The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-03-28 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

In the House of Lords, on March 20, the Duke of Richmond
explained at length the provisions of his Itsilway Regulation
Bill, showing the protection it ',add give, nut alone to share-
holders, but to passengers and the general public who sent
merchandise by rail. In the discussion which followed Lord
Itedesdale and Lord Grey took part, both urging the great
necessity that existed for an increased supervision by law of
what was termed railway finance. Lord Grey thought it was
necessary to protect the public against the railways and the
railways against the public, and this result wee mainly due
to the want of prudence and want of foresight of Tarlia-
mentary legislation. In his opinion no real railway rut rni
would lie complete till a strongly constituted tribunal wan
formed to which all such questions could be referred.
The Marquis of Clanricarde expressed a strong opinion that
the Duke of Richmond's bill would entirely fail to reach or
check the very worst soda of the present railway system
that which one .11,1" financing.'
Lord Stanley of ilderley saM he would not oppose the
second cowling of the bill, but he hoped that when in com-
mittee they would obtain fuller details of some Of the clauses
than iss.d yet been laid before them.
Lord Westbury, while suggesting some technical altera-
tions in the bill, said he would cordially sur pert the lieuund
reading
Alter some further observations from Lord Redesdale and
Lord Stanley of Alsterley, the bill was react a second time,
and their Lordships adjourned.
In the House of Commons, Mr. Gladstone (amid cheering
from the Opposition:. gave notice of his intention to submit
a mot,on ou the Irish Chnreb, awl be promise I to state the
precise terms—es hich from the importance of the subject
would require careful consideration—on M.milay. Either ou
that or the next day he would ask the Government what
assistance they could give him in fixing a day for the mottm.
If they could nit fie,p him, he must make the best of his
opportunities as a private member.
The motions on fp ing into Supply were numerous and
varied. and recopied the House until close upon midnight.
In the first place
. .

-16-1 iv. E. called attention to the inconveniences
of the law regulating the allegiance of emigrants, laying
pertridar stress on the complications which this conflict 44
allegiance might prmluce in our relations with the United
State., where there are more than 2,000,000
subjects. Ile pointed out that we derived tio advasite4;e
from thst doctrine of perpetual allegiance, on which we and
the United States alone insisted, and recommended that we
should come to some arrangement with foreign countries—
Particularly with the I tided states—for giving to eiWgrants
on certain conditions. the right of expatriation, and also of
what he called " repatriation"— that is, of resuming their
original allegiance. For this purpose he recommended that
we -anti the United States should appoint a joint Commission,
and he asked I.,rd Stanley whether he did not think the
time hail come for endeavouring to arrive at some mutual
understanding on this matter
Sir R. P. Collier supported Mr. Forster's view of the inex-
pediency if our doctrine of inalienable allegiance, and
argued that when a man had resided a certimn time in a
foreign country,and lieu 1 given unmistakable signs of his in-
tention to settle there he should no longer be considered a
British subject, though if he returned and lived here he
might resume his privileges of citizenship ou certain con-
ditions. .

