The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-03-19 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COILHONS.-TONDAY.
THE REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM.

octiVe.

Mr, 'l'. I)uncombe moved • resolution, "That it will
ho the duty of his House to lose no further time in
giving such complete effect to the Act of the last reign
wheriby refries were made in the representative
system as shall carry out the subsequent reconimen?a-
-t of the Crown, and fulfil the just expectations of
the people." Reform, he observed, being now inde-
finitely postponed, the question was in a position very
unsatisfactory and humiliating to Reformers, while it
was divreilitable to the Government, diseespectful to
the Sovereign, and insulting to the people. The
country could not be content with the Act of 1f132 ; it
woo time, therefore, that something should be done to
redeem repeated pledges given to the Throne as well as
to the country. Ho held Lord John Russell, to whose
past declarations he appealed, responsible for the state
in which the question now stood.
Sir G. Lewis complained that Mr. Buncombe had
made an essential alteration in the resolution of which
he had given notice by omitting the words" imniediately
after the publication of the census of the present year,"
which implied that the House (having already two
Reform Bills before it) was tusking too rapid progress.
He should vote against the motion.
Mr. Warner supported the resolution.
Mr. Bright observed that, though this question must
gain by discussion, lie could not recommend Mr. Dun.
combo to put his resolution to the House as • thing oh
any value. They were about to consider two Bills on
the subject, and the passing of this resolution could not
bring the question of reform more speedily before the
House. . .

Mr. Duncouibe withdrew his motion.
DWELLINGS OF TUB WORKING CLASSES.
Mr. Blaney moved for • select committee to consider
means of improving the dwellings of the working
cla.sees in populeits towns, anal of obtaining for them
air. exercise, and occasional recreation, so as to
conluee to their health and comfort. He dwelt upon
the miserable condition of the lower classes of our
town populations, crowded into wretched habitations in
marrow, fetid alleys, the hotbeds of vice and crime, as
well es of disease, the great improvements in our towns
tending to aggravate rather than to mitigate the evil.
lie read evidence in support of his representations, to
which lie Added the testimony of his own personal
observation. The remedy he proposed was the erection
of Miro* alwelLngs by conjoint capital, raised by
small some, in eliares, wok r limited liability, which
would return an interest of 4 per cent.
Sir G. Lewis said, when the Holum was asked to
agree to a practical resolution it must consider more
than good and kind intentions, and he hail foiled to
perceive how the appointment of • select committee
could promote the end Mr. Slaney had in view, lie
was at lees to see how new legislation or any additional
facilities were J....pored for the rateing and application
of capital to the objects he proposed. If it was the
general opinion of the Ileum, however, that the objects
could be best attained by the appointment of a com-
mittee, he should not resist the motion ; but various
committees were already sittiiig, and, upon the whole,
be should advise Mr. Slaney nut to press it.
The lint was afterwards withdrawn.
Mr. Lygun obtained leave to bring in • Ball for the
voluntary disgavelling of lends.
mxlnr.srie oN RAILWAYS.
Mr. Bentinek moved a resolution to the effect that,
in consinnence of the great number of railway accidents,
some id which have arisen from the non-adoption by
railway compenies if precautions recommended in the
evidence given before the Railway Accidents Corn.
mittee, it has bee,, desirable that Her Majesty's
Government should introduce further legislation on the
I subject of railway traffic, with a view to enforce the
adoption by all railway companies of those precautions.
The motiou won seconded by Mr. Jackson, who
strongly urged that there should be more action in
this matter on the part of the Government.
Mr. Thiihlio supported the motion.
The discussion was continued by Mr. Dutton, Sir F.
Smith t:olonel Gilpin, and Sir J. Paxton.
Mr. M. (Amon said the resolution asked the House
to legislate according to the evidence taken before
the committee ; but there was so little agreement
among the witnesses that it would be difficult
for the Goverinnent to draw a Bill upon the
evidence.
After further debate, in which Mr. James, Mr.
Paul, Mr. Haliburton, and Sir H. Verney took
part,
Mr. Banta& withdrew his motion.
BOARD OF ADMIRALTY.
Admiral Buncombe having moved the nomina-
tion] of the Select Committee on the Board of
Admiralty,
Mr. lientinck objected to the first name, that of Sir
James Graham, contending that, Sir James having
more than once filled the office of first Lord of the
Admiralty, he would be placed in the position of both
judge and jury.
Admiral Walcott concurred in this objection ; and
Mr. Baillie thought the composition a the Committee
unsatisfactory.
Bird Palmerston thought there was no good ground
for the objection. The Committee was not appointed to
investigate any personal charge or delinquency, hut to
ascertain whether the present organisation of the Naval
Department was hest adapted to promote the public in-
, tereets, or whether it should be differently conati-
I tilted,
.Mr. Ifieraeli. I agree with the lion, member for
I Liskeard, that it is much to he regretted that the
I Government have not seen lit to take up this question

themselves, insteadl of reniittiug it to a comniittee.
(Hear.) 11l the coarse of a month th.. thwernment have I
delegated to iix coinasittecs of the iliiioe of Ci 11111111 l ne 1
ao examination into the whole adininistiation of the 1
Poor Lotus, isito the conaideration of the entire criminal
law, into the ntilitary expenditure Of the colouies, and,
ill understand sightly, the CU Ike on this subject
will be called 00 to settle even the ainour.t of colonist
gairimins,—iuto she Admiralty, into the principles
upon which the chief arm of our taxation is established,
imil main which at this vitouient I.:12,00000 of taxation
is raised, and into the °imam:: 01 our diplolllltle lICI-ViCe.
In iny opinion. nothing will . distgraco, MK proceedings
as dealing with a atrosig subject through a weak com-
mittee (hear) ; and such a course 1111 l at result in our
failing to achieve the ohjem, a hi.di wo ha', ii, view.
(I fear, hear.) This being lair couvictinei, I would my-
self move that the debate on the medou for the nousi
nation of Sir James Graham on this committee be ad-
journed. (Cheers.)
After sane remarks from )Ir. Ricardo and X:.
- - --

