The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-07-31 00:00:00

'IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

In the HOUSE OF LORDS, July 26, Lord Huntly gave notice
that next Session he will move for a Select Committee to
Inquire into the present state of the law as to claims or
titles of peerages of the 'United Kingdom and of Scotland and
Ireland respectively.
Lord Aberdare, in moving the Wild Birds' Protection Law
Amendment Bill, which had come up from the Commons, ex-
plained that it would both amend and consolidate the exist-
ing laws on the subject.
Lord Aberdeen suggested that the schedules to the Bill
required amendment in committee.
Lord Dartrey said that in Ireland the only classes who
•rkeyed the existing laws for the protection of wild birds
were gentlemen and their servants.
The Duke of Argyll observed that whoever drew up the
schedules to this Bill could know nothing of wild birds.
After a short conversation, in which a general approval
was expressed of the Bill, the Bill was read a second time.
Lord Spencer, in moving the second reading of the Relief
of 'Distress (Ireland) Act Amendment Bill, said he believed
that the Bill was one well calculated to fulfil the purpose of
alleviating very materially the existing distress in Ireland,
and any which might be felt between the present time and
the next Session of Parliament.
After a short discussion, in which Lord Limerick and Lord
Leitrim took part, the Bill was read a second time.
A large number of Bills were advanced a stage, and their
lordships adjourned at twenty-five minutes past six o'clock.
In the HOUSE OF COMMONS, Lord Hartington, in answer to
s question from Mr. Arnold, gave a long and interesting
account of the state of affairs ih Afghanistan. He began
by informing the House that when the present Government
came into office they found that it had been decided by
their predecessors that, while Candahar and the frontiers
settled by the Treaty of Gandamak should be retained,
the troops should be withdrawn from Cabul and Northern
Afghanistan.. Lord Lytton had also entered into coni-
anunication with Abdurrahman, as the person • most likely
to turn out a strong and capable ruler, and these cornnlinications were continued, with many delays from various
•causes, until they ended in the proclamation of Abdurrah-
loan as Ameer of Cabul, with the consent of the British
Government and the Sirdars. Further communications were
'still going on, which, it was anticipated, would lead to his
„_"rscognition by the party which had hitherto been opposed
luni. In these circumstances the troops would retire as
anon as possible to a position, first of all, where they
Slouldivatch the course of events and afford protec-
t• on to those chiefs and tribes who had been friendly
▪ ; and in• the autumn, though he could not speak
with complete certainty, it was hoped that they would retire
12124:nigh the passes to India. No formal engagement, he
.rud, had been entered into with the new Ameer ; he had
"„eso simply recognized and offered such temporary assist-
as might be necessary to enable him to establish his
sinlority. He had been informed that he could have no
4,tela,tioria with any other foreign Power but ourselves, but
,"`"ic, if he conformed himself to our advice, the British
Government would support him against any unprovoked
•Ngression. A Mahomedan Envoy would be sent to Cabul,
out the Arneer would not be required to receive a British
-Itesident.
11„,„,, _
Replying also to Sir G. Campbell, Mr. Cowen, Mr. Otway,
Onslow, Lord Hartington further stated that the
qUestion as regarded Candahar and the frontier remained
In'srisely in the same position as when he spoke on the
subject a short time ago. As soon as the Government could
erto a judgment as to the policy of the occupation of
andahar the House should be informed. The assistance
ceered to Abdurrahman would be mainly of a pecuniary
character, and it was not contemplated that British troops
_ah°ald be employed in maintaining his authority, but some
suns, taken from Shere Ali were to be given up to the new
'uneer.
Lord Eustace Cecil asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer
Whether it was a fact that, although the Customs and Inland
,crenue Bill now before the House had not yet become„the
,of the land, a forced deduction at the rate of 51d. and
64 the
7,;- in the pound income-tax had been made upon the salaries
Piblie servants and upon the half-yearly coupons of
foreign and other bonds payable in London; and, if so,
Whether such deduction was legal; and, in the event of its
belo. g proaounced illegal, what compensation the Govern-
Inent were prepared to make to aggrieved income-taxpayers.
WEL Gladstone said it was true that the deductions had
melt made in the manner mentioned; but as far as private
to Say
other persons were concerned, it was not correct
'"° say that it was a "forced deduction." As a mat ter
tte_ convenience, the Inland Revenue Department had
.11 for a long time in the habit of acting
trinildonally upon the resolutions of the House of
inons with respect to the income-tax. They had
'one so, possibly, without any legal authority, on the
glround that it was found to be very greatly for the conveni-
eice of all parties. The practice, having now existed for a
ZrY long time, was scarcely ever questioned; but it did not
• volve an absolute forcible deduction, because when the
Ziti„e,lNvould not acquiesce, they were careful to make no
"'won not authorised by Act of Parliament.
Lord Eustace Cecil inquired whether, if a private person
were to apply for a return, it would be granted.
Mr.the Gladstone repliki that the return might be granted if
Person applied to him, but such an application would
give a great deal of trouble to all parties.
Sir Stafford Northcote pointed out ,that when a deduction
yrklS Made upon a resolution of the House of Commons
Which :iltimately was not passed into law a repayment
would be in,2le.
Lord R. Churchi:: moved for a new writ for Chester. Mr.
Wadstone announced. that Mr. Dodson had accepted the
Chiltern Hundreds. Mr. Gorst asked if there was any pre-
pedent for such a step. The Attorney General said by what
Ile had done Mr. Dodson had removed the possibility of
doubt as to subsequent proceedings. The motion was
n'oliratived.
Mr. Forster then proceeded to move the third reading of
the Compensation for Disturbance (Ireland) Bill, to which
all amendment was proposed by Mr. Tottenham, and is Tong
debate ensued; eventually the third reading was carried by
803 against 237 votes.
Some other bills were forwarded a stage, and the House
adjourned at two o'clock.