Lord Stanley expressed his general concurrence in the
tendency of Mr. renter's views, and was of opinion that the
doctrine of indefeasible allegiance, hell alike by ourselves
and the United states. was Indefemilile in theory and map.
Ocala° in practice. Ile jointed out that the right of ex-
patriation had been much overvalued on the other side of
the Atlantic., and be stated that our Minister at Washington
had been instructed to express our entire willingness to take
the subject iiro consideration, and to meet the United States
half•way.
Sir It. Palmer corrected some inaccurate views he'd of the
statutes on this point, 811,1 laid it down that their effect on
the children mid grandchildren of Eritish subjects residing
abroad was merely for beneficial purposes, mid that they im-
posed no burdens, obligations. or responsibilities on them in-
consistent with the general principles of international law,
tie pointed out that all persons, whether natural, liaturalizeil
subjects, or aliens, were amenable to the laws of the country
in which they happened to reside, and that the Goveroineut •
mightithiregard altogether their foreigo allegiance, lie diced
that there was so much difference between our law and that
of foreign countries as was represented
The Attorney-Ceneral also made some observations on the
Same subject after which
Mr. Gorst, supported by Mr. Watkin, drew intention to a
petition recently addressed to tier Majesty from the colony
of Ceylon, complaining of grievances, particularly of having
to defray the whole military expenditure of the colony anti
of the over-official composition of the Legislative C anted,
and he asked what the Colonial-office meant to do about this
petition.
She Adderley replied, denying the reality of the grievances
complained of, anti asserting that the request of the pen-.
Mullets 'WWI inconsistent with the position of an Asiatic
colony. Ile defended the composition of the Council, and
explained that the contribution of the colony to its military
expenses was in accordance with the recommendations of the
Committee of 1061
The next subject dismissed was the redundaney of our
dockyard accommodation, on a motion by Mr. Graven,
affirming the expediency of diminishing the number ot dock.
yards. Ile pointed particularly to Deptford, Woolwich,
Sheerness, and Pembroke as being unnecessary, and support-
ing his contention by numerous statistics. Ile argued that
they cost far moronism the value of the work they turned
OUR. AR to the mode of disposing of thiim, estimating their
value at £3,000,000, he would sell them ii a good price could
be got, and if not, be would close theni, anal thus save the
expenses of their staff, thoneh Deptford, he allowed, might
be turned to uSeas I victualling yard. -
Mr. Corry agreed that it would be advisable to abolish the
river yards when thelltxtensions at Chatham were mim-
pleted, but pointed out some errors into which Mr. Graves
had fallen about the cost of the dockyards, and defended
generally their efficiency and utility.
The motion was ultimately withdrawn.
The House went • into committee of Supply, anal a vote
of £EOOO,OOO on account of the Army Estimates was agreed

