The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1880-02-24 00:00:00

imperial farliament.

In the House of Lords, on Thursday afternoon, Earl
iranville inquired if the lmvernment had received any
further information with regard to the attempted
assassination of the Emperor Alexander, which, he said,
had sent a thrill of horror throughout the civilised world.
Lord Beaconsfield replied in the negative, adding that the
crime was calculated to make no almost doubtful of our
boasted civilisation. lie rejoiced at the escape of the
Imperial family, among whom is a Princess of our own
H .ouse
_ . .

•
In the House of Commons, the Chancellor of the
Exchequer gave notice that he would on Monday move
for a Select Committee t, inquire into the system on
which loans are advanced to municipal bodies out of the
Consolidated Fund. . . . .

Mr. Pease put a question touching the elevation of
Kiansil Pasha, the dismissed Governor of Aleppo, to the
post of Minister uf the Interior. Mr. Bourke replied that
remonstrance was useless.

In rei.ly to Mr. Hil-doe-rt, Mr. Cross said that while
sensational reports of private executions were to be
deprecated, he quite agreed that other persons besides the
prison officials ought to be present at the execution of a
criminal. Ile proposed to ask the visiting justices to resume
in this respect the duty they formerly discharged.
In reply to • question, Sir H. Selwin•lbbetaon said that
GUM boxes of tea recently received from Shanghai had
been destroyed by the Custom, authorities as unfit for
human food. . . .

--
Lord Ilartington put a question relative to the Sit
Petersburg explosion, and the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, in reply, said that the plot seemed to have
been of the most deliberate character, and the explosion
was produces' by machinery set ii motion by clock-
work.

In the House of Lords on Friday night, the Duke of
Argyll asserted that the pretexts put forward by the
Government for assailing Shore All were invalid, and that
the real cause of quarrel was their demand to have a
British Resident at Cabot, which they knew to be con.
trary to the distinct pledges of their predecessors. The
duke concluded by challenging the Government to produce
the Russian papers said to have been discovered, of the
actual existence of which he was sceptical, regarding the
story as a clever device in view of the general election.
Lord Cranborne, in reply, said the papers would not be
produced, and contended that the policy of the Govern-
ment was founded on justice and the advantage of the
Empire. Lord Northbrook disapproved of encouraging
Persia to occupy Herat, and asserted that the Ministerial
policy tended to destroy the peace of Central :tsia. After
some further debate, Lord Ripon argued that the first
pretext for beginning this war—the desire for a strong
and friendly Afghanistm—had confessedly ended in
failure, and if the second—the scientific frontier—had
proved • success why were hostilities still going on The
Duke withdrew 'his motion.
In the House of Commons, Mr. Plimsoll's alleged
" breach of privilege" came on foraurther discussion,
when the member for Derby stated that as Sir C Russell
and Mr. Onslow had assured him that their object was not
to obstruct his Bill, he would now express his regret at
having used the language they complained of. The mem-
bers for Westminster and Guildford expressed themselves
satisfied, but the Chancellor of the Exchequer thought
that the matter ought not to end in that way. He
accordingly moved • resolution declaring Mr. Plimsoll's
conduct to be a breach of privilege, but adding that the
House would not take further action after the apology
offered. Sir W. Harcourt objected to this course, point-
ing out the different policy pursued by Mr. Disraeli on •
similar occasion. He added that Sir Charles Russell had
thought fit to go down to Oxford to denounce him (Sir W.
Harcourt) before his constituent', but he had not come
whining to that House for protection. The proposal of
Sir S. Northcote was inconsistent with free discussion,
and he should move the previous question. The Attorney-
General, having supported his chief, Mr. Briiht remarked
that technical breaches of privilege were of constant
occurrence, and if they were taken notice of the House
would have time for nothing else. Mr. Waddy wine-
quently referred to the gross attacks made upon him by
Conservative members during the late election for
Sheffield. After some further discussion, the House
divided, when the Chancellor of the Exchequer's resolu-
tion was carried by a majority of MS against 116.