The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-04-20 00:00:00

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In the Reuse of Lords, April 16, the Supreme Court of
Appeal Bill was brought in and read a Mat time. The
eecond readlne was fixed tor the 30th loot.
Earl Grativille presented to the House the counter case of
the British Government, in connection with the Alabama
claims, which would be pelted. and he hoped distributed to
their lordships the tiliowing day. Ile added We have
reason to know front onr agent on the spot at Geneva,
that, having been informed by Lord Tenterden that a
statement accompanied our counter case, and had been
presented to the Tribunal of Arbitration, the American
agent stated that his instructions had net contemplated the
probability of such a statement as ours, and therefore he
reeerved te Ida Government a full right of vindicating what
they consider to be the scope of the treaty. As soon as ties
reservation of right to in our hands it will be our duty to
present it to your 1 xdships.
The Church Seats' Bill was then read a second time.
The Deans' and Canons' Resignation Bill was read a third
time and mused, the Archbishop of Canterbury expressing
an opinion that it was only the beginning of other mmoures
for carrying into effect the desire of the Deans mid Camels
to take a more active part in the working system of the
Chnren of England.
Lord Kimberley, in moving the first reading of the New
Licensing Bill, began by stating the reasons which had
induced the Government to introduce the bill in their Lord-
ship's use. Declining to go into the history of the
Licensing Laws, he said that anything more complicated or
difficult could hardly be conceived No less than twelve
descriptions of licence were in force at the present
eminent. Glancing at the various aeitatiotus carried
on by those who desired an alteration of the law,
he said thet the opinion of the country was in
favour if a reeulated monopoly, The Bill whieh, on the
pert of the thivernment, ire lbcl now to explain did net claim
to teats emi &bum meimure. It would not seriouely &dime
existing interests, but its effect could be to limit the
number of license', and to prevent by stringent police
',gelatines, the abuses of the present nutilichouse and
beerhouse eystem. Under the Simpensery Bill of last Sheet."
no new WOW:ea could he granted by the Brewster Sessions
unless they were confirmed by the Secretary of State The
Ant part wftire present bill regulated the granting of new
licenrees ineounties all new iteences wenlil be granted, as
at present ,W the Justices is Brewster Sessions; but they
would not be valid until confirmed bye special committee
appointed et Quarter Sessions. In boroughs the practice
would vary ernoriling to the number of justices. In
boroughs where the number of justices does not exceed
nine, new licences will be granted, as at present, on
their recommendation. In all other boroughs, no new
licences are to be granted, except noon the recommendation
eif a committee ti he appointed by the justices, and
whom grants should he confirmed by the fell court.
In all came, whether ie counties or boroughs, no new
lietnees will be valid until approved by the Secretary
of State, whose conflanetion had been found to work
well in the Sospensory Act, and would insure uni-
formity of control throughout the country. The system
applied to the boroughs could be racily worked in the
metropolis. Licences were at present issued by the 1119.-
distrates of the different counties forming the metro-
polis They would appoint a moderate number as a com-
mittee to grant new licences, and the only ditty of the
full body would be to confirm or otherwise the acts of
the committee. The granting of new licences was an
administrative act, lint their renewal was more of a ju-
dicial character, and the hill proposed no change in
the present system. All questions regarding the re.
newel of licences wentld continue to Lis dealt with at
Brewster Se,sieus, subject to an appeal to Quarter Ses-
sions. The bill gave ratepayers no direct control over the
Issue of new licences, but any ye-non who objected to the
transfer, renewal, or grant of a licence might appear before
the Brewster Sessions, with an appeal to Quarter Sessions,
or to the confirming body to the case of a new licence.
Publicans would he, however, protected Realest frivolous
tend vexations appeals. The bill would consolidate all the
tg.settruipeso'lriiceßllel6rnierinasst ya'enadr.incir. registerCre of
e he
In
kept of serious and repeated offences oil the part
of publicans and beerhouse keepers, and in the graver
eases the certiernto would determine of itself with'
sort any action or option on the part of the magistrates.