to.
The Public Schools Bill was referred to a Select Committee.
Some other orders were forwarded a stage, and the house
adjourned. •
In the House of Lords, in March 23, the Lord Chancellor
moved the second reading of the Bankruptcy Acts BM, and
the Judgment Debtora' Bill, which he timeribed as embody-
ing the recommendations comeliest in the report of the
select committee of the House of commons on the subject of
bankroptey, and the provisions of which he explained at
considerable length.
After some ob,ervations and suggestions by Lord WestietrY,
Lord Chelmsford, and Lod Romilly, the hills were severally
read a second time.
The Non-Traders Bankruptcy Ireland) Bill was also read a
second time, and their lordships adjourned.
In the House of Commons, Mr. Gladstone. who was I
greeted with loot cheers, rail the motion of which he pro-
posed to give notice on the Irish Church would be in the
form of three resolutions to ha moved in committee. The
first of these resolutions will be—. That in the op'nlon of
this Home it is necessary that the Established Church in
Ireland should cease to exist as an establishment, due regard
being had to all personal interests mid all tudivithed rights
of property." Secondly,—" That, sueject to the f nem-tine
resolution, it is expedient to prevent the creation of new
personal Interests by the exercise of any public patronace, and
to confine the operations of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners
In Ireland to objects of immediate necessity, or involving
individual rights, pending the final decision of parliament."
Thirdly,—" That a humble address be presented to her
Majesty, humbly praying that, wi'h a view to the purpose
above stated, her Majesty will be graciously pleased to place
at the disposal of Parliament her interest in the temporalities
of the archbishoprics and bishoprics and other ecclesiastical
benefices in Ireland, and the custody thereof." I had given
notice of my intention to ask the Government whether they
could Rive me any assistance in bringing on this motion,
anti perhaps the richt hon. gentleman will now be pleased to
say what he cats do in the matter.
Mr. Disraeli who was received with load cheers' mist: In
the ease of motions of this sort, coming front an opponent,
one's natural feeling is to meet them as s.eri as the state of
public business will permit. The House is ew are that the
present state of public business is not very satisfactory; and
it is a matter of primary importance that the Secretary of
State for War should get his vote of men to-night, in order
that the Mutiny Bill may be brought in. I hope that fey
right hon. friend will be allowed to do this, and I shall
then be able to make every reasonable arraneement
with the right hon. gentleman opposite. The day I
should propose for his motion is Monday next. But
I must observe that the seeond reading of the Irish
Reform Bill is heed for that day, and it is of great im-
portance that it should take place, with the view of ensur-
ing, as I think, from the other arrangements we have made
we shall messed In doing, the diesolution of parliament at
the beginning of next year. toy great delay in the Irish
Reform Bill would throw a great obstacle in the snip ; lett
having carefully considered the point, we have come to the
conclusion that, even though we may not be able to read the
bill a second time next Monday, we should still be
able to attain the result we aim at, in referees* to
the dissolution next year, provided that the house will
allow 113 to appoint the boundary commission for Ireland
without delay, shirk night proceed foils labours at once.
By this means we should make such pr. ereo that the diem-
baton would not be in any way delayed. We shall submit
to the house the names of the boundary commissioners ue
propose to appoint, and we see nure they will meet with
universal approval. I will turtle r say, that if the debate on
the motions of the right hon. gentleman end• on the follow-
ing Friday, we shall propose that the House do then adjourn
for the Easter recess.
Mr. Gladstone intimated that the Arrangements and pro-
posals of the right hon. gentleman with reference to the
Irish boundary commission seemed to him quite satisfactory.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer gave notice that on
Thursday he should ask leave to introduce a bill to enable
the Postmaster General to acquire the electric telegraphs
throughout the United Kingdom.
Some other business was disposed of, and the Heine
adjourned.
la the Ifouneof fords on March 24, the Duke of Marlborough,
In calling attention to the state of elementary . ducation in
England, made a full statement of the subject. They were not
called on to supplant a system, but to survey what bed been
done already, and to friend a national system on what had
been hitherto accomplished having regard to those great de-
nominational principles which characterised the volunteer,
efforts of these Interested in the subject. After tynotlig
statistics to show the proportion of children to ponnlations
that attended echo-oohs, and pointing ont that English defi-
ciencies in the matter of admen!nn were not so eiternmes aa
it had been sought to make mil, he wont on to refer at length
to extracts .on the subject from returns, not only from
Church of England, het front tindenominational and Non-
conformitit sources. He was not in lamer of a systetn of
public rating for the maintenance of sehools—firet. because
it would naturally relax the voluntary efforts that were
being made, and next, because miller a system of rating a
purely secular education would become almost necessary,
for which he thrmeht the country was not prepense'. any more
than it was for a scheme of compulsory rating. After refer-
ring to similar topics, and showing the immense extent and
Importance of the subject, the Doke of Si arlhorough went on
to say that it was the intention of the Gov't rnment to
propose that the Parliament should empower Her Ma-
jesty to appoint a Secretary of State to have the whole
range of educational matters under his consideration
and control. I ither statues would be incorporated
in the Act of Parliament which would enable ninny
Nonconformist schools to avail themselves of the Govern-
ment aid. They proposed also to embody in the bill the
management clauses which relate to inspection of schools of
all denominations as they were now used by the various
religious bodies. The number of schools brought under
inspection by that alteration would be very great. An im-
provement would also be iffected sllk regard to schools in
the poorer distriCts. They did not propose to abandon the
system of certificates, but to modify it in such a way as they
thought would greatly improve it, and they also Intended to
make tome addition to the Midair g grant. After referring
to the Conscience Clause, which they proposed to introduce,
and which would lay down the great principle of liberty ot
teaching, the nolde 'hike said they did not pretend that this
was a complete measure, but site Government heliev“l that
they would by it lay a firm foundation for a great national
systedi of education.
I.ord Granville thought it would be more convenient to
discuss the details of Use bill on its second mailing, bat et
the same time he thanked the Duke of Marllsimugh for
having introduced ills, that House. He certainly was not
disposed to treat the hilt in a r arty spirit, nut miless great
alterations were made in it he thought the country would
believe that the Government had PO trealeel_ it Ile con.
gratulated the Duke on the easy life hh • off? lead when
this department w as taken from him, lest did net think the
Mouse of Commons would be 'twinned to create a sixth
.secretary of State, with adtlithe al (Mimes and additional
salaries, whose only (Indies at promote would be to turn
Minutes into Acts.
lord Resaell, while expressing a eeneral approval of the
Bill, regretted Sleet sash important towns an Leeds, Map.
cheater, tILC., Mt not the prover to rate themselves.
After a few eserils from lord Cork and- Lerd .
meetly in favour of sense claims in the 1.111, and a wane
expression of approval trom the Mahe', of London of the
way the Duke of Marlborough had dealt with the Conscience
Clause, the Bill was read a first time.
in the motion of Lord Devon, the Poor Relief Bill WM
reads second time, and their ',MPhil. mlionmed.
In the House of Come, tie, Mr. Bonverie 'on behalf of Mr.
Coleridge) Festooned the committee. on the oxford and
Cambridge Univereity Tests Bill until Wednesday, the 13th
of May.
Mr. Marsh directed attention to the subject of such
licences as operate to restrict the trade and commerce of
the country, with a view to their abolition, and in ease of

