The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-03-19 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

In the HOtTER 'op LORDS, March 14, a reply wasibrought
down from the Queen to an Address of their lordships'
louse. the reply stating that Her Majesty, in compliance
with the prayer of the Address, will appoint a Royal
commission to inquire into the constitution and working of
the cclesi as ti cal Courts.
lord Granville gave notice that he would riaove addresses
to the Queen and the Duchess of Edinburgh on the assassina-
tion of the late Emperor of Russia.
On the motion of Lord Spencer, the Peace Preservation
(Ireland) Bill was read a first time.
The Select Committee on the Ilighway Acts was nomi-
nated.
Their lordships adjourned at twenty minutes past five
o'clock.
In the HOUSE of COMMONS, Mr. Gladstone gave notice that
he would move an Address expressing the sentiments of the
House at the assassination of Her Majesty's ally and relatite
the late Czar of Russia, and also an address of condolence
With the Duchess of Edinburgh.
Mr. Bradlaugh rose, but was immediately interrupted by
Mr. Gorst, who appealed to the Speaker whether, after the
judgment of Mr. Justice Mathew, Mr. Bradlaugh was com-
petent to take part in the proceedings.
The Attocaey-General pointed out that the question was
not determined by the judgment of a Court of First Instance,
and that Mr. Bradlaugh might appeal.
Sit John biker said the question was whether, when a
mut o: competent jurisdiction had adjudged that Mr.
Bradlaugh was net a member of the House, the House ought
not to declare the seat vacant pending the issue of an
appeal; and he i 3 nggested that until it has been settled
whether the aecision given be a correct one or not, the hon.
.rn.3ember. ,shall not exercise the position of a member of the
Paoi:‘,3e.
`Mr. Labouchere read a letter from Mr. Bradlaugh explain-
ing his position, and Lord R. Churchill said the House had
no security that an appeal would be prosecuted for a twelve-
month.
Sir S. "N'wtheote asked the Speaker to give his decision,
and Mr. ' :•ullaugh having said a few words stating that he
had givcl. notice of appeal at once, and that the judge had
stayed judgment and execution,
The Speaker said the question put to him was one of great
difficulty, but its determination rested rather with the House
than with the Chair, and until the House had determined it
he should continue to regard Mr. Bradlaugh as filling the
neat for Northampton. He thereupon called on Mr.
Bradlaugh to proceed with the presentation of his petitions
—which were all in favour of his motion on Perpetual
Pensions.

In answer to questions from Mr. Lew and others as to
the armistice with the Boers, Mr. Gladstone stated that on
Saturday the Cabinet instructed Sir E. Wood to conclude an
armistice with the Boers for a period not extending beyond
Friday next, for the purpose of receiving an answer to a
communication which had been sent on the same day to the
Boer leaders, but he was not authorised to make any change
in its original conditions—that is to say, he was not instructed
to require that the Boers should retire from the Natal terri-
tory. With regard to the first armistice, he read a telegram
- received from Sir E. Wood, stating that on March 3 President
Brand telegraphed asking Joubert to meet him (Sir E.
Wood) for the purpose of conferring on a settlement: that
on March 4 Joubert sent him a telegram asking how far he
would co-operate in this suggestion' and on the sth he tele-
graphed to Joubert offering to meet him. In answer to Sir
H. Tyler, Mr. Gladstone said he had no information as to the
Prolongation of the armistice having actually been effected.
In answer to Mr. S. Leighton, Mr. Grant Duff said it was
quite true that he had stated at Oxford on Saturday that, in
his opinion, the first overtures came from the Boers, because
he thought such a statement was permissible at a public
Meeting, though in the House Ministers were bound to con-
fine themselves to the strict letter of the documents in their
Possession.
Mr. Yorke asked the Secretary of State for the Home
Department whether the medical officers of Her Majesty's
prisons wen required by the regulations to vaccinate all
children born in the prisons before they were allwed to go
out; and, if so, whether such regulations were strictly en-
forced, especially in the case of the female prison at West-
minster.
Sir W. Harcourt, in reply, said: There is no absolute rule
mi the subject, nor could there be. It is uncertain at what
age a child may be at the time it is discharged. As a
general rule, a child is vaccinated in prison when it is old
enough and the mother makes no objection. The answer I
have received to a question is that all the children born in
Westminster prison are vaccinated if they are old enough
and not too delicate.
Sir H. Wolff asked the Under-Secretary of State for
Voreign Affairs whether there was any truth in the reports
Which had appeared in several newspapers to the effect that
the United States Minister had made representations to Her
31ajesty's Government on the subject of the arrest of
Michael Boyton, on the ground that he was an American
Citizen; and whether any information could be given to the
House as to the course to be adopted by Her Majesty's
Government on that and other similar cases.
Sir C. Dilke, in reply, said: No, Sir. No representation
has been received from the United States Government upon
the subject.
In answer to Mr. Paget, Mr. Gladstone seated, amid much
cheering, that the Inland Revenue Department was about
to make arrangements by which the same stamp should
eerie both as a postage and as a receipt stamp.
After an ineffectual appeal by Mr. Gorst for the inter-
'position of the Speaker, Mr. Gladstone, not without inter-
ruption from below the Opposition gangway, against which
he was at length fain to mildly protest, replied to a string
• of questions by Mr. Dillwyn, and a further question by Sir
S. Northcote relative to the date at which the Supplemental
Estimates must be finished.
Mr. G-orst said he should not bring forward the motion of
Which he had given notice for the issuing of a new writ for
Northampton in the room of Mr. Bradlaugh, who, since his
election, has voted and sat without having made the oath
by law appointed. The hon. and learned member said his
reason for not making his motion on the present occasion
Was that he had no wish to interfere with the progress of
wipply ; but he should on the earliest possible day when the
exigencies of the public service would permit him to do so
Without interrupting the progress of Supply, renew his
• notice and take the opinion of the House as to whether the
tecond seat for Northampton is or is not vacant. (Hear,
hear.)
•