The lull inermised the panaity of drunkennese from 50.
to its. It also contained penalties against the adultera-
tton of exelteble liquors and he read an amusing
elimetildirM of the mode in which beer was usually
adulterated. The hill would alter and simplify the
present hours of closing. Within four miles of Charing-
Orass petiiietunetes and beerhonses would not be al-
Inwed to open Defer° 7 am., and must clese at 1010-
-ni,ht. Elsewhere an the Metropolitan district and
foi tems rd not less time 10,000 souls they must not mien
before 7 a.m., and most Mom at 11 pm. in other towns and
districts the hour of opening would also tic 7 a.m , and of
closing 'lO D.lO. On Sundays they must not °Pen until
1 p.m., and must close between 3 p.m. Lod C m. On
:Sunday nights the hour of closing would be an hour
earlier than the hoer of closing tot week days, and would be
ernorningly 11 o'clock in Loudon, 1.0 o'clock 'outside the four
eaue moms and In large towns, and 0 o'clock in the country.
The police regulations of the 1,111 would be enforced by
special police inspectors, not lees than one such inspector
beieg appoilited for every 100,000 ielmbiteete, to overlook
pundehouses serf see that the law was eutoreed. The bill
set tip no rating quelineation in the case of Weil:Mourns.
A rating tplaliticatiou only existed in the cue of beer.
houses, aed with this the hill would not interfere.
lummueb, howev.r, as there was respell to believe that
many of the wood-conducted beerhouses existent under
false pretences, the bill would give lice magistrates power to
Institute a special valuation. which would weed cut a
number of low houses. The bill might be ceded a moderate
aff&lllre, bet it would dintinieh dee teudelley is ag tuidue

IMPERIAVPAIMMINNirs. rett
.upilkesietin of pulilic-houses, anti simplify the existing
w, Inter:trims with the just rights of property.
After a few remarks from the Duke of Richmond and Lord
&Weed&le, the bill was read a first time, and ordered to be
April 15, on the motion to receive read a second thee on the end of May ; and the Ho
In the Neese d Lards,
dl• report of amendments to the Daeana elle Canons Re. then adjourned.
dust the object of which was to 'Wetter. Bill, the Marque of .., se propod an
give the minor In the Hoene of Commons, Mr. W. N. Hodgson gave notice
amen
moons the benefit of this MIL In one diocese five mit of that on iou eemy day he woad call attention to the state of
teseme were over seventy years of age. In another a vicar- business In the Probate Court and move is resolution.
choral, who had lost the use of his voice, had taken to keep- Mr. C. Fortescue, replying to Mr. Jamb Bright said there
lag a public-house, was no official report in the Board of Trade on the subject
The Archhernop of Canterbury objected to admitting the of the State purchase of railwaya, but a non-official report
vicars-choral within the clause. had been made by an able officer of the Board of Trade unon
The ammelmeet was agreed to. the present condition of raileays to this country, in which
TI Wallop of loucester and Bristol moved that the income „ruaueiwlinatnytweAnodlieaddigithe pthimillitase
de
toot rtihtielee'aollys
niertltheee
.8 thowte
e G
sitting
reentiened In the bill should be calculated on an average of
Referri to e Ala. barna' Claims, Mr. Gladstone said, with
the three preceding years.
This was agreed to. re ng
th
h ference to the conversation which took place te previous
On clause. 5, day, that the covering note of the British Government had
The 3iarmis of Salisbury moved an amendment to make already been circulated to many members, and copies could
the operatien of this len, as regards lunatics, similar to the be obtained at the Vote Wilke. Also, as regarded the counter
pr.-eche. in the ease of bishops. In comhinatem with ease itself, that would be ready for circulation the 1 ollowing
deeneees .3, posts, he said, which were held at the uni- afternoon. Further, be had to hay that the Government had
versitlea would be affected. learned from Geneva that Mr. Bancroft Davie had, on the part
The Bishop of Glouceater and Bristol objected to the of the United States Government, put in a statement that he
had no instructions from his Government on the subject of
Vuendnient. any document or covering note put le by the British Govern-
Earl Beauchamp hoped the noble marquis would stand
by it • ment, and that being so, he thought it his duty to reserve all
the rights if the United States, so that they might not be
The Archbishop of Canterbury thonght the amendment
would lead to difficulties which, from his cormection is ith a Prejudiced by the presentation of the governing note.
university, he must foresee In answer to Mr. Fawcett, Mr. Gladstone said that when
The Bishop of tendon explained the power which was the University Tests (Dubliii) Bill conies on, the Irish Score-
already possessed by colleges, as to getting rid of insane tarp will move to divide it into two parts, meld Mr. Fawcett
officialfl will assent to that, he promised that the Government will do
The amendment was thee agreed to. all in its power to forward that part which abolishes tests.