financial necessity a transfer of the charges to make or sell
any article to a direct tax on the article itself, and moved
that it was desirable that all licences injuriously affecting
industry and coninierce should be abolished.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer admitted that the subject
was one which it was very difiL.ult to deal with, and if the
rnotion were pressed to a division he should meet it with a
negative. He reminded the House that the commodities for
the manufacture and sale of which licences were necessary
were exeiseable articles ; but be promised to give his best
consideration to the iniggestions of Mr. March.
After a short debate, the motion was withdrawn.
Mr. Samuelson moved for a Select Committee to Inquire
Into the provisions for giving instruction in theoretical and
applied science to the industrial classes. In an interesting
speech he canvassed the working of the schools under the
science and Art Department, showing that the results were
unsatisfactory, and that a great improvement in scientific
education was necessary for the development of our manu-
facturing prosperity ; and he held out a strong hope that it
would, at the same time, promote the literary and general
education of the working classes.
The motion woe seconded by Mr. Dixon and supported by
Mr Babies, who held that a strong case Zr inquiry had been
made out, but preferred that it should be by a Royal
Commission.

Mr. liazley was inclined to trust for our manufacturing
progress to the inventive genius, enterprise anti self-education
of our manufacturers, rather than to technical education,
and exhorted them to put their own shoulders to the wheel,
instead of appealing to the State for help. The duty of the
State, he insisted, was to give a good primary education,
and with that we need not despair that the English work-
man ~mhl keep pace with the world. Ile denied that wo
were retrograding in any branch of manufactures, and he de-
precated the interference of the State is the education of the
workshop.
. . .

Mr. E Ci,tter took entirely the same view as Mr. Baxley,
and denied that it was the duty of the Government to supply
a kind of education which the manufacturers themselves had
done so little to promote ; and Mr. Begunll argued that
technical education was more needed for the clais of
managers and overlookers than for the working men.
Lord It. Montagu held it to be proved beyond doubt that
in many branches our manufacturers were being closely
pressed by foreign competition, though this did not arise ea
much from the deterioration of out processes as from the
improvement and increase of Continental manufactures, aid
the completion of the foreign system of railways. Ile men-
tioned numerons cases within his own knowledge in w Inch
foreign manufacturera had soccessfully completed with us
even in our own markets, and the cause he held to he that
though we had iron, coal, cheap transit, intelligent, Milne-
trios,, and tasteful workmen, we wanted technical ed tication.
After an elaborate discussion of the meaning and objects of
technical educstion, he laid it down that the duty
of the State liii not go beyond giving the workman such
knowledge of the natural laws applicable to his veiling as
would enable bin, to exercise it with the greatest effect.
The State had to do with the brain, the workshop must
perfect the hands lie traced the improvements effected in
many branchee of our manufactories by the educational
movement which wan the result of the Exhibiton of 1851,
and he argued that the chief things to tie avoided were the
establishment of special schools and of State manufactures
for the encouraimnient of trade. The recent Minute of
Council for the creation of industrial schools, he explained,
! hail been very successful, and he concluded by acceding to
I the motion for a Committee.

