The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-05-19 00:00:00

THE IRISH UNDER-SECRETARY.

The House went into committee on the bill appoint-
ing a Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Lord-
Lieutenant. Mr. Heneage moved an amendment on
Clause 1, providing that the salary of the new official
should be paid out of the salaries of the Lord-Lieu-
tenant and Chief Secretary. After a long discussion
Mr. W. 11. Smith moved the Closure, which was carried
by 190 to 145. The amendment was thereafter
negatived by 191 to 183. An amendment by Mr. J.
Ellis, requiring that the holder of the office should
have to seek re-election, was negatived by 230 to 191.
Progress was shortly afterwards reported, and the
Orders %.ere disposed of.

LOLAL GOVERNMENT ELECTORS BILL.
In the HOUSE OF Lonns on May 15 the Local
Government (England and Wales) Electors Bill was
considered in committee. An amendment, moved by
Earl Beauchamp, limiting the operation of the measure
to December 31, 1889, unless Parliament should other-
wise determine, was negatived by 64 to 28. A proposal
by the Earl of Jersey to make ownership of land a
sufficient qualification for registration for county
council purposes was rejected by 55 to 34, and the bill
passed through committee without amendment. The
Standing Orders having been suspended, after a protest
by the Earl of Feversham, and a complaint by the Earl
of Carnarvon that it was part of a scheme which swept
away an ancient institution which had been attended
for more than three centuries with the greatest success,
the bill was read a second time and passed.

BILLS ADVANCED.
The Local Bankruptcy (Ireland) and Coroners Bills
were read a second time; the Glebe Lands Bill was
passed through committee; and the Tithe Rent-charge,
Tithe Rent-charge Recovery and Variation, Copy-
right (Musical Compositions), and Merchant Shipping
(Life Saving Appliances) Bills were read a third time
sod passed.

Their lordships rose at eight o'clock.
QUESTIONS IN THE COMMONS.
In the Commons a number of interesting questions
were addressed to Ministers, and in reply to some of
them the Home Secretary stated that pending the in-
quiry before the Select Committee, it would be prema-
ture for the Government to determine whether by any
amendment of the factory laws the evils of the sweat-
ing system could be met; and Mr. Plunket announced
that the promoters had agreed to reduce the proposed
height of the new buildings at Albert-gate to 100 feet
from the ground, which would not be much in excess of
the adjoining houses.

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.
Mr. W. H. Smith moved to give precedence over
other business on the paper to the Government resolu-
tions on the subject of Imperial defence. Mr. Labou-
chore proposed by way of amendment that the House
was not prepared to surrender that day to the
Government, in view of the fact that the Govern-
ment had already pledged themselves to arrange to
enable Mr. Broadhurst to bring on that evening
his motion on the subject of poverty in
large towns, and that the Government had
on Monday devoted the time at their disposal to a stage
of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Ireland Bill,
which time would otherwise have been at their disposal
for the purpose for which they were now asking for the
time of private members. Mr. W. H. Smith said the
course which had been taken was forced upon him by
the proceedings of Monday night. Sir W. Harcourt,
Mr. Heneage, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Glad-
stone, Mr. A. Balfour, and Mr. J. Morley were among
the speakers in a debate, which throughout was animated,
and at times was very heated, special reference being
made to the proceedings of Monday on the Parliamen-
tary Under Secretary for Ireland Bill. Soon after six
o'clock, Mr. Labonchere and Mr. Brullaugh rose to-
gether, and the former, doubtless not seeing that his
colleague was on his legs, moved the closure, to the
great amusement of the House. This was agreed to,
and Mr. Labouchere's amendment was then put to the
vote and rejected by 290 to 187—Govemment majority,
103.