The Lord Chancellor, in moving his Resolution in favour Sir M. Lopes brought forward his annual motion on the
of the establishment of an Imperial euprerne Court of Appeal, subject of Local Taxation, winch this year took the form of
gave his reasons for proceeding at present by way of Resole.. a Resolution declaring that, in remedying the grievance of
von and not by a bill. Ile Proposed to constitute one great lelPosille taxation for national objects on one description of
Court of Appeal, compristog within itself the two at present Property, the Ratepayers in counties and boroughs ought to
distinct branches of the appellate jurixdiction of the House be relieved either hi whole or in part from the charges for
of isords and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. administration of justice, police, and lunatics. Ile began by
'By this fusion a conflict between the decisions of two reviewing the history of his previous motions, dwelling
co-ordinate Courts would tie impossible. The Supreme speeially on the events of last year, and condemning the Re-
Court would be formed into two divisions, the Port on which Mr. Goachene bills were founded.
Judges being wieldeds to migrate from one to the Colonel Amcotts seconded the Resolution, and warned the
other as the business might require. The first division Government that the question would be irrepressible until
would cosiest of all Peers who had filled the office of Lord a remedy bad been diecovered.
Chancellor or any high judicial offiee (for a speeified thee) si T. Acd move das n men a adment aRe ltion which
,
Peers who could fairly be called Law Lords, frorn having ac- tueuta for bational purposes not under local control, recom-
tually practised at the bar, and Privy Councillors now cap- mended that rates for new objects should be divided b
able of beinc appointed upon the Judicial Committee. tween the oegiers and occupiers, which was seconded be.
lu each division there should be not less than 31r. Rathboue.
three or more than live Judges, who would be
£6,000 a year, and noble lords who had filled A long discussion followed, lathe course of which,
the office of lemil Chaticeller and who accepted the oblige- Mr. Stanafeld quoted certain passages from Sir M. Lopes'
don to attend would have their pensions raised from ,too speech, from which he interred that the settlement he
to £6,000 a year. The Lord Ceaucellor woeld be at the head offered would not completely satisfy public opinion out of
of the second division to well as the first, and Meng the doors. The Government. however, were not prepared to
members of the second division would be the Lord Chief accept the Resolution, hot they would accept the Amend-
Justices of tee Queen's Bench and Common Pleas, and the meat ; but it was with certain reaervalons that they would
Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer. The Jedges of both dive accept It; for Instance, they would reserve to themselves the
*ions would receive a retiring pension after a certain number right of jedging what were the payments for national objects
of years' service. The establishment of such a Meld would not under local control, for which relief should be afforded.
The Government were also in favour of dividing local taxa-
obviate the degradation of lay Peers attending in order to
snake a quorum. and among the other advantages of between the owner and occupier. After a general review of
the scheme he specified the continuous sitting from November the
.question, Mr. Stansfeld stated that the Government was
to February, whereby three months would he gained, the anxious to introduce a measure on the subject, and he asked
sitting for One days a week at least, instead of four, mid the the House, therefore, not to tie their hands by a sweeping
abolition of the appellate jurisdiction of the Court of Ex- general Resolution.
chewier and the Exchequer Chamber. Great expense would The discussion was continued by Mr. Disraeli and Mr.
be saved to the suitors, and they would have a readier access Goschen, and on a division Sir el. Lopes' Resolution was
to the new Court, the duties of an appellate jureeliction c trried against the Government by a majority of 105-259
would no longer be exercised in a slovenly and perfunctory to 159—and the Opposition cheered loudly and long when
manner, and a good and effective Maimed having been the numbers were announced.
secured, their Lordahips would be left to the undisturled • The other business was disposed of, and the House ad-
performauce of their other important duties and privileges. joumed at five minutes to one.
Alter a brief discussion, it was arranged that the Lord
Cbancellor should lay his bill on the table the following
evening, that the adjeumed debate on the Resolution should
be resumed upon the night fixed for the second reading of
the Bill, and that In the "Orders of the Day" the Resolu-
tion should have priority over the second reading.
Their lordships then adjourned.
In the House of Commons, the Epping Forted (No. 1) Bill
and the eletsge of Grain (Port of London) Bill, which are
promoted by the Corportion of London, were read a secone
time, after some discussion ; aud the committee to which
the latter will be referred was instructed to provide for the
abolition of compulsory inetsge, and also for the ultimate
extinction of all charges other then for services rendered.
Me Cubitt gave petite that as an amendment to isle.