In the Ilousa OF LORDS, July 27, Earl Granville moved
the first reading of the Compensation for Disturbance
Ireland) Bill, and the Earl of Dartrey gave notice of Earl
Urey's intention to move, on Monday, that the bill be read
a Second time that day three months.
trial ad',N"ten, in moving the second reading of the Indus-
ebiec-tc.;:,aellf Acts Amendment Bill, explained that its main
age
of „ as to
ourteen. afford greater protection to girls under the
f
The
Met he Rill was read a second time.
_ chant S
Merchant sub., ; ealuen (Payment of wages, &c.) Bill, and
aaeond time I,‘ng Act (1854) Amendment Bill were read a
Other Bills were adjourned advanced a stage; and their Lordships
At the
at a quarter before six.
m
sion a, °ruing Sitting of the CommoNs a lengthy discus-
_ Lose on the Bill to complete the Inner Circle Railway.
• Alderman Lan Lawrence moved the rejection of the Bill, and in
the result the 11.
long discussion Se threw it out by a majority of 17. A
then followed. on the Rathmines and Ratligar Water Bill
Sir H. Wolff and Lord R: Churchill having put questions
th.e.Prernier as to the acceptance and vacation of office by
,1.-!niters, and the acceptance of the office of the Chiltern
, Vf.nUreds, with special reference to the case of Mr. Dodson,
our Gladstone made a lengthy reply.
After a muni3er of other questions had been asked and
answered, the first Order of the Day was reached, and on
WS being moved Dr. Cameron called attention to the report
tf_tho Select Committee of 1876 on Postal Telegraphs. The
'lr,,,easurY had appointed a departmental committee to con-
V.'s'eer this question. That committee recommended that
!,,. deficit should be made good by increasing the charge
~, Sitch telegrams as were handed in between eight
"WIZ at night and eight o'clock in the morning, on
telegianp lignded in on Sunday, and on telegrams handed in
at railway stations. In consequence of those recommenda-
tions the House in IEI7O appointed a select committee, on
'much he had the honour to serve and which was presided
over by the right hon. gentleman the member for the nil•
versity of Edinburgh. As he had already observed the de-
partmental committee recommended that the loss
should be made good by increasing the charges. The
select committee came, however, unanimously to the
decision that precisely the opposite policy ought to be
ilioptca, A resolution was accepted by the committee to
the effect that the true method of making good the defi-
ciency which had arisen wan not by increasing charges and
aoproasing facilities, but by increasing the facilities and at
ttie proper time diminishing the charges. After what was
vdd by his right hon. friend the other day, he would confine
his remarlte .ou the present occasion to the subject of six-
Penny teleg,rfuna.
It being now ten minutes to seven o'clock the debate, in
accordance with the Standing' Crder, was adjourned.
At the Evening Sitting, Dr. Cameron resumed the thread
of his corament, and eonCluded by moving a resolution set-
ting forth that the time had arrived for adopting the policy
pr‘, increased facilities and diminished charges" advocated
Ry the Select Committee on Postal Telegraphs.
e
_ • tioli&ett maintained that the recommendations of the
t,r
R get pOMmitt,q on the postal telegraphs had received due
at ution from hfi department. In a period of four years,
When the receipts inereaso by 4. 140(.10, the Working expenses
had only increased by £27,00h. rills prPtite had increased by
a° per cent., the number of stations by 250, and thp length
tt telegraph wires by 10,000 miles. The increase in the
ieurr ent year was so great that in some weeks lately 16,
L. and 18 per cent, more messages had been sent than
ui the corresponding weeks of the previous year. If
. the rate of increase in revemie should continue through-
°lit the year the year's mereaso would amount to
. g 225,000. At the most cautious estimate the telegraph
Ve,Pilt,s would be increased from £354,000 to £450,00e.
' -",;( fPnr-and-a-half per cent. would be realised on the
rtire capital. expenditure of the telegraphs. After repeat-
:44 the Vieiy exped to a recent deputation that messages ,
-- With be raiti.cpa• 1,0 4 1-41,14aups charge pf sixpence,
a charge of an additfer.4l halfp<mmo- for each
rord above twelve, and after reiteratift: 111.1 aiguine4ts
nell3Pert of this suggestion, the right hon. gentleman
topl the question of the reduction rested with the Chan-
Exchequer and not with him. There was no
eflielAue nitluil en tap part of the Telegraph Department
ti I F„ .
ii. ;
_ttPioan i.n. accept the rbaliceel price for telegrams. He left
the handi Of the' House ami in thP hands of
rejoi 144'30110r of the Uxcliequer. Iqone would bc More
Ro „seed than hinmelf when the linancee of tile country were
•• '"uel improved that the Uhancellor of tile Exchequer
rrf be prepared to make a sacrifice of £167,006 revenue in
whiel;.t9 give the boon to the public of cheaper telegrams
(elle%ursyto be done and yet leave a profit of £283,000
The resplution 0 "f4F7 P4iPP'en was withdrawn.
, Colenel Barne then called attention to the amount and
f;flidence of the gifile at id 4 4qte, espCeially 14 tile rur3l flis-
Inets, and moved that a larger propor ion 0. the rate than
g pre2ent be defrayed out of the Iniporial Exchequer.
RPV#s. -Riddell seconded the motion, and Mr. Mundella
bf:sgiot 47
AMr. E.` vpricw, -4,-. H. T. Davenport, and Lord G.
Olilton haying spoken, the zhotiim was negatived by 114
Some otheY business 4aving been disposed of, the House
4ui OUrned at five minutes past two 0'09,.*: .