The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-08-14 00:00:00

CI 0-stottrbtibge ObSener.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 14th, 1880.

THE STATE OF PUBLIC BUSINESS.

THE second week in August usually finds Par-
liament rapidly winding up its business, and
counting the days—sometimes the hours—which
stand between the Legislature and prorogation.
The introduction of the Appropriation Bill, em-
bodying the financial disposition of the public
moneys for the ensuing year, is always welcomed
with a cheer, for it tells of the beginning of the
end. This is generally the last measure passed,
and necessarily so, for there can be no Appro-
priation Bill until the final vote in Committee of
Supply. But in the present state of business
this final vote is yet some way off. The vote for
the Royal Irish constabulary is not to be taken
until the 16th instant, and it threatens to give
rise to a Parliamentary battle. And yet, with
the great amount of work still to be got through,
the original programme laid before the two
Houses did not seem an ambitions one. The
Queen's Speech, delivered on the 20th May,
promised the Burials' Bill, the Employers' Lia-
bility Bill, the Hares and Rabbits Bill, the Bal-
lot Bill, and the friah Borough Franchise
The last of these has been dropped, the Ballot
will be dealt with for the year in the
Expiry Laws Continuance Act, the Employers'
Liability Bill has passed through Committee,
the Hares and Rabbits Bill has been read a
second time in the Commons, and the Burials,
I Bill is through the 1 ords. These are the only
, measures which stand in the first rank, but be•
I hind them is a group of bills which have arrived
at various stages in the two Houses. These in-
clude the Elementary Education Bill, the Census
/ Bills, the Grain Cargoes Bill, the Corn Returns
! Bill, the Scottish Educational Endowments Bill, ,
I the Vaccination Acts Amendment Bid, and the
Savings Banks and Money Orders Bills. Then
again Supply is behind hand, there is the Indian
i
Budget to be disposed of, the war n Afghanis-
tan, and the Eastern Question.
It is inevitable that much of this will have to
stand over until next year. Within the past
quarter of a century a custom has prevailed of
rising within a few days of the Twelfth of Au-
gust, and it willsbe found difficult suddenly to
break through it. Both Lords and Commons
make their arrangements for the autumn months
beforehand upon the understanding that this
custom will be adhered to. (Meow se, the legi--
lative year has been an exceptional one. The
dissolution in the spring and the subsequent
change of ministry postponed the real opening
of the session until the third week in May , there-
by reducing its length by more th in one Lief.
Mr. Gladstone's illness has conic a a time when
his attendance in the House had been look( d
forward to as a great aid to the forwarding of
public business. Every cause for anxiety on
the Prime Minister's account has now passed
away; but it seems to be admitted that the
House will not have the ad vantage of his presence
any more this session. With the arrival of the
Twelfth the attractions of the moors become
irresistible. London is already emptying; and
comparatively few of even the most zealous
legislators would care to endure the fig of
weary days and wearier nights in the House of
Commons in the heats of August, when the
aristrocratic world is on the moors, at the
mountains, or by the sea. The metropolis is
not a pleasant place in the middle of August,
when the hot sun and the slid air make those
who are compelled to remain s:gli wistfully for
the opportunity of going " ()to amongst the
fields and far from town," and very effectually
drive away those who are not absolutely forced
t) stay.
Taking a full session, and deducting the
Easter and Whitsuntide recesses, Parliament
does not it more than five months out of twelve.
And as Parliament has fixed fur itself a time for
rising, it would be but reasonable to expect that
it would accommodate its work to the duration
of its sitting. But in the present case a new
Parliament has not been in session three months;
presumably it came to its work fresh and vigor-
ous, and able to cope with any quantity of hi-1,4-
ness laid before it; but various causes have com-
bined to prevent the carrying out of the legisla-
tive programme, and consequently the rising of
Parliament and the dispersion of its members
will be deferred for some days later than the
usual period. And when the prorogation arrives,
none will grudge those who have devoted them-
selves so sedulously to the public service a period
of well-earned relaxation.