Miall's motion lie will niece for a Royal Commission to in-
quire into the origin, amount, &a., of revenues belonging to
Nonconformist bodies
Mr. Disraeli Inquired when the explanatory letter respect-
ing the preceedings before the tribunal at Geneva would he
WI upon the table of the House.
Mr. Percy Wyndham said that this country* desired
to know, and had a right to know what was the exact
decision taken by her Majesty's Government (" Order"),
He wished to ask whether the Government had pre-
sented the counter case, anbject to a denial on the
part of her 31ajesty's Government that the in-
direct chiding were either within the jurisdiction
of the arbitrators, Cr that they (the arbitrators) had any
power to determine whether the indirect claims were within
their jurisdiction or pot ; or whether the reservation made
by her Majesty's Government was limited to claiming the
right to protest against any award in ale miller the head of
Indirect claims or on account of such claims.
Mr Gladstone said, in answer to the le n. member who
bed Plat not shown, that the reservation made by her
Mayeety's Government Ia presenting their counter-case his
the document accompanying that counter-case was, as he
nudetatood it, a reservetien of all their rights what.
ever, and was not limited to any particular point ;
but the anbatantial part of his answer would be in
reply to the reset honourable gentleman the member
for Buckinghamshire The right hon, gentleman hail
asked him when the explanatory letter as he had
termed it, would be laid upon the table. By the term "ex-
planatory letter" he presumed the right hen gentleman
meant what he (r. Gladstone) called a note, or supplement,
a few nights ago, it would be laid upon the table with the
counter case, and the counter case would be laid upon the
table formally the following evening, but he was Mend two
or three daysmust elapse before the copies could actually be
In the handset the members.
The House again went into Committee on the Ballot Bill,
and after diaposing of Clause 3, and some
,of the points in
discussion in Clause 4,
.Mr. leathern renewed his proposal to make it an offence .
punishable with three months' imprisonment for any voter
wilfully to display a ballot-payer so as to prove for whoa he
has voted. It was again very warmly debated, being opposed
from the Liberal beeches by Mr. Harcourt. Lord Burv, Sir 11.
Hoare, and Mr. Fawcett, who declared it to beau unbearable
novelty and an unneceasary piece of tyranny to compel a
man to vote In secret if he did riot wish, and to treat the ex.
poaureof his hallot-paperaftaheineuscrtme. Mr. Harcourtpro-
posed to substitute "with corrupt intent" for "wilfully,"
and this amendment was supported by Lord J. Manners,
Mr. Birley, Mr. Croaa, Mr. A Egerton, and others, who
urged the folly of legislathig against public opinion, and
predicted that no judge or jury would convict for such an
offence. On the other hand, Mr. Venter, supported by Mn.
Muntz and Mr James. supported the original amendment,
arguing that the Ballot being for the repression of bribery
and intimidation. Is useless if an elector has the means of
proving how he has voted.
Mr. Leathern, in defending his own proposal, sharply at-
tacked Mr. Fawcett, who, he derlared, on this as on other
occasions had turned his back on hiseninciples.
The Committee divided on Mr. Harcourt's Amendment,
but the Tellers for the Ayes wit agreeing a second division
became necessary. In this Mr. Harcourt carried the omission
of the word " wilfully " from Mr. Leathanis amendment by
a majority' of one—let to Mk This result was received hy
the opposition with enthusiastic cheering, and Mr. Forster
at once rose and moved to report progress. The Committee
was consequently adjourned until Thursday before proceed-
ing further with Mr. Harcourt's amendment,
The other orders were dispoaed of, and the House ad-
journed at two o'clock:

In the House of Commons. April 17, Sir H. S. Ibbetson, in
moving the second reading of the Spirituous Liquors Retail
Bill, said that its principle was a satisfactory settlement of
the vexed question between the public in the one hand, and
the existing interests of the trade on the other, and that it
would be, if poised, a slow and sure amendment of
the present law, and a fair compromise between the
interests that were affected in this very difficult ques-
tion. The Act of 1869, relating to magisterial autho-
rity, had, as far aa beer - houses were concerned,
proved satisfactory, bat that Act dealt only with one small
part of the whole question. There was ample evidence to
show the necessity of bringing the law into harmony with re-
gard to all branches of the tradeupon some well-advised basis.
