:10,000,00 over the rev.. f 1914 Of ti:i L4ii,oo %GO.) is
raised by taxation (the rest being revenue ham Post Sluice,
dke ), which meant that 8.4080,000m0re bad boon takoo in taxa-
to fres the pociots of the peopleplest y 11•11.11110 lit lWrl9.
aggravate this in ,ntrast Mr. Lowe had re...ently 11,•it nllnt
this large YiNtialle Wollld riot use him a surplus. nor permit
him to ri dace taxation. Replying by alitiClUati,,, fun Cl jte.
tv• s, Mr. Harcourt begged his hearers not tm he led away by
too ooincoon cry odatOol " Abiamkouteavluticum." It woody

- _
because they were too effective that Ministers disliked them.
so, too, the " attacks the Estimates," always recoil,
mended by Chancellors of the Exchequer, were nothing bur
Parliamentely farce, and he quoted Mr. Gladstone's
ticium In 1868 that for the House of C0M111.138 to change
the Eatinatell meant a Wide of want of confidence
Taking the year 1966 as a standard, Mr Harcourt wont
into an elaborate an-dysis of the expenditure of every
your since that date, the general ri suit of which was
that lett year £3.00,0•10 more was spent uut o
‘axatiou thou In line. Next he discussed the ePoingle,
tiered for this increase, such as "automatic increase."
" progressive expenditure," the rise In prices of la-
bour, &e , quoting, in answer to each, spoechea ot
•ne or other if the present Mlnistly in the election
cam{ alto of 180 S. In a similar manlier he went throu4h
what to called the "rich man's f and the
doing very well" argunseht, pointiog out under the latter
head that, though from 1863 to 18 6 about £2,000 oil) a ye.ir
of ordinary taxes had been taken ff (not including 46,00000'
of income tax), only £1,000,000 a> ear hail been eaten off In
the last six years. 80, also, he sh ivred that In the lett six
y. ar.s the rvluctlon had b-en less by 41,00 i,OOO a year c dx,
poed with the previous nor years and all this was outbid.,
and ta youd the normal growth of the rev, nine. Disclaim-
iog all party or factious motives. Mr. Harcourt appealed to
U th shies to come aa it were to the assistance of the Govern-
ment Lu reducing tile expenditure.
- - -

Mr. Jacob Bright, in seconding the resolution, simile
,iirriself to show that the Civil Service Estimates In particular
had largely outgrown the growth of the p pulation ; and
with regard to the Military and Naval Estimates, if the
Howe in a lucid interval would bind itself slaver to go
hey ond.000,(.00, there never would be any lack of Mlnistt re
ready to proof le for the safety of the country at that price.
Commenting on the mai flee in which the reduction could be
utilised, Mr. Bright peon ,unced himself decidedly iu favour
of the extension of Free Trade; an I among other special
reasons far agreeing to the resolution, he pointed to the
growing revolt against LJcal Taxation and the coming
elections.

Mr Gladstone said he should leave to others the duty of
replying to Mr. llarcourCs figures, anti would c.itifine him-
self to storing the practical course the Government had
decided on in regard to the motion. Admitting the pledges
given by the Government Is. regard to economy, he pointed out
that various important elements which now entered into pub-
lic exponeliture were wanting in let 8, —such am the E •ucation
Vote, the Abolition of Purchase, the rise in prices. dr,. lie dif-
fered entirely from Mr. Harcourt in his estimation of Abstract
Resolutions, and maintained that they had produced 110
results, and were in general to be deprecated. When Mr.
&modal's Resolution was moved, the circumstances of
the time differed from the present, and It certainly was
not on the success of his Retrenchmstit Resolutions that
Mr C ihden's name would rest. To such he not-h pre-
ferred the method of Mr. flume. who by unwearied devotion
hal obtained complste nrestery of the details of the fl-li-
mates, and could hunt a Minister down, so to speak,
tivr
or ourr tk; wthl auep, a
idr.
llnul a,
en: htianstly
br e.r
to eexn,deeedt
his rew..l from po.terity end not during his own lifetime.
As to the practical mode of dealirg with Mr. lisrcourtS
resolution—after citing certain historical precedents from
Mr. Eitt's Committee in 178.3 dossmwartis—Mr. Glad-
stone intimated the readiness of the Government to
consent to a Select Committee; but it must be con-
fined to ti's Civil Service the charges of the Debt
snot the Army arid Navy in the opinion of the Go-
vernment not being tit subjects for inquiry. Ile read the
terms of refervice to which he would be willing to assent,
Confining the inquiry to the reductions which could be
effected in the Civil Service Estimates, and he soggested
that special attention should be given to those branches
where the control of the Treasury was weak. By strengthen-
ing this e,ntrol and supporting the Treasury he held out
hopes that considerable reductions might be eft- cted, anti he
indicated the charges for Law and Justice as afford iog a field
for retrenchment by giving increased power to the Treasury,
- - - - -

• • - - -
After lengthened criticisms from several other hon.
menib

•
Mr. Harcourt replying to the various criticisms, said
though he regarded the Committee nxtre as a crumb than
half a loaf, he acci-pted it under the circumstances. At the
lame time, he believed it would not serve the touts of Pub.
He 1.1,0.. my, and especially complained of the excluttou of
the Military Expenditure from the inquiry.
Mr. Harcourt's motion was then negatived, and a Select
Committee was ordered to he appointed to inquire into
the Civil Service Eitimates, as suggested by Mr. Gladstone.
Bills were brought In by Mr. Raikes to amend the law of
Defamation, and by Mr. Mitchell Henry for the protection
of Miners from Fraud.