Mr. it. A. Bruce dwelt on the Importance of elementary
education, and Mr. lienley defended the working classes
from the imputations of ignorance recently made against
them, the motive of which, be hinted, was not altogether
disintereded, inasmuch as he had noticed in the Reports
that these highly-educated foreign workmen invariably
worked longer hours and for less money. Ile ridiculed the
suggestion that a trade could he taught in school the
workshop was the only training school
The Committee was agreed to after some observations
from Mr. Paget and Mr. Aeland.
Mr. Alderman Lawrence moved a resolution for the
revisions arid equalisation of the Post Domes arid Carriage
Licences Duties, l.y niearis of • scheme which he explained
in detail, and the I,road feature of which was to substitute
for the present duties a tax of a'.l on every horse and 1;2 MI
every vehicle.
Mr. A yrton armed in favourof total remission.
Toe Chancellor of the Exchequer pointed out the impossi-
bility of sacrificing so large an item of the revenue, and,
after some remarks from Mr. Alderman Lusk, Mr. Alderman
Lawrence withdrew his motion.
Mr. Hardy brought in the Bmindaries Bill, which he ex-
plained was exactly in the shape of the Report of the Pratte,
mentary Commission.
A bill was brought in by Mr. Monk to relieve Customs and
Exci,e officers from their present disability to vote at Parlia-
mentary elections.
, The committal of the London Coal and Wine Duties Con.
f•inuance Bill was opposed by Mr. Candlish, Mr. Pease, and
• Mr. Wat kin in the interest of the coal-producing districte ; by
Mr. Sammie /or the shipbuilders: and the bill was defended
by Lord J. Manners, Mr. (nisch., Colonel Hogg, and ethers.
I On a division the stage was carried by 147 to 33. A clause
prepared by Mr. Ayrton to exempt all factories within the
llc:ropolitan Police area was negatived by 146 to 36, and the
bill passed through committee.
Shortly after ono o'clock Mr. Gladstone's Church-rate
Abolition Bill crime on for a third reading, but Mr. Newde-
gate and Mr. Henley objected, on account of the lateness of
the hour. A motion to adjourn the debate was defeated by
131 to 78, and the bill was then read a third time and passed,
amid considerable cheering, after which the House ad.

jourued.
In the House of Commons on March 25, Mr. Stacpoole
moved the second reading of the Grand Jury Cess ,[reload)
Bill . .

on,
The Earl nf Mayo moved that it be read a second time on
that day six months. Ile thought It would be very inex-
pedient, to accede to the principle of this measure, when the
while question relating to grand juries had teen reterred to
a select committee and would be thoroughly investigated.
That portion of the law to which the bill of the hon. member
related was a portion of the general question, which would
necessarily fall to be inquired into by the committee, and it
wonld be unwise to legislate on one particular point before
the result ef the labours of the committee was made known.
Alter some discussion the House divided, when Chem
were—For the second reading, ST ; against it, TO. The bill
was therefore lost.
On the motion for going Into committee on the Industrial
Schools
.Ireland) hill, Mr. Dawson objected to the principle
of the measure. Should the bill be passed in its present
shape, it witidd inflict a most disastrous blow upon the
system of united education in Ireland, whose success he did
not despair of notwithstanding the recent blows that hail
been inflicted upon it Ile protested against the bill being
passed into law, 011 the grounds that it would increase taxa-
tion, weaken the self-reliatme of the lower classes by teach-
ing them to depend more upon the resources of others than
upon their own, and would increase and encourage religious
rancour.
Mr. Vance for similar reasons moved that the House should
resolve itself into committee upon the bill on that day six
months. The operation of the measure would be to give
powers to seise vagrant or vagabond children and place them
in schools where the system of education would be of a
sectarian character, a re,iilt much to be deprecated.
Mr. Rearden trusted they would at once go into committee,
' when such amendments as were considered necessary might
be made.
After some further discussion the House divided, when
there appeared—For going into committee, 82; against, 40 :
majority for committee, 36.
'lire House accordingly resolved itself into committee.
A discussion then took place upon an amendment pro-
posed by the Earl of Mayo, to omit from the operation of
the bill all classes of children that would come within
the provisions of the Reformatory Act.
The O'Connor Don expressed a hope that the noble lord
would not press his amendment, an appeal in which he 'ma
supported by Mr. Candlish, Major O'Reilly, Mr. C. Fortescue,
and others.
1 The Earl of Mayo complied with the request, withdrew
his amendment, and clauses up to 4I having been agreed to,
the... Chairman . was ordered to report progress.
. . . .... ,

The house then resumed.
The Mutiny Bill was read a second time, and the House
adjourned.