The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-08-08 00:00:00

IMPERIAL P.
Th. UOUSN OF COMMONS at on Saturday, Auguat 1, for a
short time, to forward several Mils a stage.

THE IRISH REPRODUCTIVE LOAN VEND BILL.
The Irish Reproduetive buin Fund Bill was passed through
Committee, after a protest from Mr. Downing, who inalated
that it was a very inadequate discharge of the obligation
imposed on the Government by the division on Sir. Synan's
motion, and was an outrageous departure from the purposes
to which this fund was originally dedicated.

COUNTY COURTS BILL.
The neat Order of the Day was the County Courts Bill, which
stood for a second reading, and the Attorney-General pro-
posed to postpone it until Monday, on the ground that the
Solicitor-General was now unavoidably absent Mr. Bass, how-
ever, who was seconded by Mr. Roebuck, vigorously pro-
tested agalult this, and moved that the order be discharged.
Mr. Henley, Mr. Anderson, and Mr. Macdonald were all of
opinion that•the bill could not be adequately discussed at
this period of the session ; but on a division the motion to
discharge the order was negatived by 50 to 31, and the bill
stood over until Monday.
The Commissioners of Works and Public Buildings Bill and
the Statute Law Revision Bill were passed through Com-
mittee, and the Private Lunatics Asylums (Ireland) Bill was
read • third time and passed.
Some other business was disposed of and the House ad-
journed.

REGISTRATIoN OY BIRTHS AND DEATHS BILL.
In the liousa OF LoRDS, August 3, Lord WaisinghaM
moved the second reading of the Registration of Births
and Deaths 'Hill, explaining that its object was to snake the
registration compulsory.
The bill was read a second time.
ENDOWED SCHOOLS ACTS AMENDMENT BILL.

Ike Duke of Richmond, in moving the second reading of
the Endowed Schools Acts Amendment Bill, expressed
hope that nothing which might fall from him would create
anything like the warmth and excitement which had been
exhibited on this subject in the House of Commons, or '
would be cohindered personally offensive to Lord Lyttelton,
whose conscientious discharge of his duty he readily ac-
knowledged. It had become incumbent on the Govern-
ment to consider in what way the Endowed Schools 7
Commission should be dealt with, as its powers would cease ,
at the expiration of the present year. The manner in which !
that COMMISBiOII had proceeded had alarmed the trustees of
schools throughout the country. In the face of the distrust
created by the manner in which the Endowed Schools Com-
missioners had carried out the Act of leen, it was impossible
for the Government to renew their powers, and it was thought '
that the Charity Commissioners might very properly be in- '
truated with the duties of the Endoweilfichools Commissioners.
The present bill was not exactly the measure introduced .
n the House of Commons, which was of a much larger I
character, but It could not be proceeded with on ac-
count of the difficulty of dealing with certain clauses in-
volved in obscurity, and as the Government achieved a vie.
tory in obtaining the trend, r to the Charity Commissioners
of the powers of the Endowed Schools Commissioners, they
thought it advisable not to proceed further with the other
clause, In conclusion, the Duke of Richmond, after repu-
diating with indignation some attacks which had been made
against him on the ground that he had shown a want of
courtesy to the Endowed Schools Commissioners, concluded
by moving the second reading of the bill.
Lord Lyttelton remarked that the bill was simply a mea-
sure to transfer the functions of the Endowed Schools Com-
mission to another body, and if such should be the pleasure
of Parliament he had not a word to say against the change.
The law itself was unaltered, and iu administering the Act
the Endowed Schools Commissioner, had the single object in
view of making the endowments go as far as possible for the
advancement of education, the Act directing them to carry
out the main designs et the Maniere by putting a liberal
education within the reach of all classes. The Chancery view
concerning the " will of the foamier "could not be admitted
by the Duke of Richmond and his colleagues, if they were
satisfied that the object of the Act woo the efficient promo-
tion of education, and Lord Lyttelton remarked that, at
any rate, he would not consent to administer the Act in so
narrow a sense. With regard to religion, the Endowed
Schools Commissioners hail recognised that a liberal educa-
tion could he given only on a religious basis and as to the
Governing Bodies, he objected to paying them excessive
deference, for they were naturally enemies to the adoption of
reforms in the schools. Ile was certain that the Government
would not be able to alter very much the lines on which the
Endowed Schools Commissioners had worked, and he believed
that the feeling of dissatisfaction with which the Govermuent
and some of the Governing Bodies might have regarded
several of the acts of the Connuissioners would on souls
future day be changed into respect.
Lord Granville remarked that the worst possible reason .
for depriving eminent men of their offices was that they
had incurred unpopularity in the discharge of their duties,
when it was certain that the task of reforming institutions
must expose them to sonic degree of unpopularity. Ile
regarded the bill as a most unfortunate measure, and he •
considered that Lord Saudon, who introduced it in the
House of Commons, and who described the bill as one
of a warlike character against the Nonconformists had been
placed in a most unfortunate position. It had been stated
by the Prime Minister that he placed the bill in Lord
Sandan's hands for the purpose of encouraging a young man,
but to confide to his care an unintelligible bill certainly
seemed a strange mode of encouragement, and It was hardly
to he supposed that the bill could have been drawn up by
the professional draughtsmen of the Government.
Lord Devon said, being connected with some Endowed
Schools, he had had an opportunity of witnessing the pro-
ceedings of the Commissioners, and, without agreeing in all
they had said, he saw little to differ from in what they had
done.
The Lord Chancellor bore testimony to the admirable
manner in which the Government draughtsmen perform
their duty, and said he did not believe the Prime Minister
had in any way attempted to shelter the Government at their
expense.
After a few words from Lord Colchester and Lord Stanley
of Alderley, who expressed a hope that some modification
would be introduced into the Endowed Schools Act, the bill
was read a second time.
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