The V, xatious Objections Borough Registration Bill and
the Industrial and Provident Societies Btll were read a second
time ; and the Epping Forest Bill passed through tions-
mitt, e, and the Roust &di Jurned„

In the House of Commons, Feb. 19, Mr. llln.'s Palmer, In
moving the secondareadunt of the Married Women's Pro-
perty Act .1s70) Amenument Bill, expressed his regr,t at the
aloft nco of the Recorder of London, who is now in the
United States dlschargin4 a public nuty, because bad he
been in England this bill would have bad the advantage
of his advocacy. Without entering into the relations
between husband and wife, as the present Parliament
had heard much on that topic, Mr. Palmer pointed out
the &defence which existed between the common-law of
this countr) and the practice of the c mrts of equity, and
showed what could be done by settlements, which he
described as standing pia:otters made by a portion of the
community against the laws of the land. ile next
traced the steps to amend the law which had been taken
up to the Act of IS7O, for which I:c contended that
this Roust waa not responsible. The present bill, which
was for Ilia advantage of women of the poorer
class, was almost ideLtical with that which had passed
the Ronan on three occasions, and had been settled
by a enect committee. Ike bill, as sent up in a for-
mer session, via. altered by the House of Lord*, and sent
back in a very deferent shape, but the Recorder of London,
feeling that at the period l the session whew the bill was re-
turned there was no opportunity of amending it, accept-d
that bill because it contained a valuable provision for the
protection of the earnings of married women. There were,
however, so many anomalies and blunders in the Act 01 107')
that It was nee...Lary to present this tali for Its amendment.
Tne principle claws of the bill gave to evm wile the power
of houliDg and eleslmg with both real and personal pro-
perty in every respect as though she WAS an IltallArtivii
Woman.

31. r. Gregory moved that the bill should be r.el a second
time this any sir mouths. Ile aduitted that marri d amen
had a right to what money they could eau by their own
exertions, but pointel out that that was a property very dif-
ferent to what belonged to women of the higher Masses, who
were either capable ef taking care of themselves, or were pro-
tected by their frieuus. There wall nothing lu the bill to
make a provision for the Issue of • monioge, nor was there
any reference to giving the husuand a life interest in
the wile's estate—a matter which Was frequently the subject
of dispute. Warning the House as to It, future action, ha
expressed the .opinion that Its legislation had already goue
toe far, and had dune much to bring the m Image to lido
scoria and ridicule lbs bill, be feared, would introduce a
new source of discord into married life, owl wool.! prevent
nice from entering into that state. . .

Mr Lopes, who seconded the ameudment, objected to
the bill on every cdnceivalkle ground, but chiefly because
of the material effect which it would have on the reLa
flans between nusbands and wives, who might sue each
other on anything found on contract or In tort. A
hut:mild and his alit might bteakf oat together, then
proceed cep aately to consult their respective solicitors on
a matter tu unierence betwten them, and afterwards
return to dine together. That would lie a happy family
Again, a wife nugot set up in business in opposition to
her bustiand to the same street, and might even enter into
partnership to that business with another mail, the onj,ct
of a settlement was to potent a wife, not against her hus-
band, but against her own imprudence : an 1 the object of
the Court of Chancery was always to make a provision for
children, a matter which this bill would render impoesi ale.
Mr. Osborne Morgan thought that hon. members who
opposed this measure were ni this dilemma—they were
saner bound to accept this bill or they should agitate for the
repeal of the Act of le7o, against the passing of which every
argument U eu to day was Drought. forward. Pus bill merely
sought to establish as a general principle those doctrines
Mull had hero found by the Court of Chancery '.ns work well
for the protection of wives, aud to hare cone no harm.
Mr Bourke pointed out that this bit sought to give
poser to a woman to do that ehich she could net do now
without the consent of her trustees. lie opposed the bill ou
the ground that it would dest, oy those rt lotions between
marrieo persons to which the people of a civnised country
ought to attach the greatest importance. He also *Miami
her tills out gave an opening to the commission of fraud in
reference to creditors.

Lefevre supported the bill, thlnkicg that the House
ought tot to rest satiated with the Act LI 1870, which had
produced most sltscreilitable results When Judges on
the I ench complained of the leisislation of this House,
he desired to call attention to the Married Winnen's
Property Act of 1670, which was purely the work of the
law lonns In the Rouse of Were, and was one of the worst
strewn Acts on the statute book. (Hear, liter.) It was
lrupossilde Wallow the law P. remain in his present state of
contusion, and the only question, therefore, was what could
be stone to improve the existing condition oh atnin, hum they
could not revert to the old state of things. He urged the
House to adopt this bill, which would do no more than
might new be done under the allZOCiltoll of a court of equity.
• • ••

Mr. Staveley Hill (who has introduced a second bill to
amend the same Act) remarked that previous speasers had
not dealt fairly with the Act of Ib7o. which contained only
one s:gual error, and that lie sought to remedy b) an amend.
meet which, he hoped, would prevent a married woman
from setting up a fraudulent defence to a creditor's action.
The iscussion Was continued by Mr. W. Fowler, Mr.
Wheelh,orie, and Mr. Raiken, and after a inlet reply from
Mr. Palmer, the House divided, when the second reading of
the bill was carried by 101 votes to 103.

31r. C. IS Read moved the second reading of the bill for the
regulation of children employed in agriculture. The bill
was, he raid, so complete a at pp of that which passed its
iad reading last )ear that nett) [bode* of it c owing into
operation ha I not 11-en altered. Toe oi joct of the bill was
au application of the loactory Ate, cin a mitigated form, to
children who worked in the rural districts. It was meant
to be • thorou.ottly good educational measure.
Mr. Altro)ti seconded the motion for the second reading of
the bill witch, he remarked, had been accipted by the chief
agricultural bodies.
'After a short discussion, the bill war read a sect rol time,
and the Butte adjourned.