flonley,
ia grea iRt pa )
umber of committemi, and enuicially when any of
firiee'at ll'oav be said to intsrfews with the functions of the
At the same Anse, it is to be observed that
there 16 stothic.l which makes a Government no ialio ns
Lord . u
iseec i nn
aitliy,
e el:4lld,ln nittlanttsh of
.
re
as apposing itaelf to inquiry. I think I ant right in
',upraising that the right hoe, gentleman would not
have objected to C committee irthe right hon. gentle-
gallant admiral. (Hear.)
insitiotd) obbujtec'tuntvocathe'reoint;miltrteeN4wiligliAnt
The conimitte• to not appointed to inquire into the
conduct of the met Fir: Lords. All Cie si:tht
gentlemen named urn' at are able mem mist their
opinion will he mooch more valuable thin that of memo.
i'liFutuvaede(c*ffolibrjY.layPwakethe bon. and
ben who have had no experience. I say that team who
have hm.oiii First Lords of the Admiralty °ugh.. Osier
all °there to be named mon such a committee. (Hear.)
NW!' In Peet why we sholld w 4 ;rune the co 'ttee
at present, or why the debate should be adjourned U
the Houma of Commons hail chosen to address the
Crown to appoint • Royal Conizaimiou, then the objec-
tion which I Imre named to La cum misidun would
nut exist, for the appuintment of such a commisoion
would not then be the spontaneous act o: the Crown,
but would be made at the desire of the lion se of (jour
mons. The House, however, hes cholien to hare a com-
mittee, and the three right hon. entlemen wham naubee
come find on the list ought elatedly to be on such a
ltee. (Hear, hear.)
Admiral Ihincombe raid that lithe amendment were
carried the emninittee would be virtually shelved, and
if the House adopted it lie eliould beg 'A be alwailved
from sitting upon the committee. lie believed that
there was ample material at present in this semidry for
conducting the inquiry with advantage. (Cheel%)
Mr. Bright. I rime to protest against the theory of
the right 11011. gentleman the member for Busks, that
the House has nut a right to inquire into the adult/rip
tratiun of any department of the livverninent. (He,
hoar.) When the Guverninent happens to be nut Yell
competent to perform its duties, we usually have many
commilb es, and I recollect that no Government con-
ceded onnueittees more freely than that of witch the
right hon. gentleman awy a member. (A laugh.) The
right lion. gentleman the member for Buckinghamshire
has proposed that the deb:ite be adjourned. That it
should be adjourned merely for the purpose of gAting
rid of the committee I think woul I be an injudicious
and • weak proceeding on tlm part of this Haase ; but if
the adjournment be with a view of enabling the Govern-
ment to frame a revised list of nwinhera of this cotn-
znittee, although I do not think I ever before eeconded
anything which the right. hon, gentleman proposci,
(laughter), I shall be glad to do no on the present
occasion.
Lord Palmerston did not think there was sufficient
reason for the adjournment of the debate. Thu House
waa full, alill in good position to determine as to the
constitution of the committee. With respect to au
inquiry into the system of promotion sod retirement,
lie did not admit that that would be too great an
addition to the labours of the present committee, bat if
it were, the committee might be reappointed neat
Session. However, he thought the committee would
have no difficulty in undertaking that inquiry and
making a satisfactory report, before the c,uelusion of

.
Mr. Disraeli said he would not press the motion for
adjournment of the debate. With regard to what
passed the other night, he was under the impression
that a counniasion wail out of the imeation. and he was
therefore wiling to take a committee. He wan perfectly
prepared to support the Government in the propose,'
hange in regard to the resolution moved the other
evening by the hon. Illellane for Portainouth.
r. Jacksen suggested that the nomination of the
committee should be postponed until the evidence taken
by the ouminission appointed last year should be in the
handa of members.
The motion for the adjournment of the debate we...
then withdrawn, and the nomination of the oinuniittee
on the Board of Admiralty was proceeded with. The
names of Sir J. Graham, Sir F. Baring, and Sir J.
Pakington ware agre.fd to.
NAVY (NIONOTION AND NETTRZNINT).

Lord Palmerston then proposed the following motion :
--" That the order (sth of March) for the appointment
of • select committee to consider the present system of
promotion and retirement in the Royal Navy, and the
present pay and position of the several classes of naval
officers, and to report what changes therein ore
desireable, with • view to the increased efficiency of the
naval service' be read, and discharged.
Sir J. Elphinstone said that on the previous evening
the hardships of the naval service were 110 wall under-
stood that the Government could not keep • House to
motion.l.:4ll "
6"...r ...n a constitutional ver;Lhe noble
or
had
ia.. faeces
principle, which lie it;,tl not previously urged against
this conamitteli. The conttuittee for which he had
mowed and which he had carried had been merged in
that of his lion, friend the member for the East Riding,
and he, therefore, claimed the right to mune four
ntemben of the committee. (Hear.)
After remarks from various members the motion was
agreed to,
Tile orders of the day were then disposed of, and the
House adjourned at hal-past 1 o'clock.