Last year the trade was prepared to assent to some such
settlement, and a very large portion of the trade still held
the same feeling; but he was afraid that what had taken
place had led some part of the trade to think that they
could resist all legislation, and delay any settlement
of the question indefinitely. He warned the latter
that they might prosecute this feeling so far that
the people would take the whole question out of their
hands. Laving quoted statistics to show the enormous
proportion of convictions for drunkenness throughout the
country, he pointed out that the opinion of niany of the
most eminent judges was that the vast majority of criminal
offences were attribotable to. drink, and that the medical
profession hail united in condemning the prevalence of drink-
ing habits. What he had heard of the proposed Government
plan for dealing with this qumtion made him feel like a
parent who found his child in a Mpsy camp, greatly dete-
riorated bir &few weeks stay there. He 4nprecated ally sudden
and violent action, as being calculated to create a constant
agitation, and he regarded the Permissive Bill as a misrepre-
sentation of the aim and view of the country. Its effects, he was
afraid, would, on the whole, be adverse to the interests of
temperance, and it would result in an inereasei.l houses, and a
constant agitation in view or the annual election of licensing
authorities. With regard to the measure now before the
House, his sole object had been to produce and pass a fair
measure which, whilst protecting vested interests as far as
they were well conducted, would raise the value and
character of the houses throughout the country, and thus
! give the country an assurance both from the owners
and occupiers of the better order and regulation of
their houses, a bill which should attempt to bring
uniformity in the hours, should deal with adulteration, and
of whirls, in short, the principle should be regulation and
not suppression whose action should be steadily, but all the
more surely, to bring about an amendment in the present
I system, and to shelter men from the numerous dangers
I which now surrounded them by making it the interest of the
1 landlord to deal honestly and fairly with his customers. tie
Iwas prepared to amend his bill in eeveral respects, but he
proposed its second reading to the House in the belief that
lit would vastly improve the moral and social condition of
the people.

Si; H. Anstruther opposed the bill, became he believed its
effects would he diametrically opposed to the desires which
the hon. baronet who proposed it to the House entertained.
It provided that the magistrates should be compelled
to grant licenses where the applicant and his premises
were qualified fr his business, and where there
were not public-houses up to the proportion of 1
in 300. It provided that the licenses should be per-
petual, and be believed that drunkenness increased in
the same ratio as the facilities for drinking increased, and
this bill would tend to a large increase of licensed houses.
It still left licensing powers in the hands of the magistrates,
and gave no °lenient of popular control, and ruder these
circumstances he moved as an amendment, "that the bill be
read a second time that day six months."
Mr. G. 0. Trevelyan seconded the amendment.
A discussion followed in which Mr. Pease, Dr. Brewer, Mr.
Graves, Mr. Watney, Mr. Headlam, and Mr. Greene, took
part, after which,
Mr. Bruce, who admitted that the bill was a moderate
one, argued that while the facts before the House and
the recent discussions upon this subject demonstrated
the necessity of limiting the number of public-
houses, the bill before the House in reality gives to the
publicans an amount of vested interest which they did
not at present possess. Be objected to the limit proposed
of one public-house to a population of 300 on the ground
that there will be numerous cases in which it would operate
very prejudicially to the inhabitants. He denied that in
the Government measure which had just been introduced'
into the House of Lords there had been borrowed anything
from the provisions of the hon. baronet's bill, and he sug-
gested that the debate should be adjourned, and the bill kept
Its suspeme until the House had an opportunity of considering
the two measurei pari pasb-u.
Mr. G Hardy replied at some length to the objections
which had been raised against the hill, arguing that its effect
would certainly be to diminish the number ttf public-houses,
and that the only St licensing authority was the executive
authority It would be a great deal better in the
interests of the public, the trade, and the legislature that
this question should be dealt with at once. Ile believed the
House was of opinion that it should be the executive
authority proeeeding from above that should grant licenses,
and not an authority proceeding from the ratepayers below;
and it should, therefore, accept this bill.
Sir St-lwimllihetson said that if the bill were read a
second time he would consent to leave it in abeyance until
the Government measure was brought forward.
Mr. Bruce thought that no advantage should be given to
this bill ever that of the Government.
Mr. W. 3forriaon moved the adjournment of the debate.
Mr. Kay-Shuttleworth seconded the motion.
A discussion ensued, in which Mr. T. Hughes, Mr. O'Reilly,
and Mr. Whitwell supported the motion for adjournment of
the debate. The bill was "talked out" by Mr. Mundella,
and the debate was adjourned.
The ether orders were then disposed of, and the House
adjourned.