The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-03-27 00:00:00

SUPPLY.

On going into Supply, Mr. Gregory drew attention
to the position of trustees, executors, and others liable
to the payment of duties to the Crown, and, seconded
by Mr. Dodda, moved a resolution declaring that a
limitation in point of time should be applicable to
liabilities for duties to the Crown.—Mr. H. Fowler re-
sisted the motion, contending that a Statute of Limi-
tations in this matter would be an incentive to fraud
and a Premium to carelessness on the part of executors,
would affect the whole arrangement of the death
duties, and injure the revenue without advantage to
the general public.—Sir R. Webster was of opinion
that all those evil consequences might be easily guarded
against, and that justice demanded that there should be
some limitation commencing when the legacies sfecame
pay able.—Lir. Gladstone, who agreed that the claim was
an equitable one, promised that if the subject were
brought forward in a substantive manner the Govern-
ment would give it a fair and candid consideration.—
Sir M. Hicks-Beach admitted the difficult:es involved
in the question, and thought that the proposed linsita•
tion in all cases might lead to fraud, althoueh he would
willingly agree to a modification of the existing law.—
Mr. Warmington suggested that the present law with
regard to legacy duties should be made applicable to
succession duty, which, he said, would meet the objec-
tions raised; and, after a few words from Mr. L. Cohen,
the motion was withdrawn.—Mr. Richard next moved
his resolution declaring that it was unjust and inex-
pedient to embark in war, contract engagements involv-
ing grave responsibilities for the nation, and add terri-
tories to the Empire without the knowledge and con-
sent of Parliament. Mr. Rylands seconded the
motion.—Mr. Gladstone, who remarked that he had
always regarded the subject with sympathy, agreed
that the powers of the Executive Government should
be exercised with due regard to the feeling of
Parliament and the country, but pointed out that the
three cases dealt with in the motion were entirely
distinct, and the considerations in the 'one did not
apply to the others. As to annexation, it was always
within the power of Parliament to reverse any Act. As
to treatises they had in the main been made during a
long series Of years, with the assent of the nation. With
regard to embarking in war without the consent of
Parliament, he pointed out that the resolution aimed
at warlike operations, and he instanced the Slidell and
Mason dispute and the Lorcha Arrow war with China,
as cases which showed the impossibility of the Execu-
tive Government waiting to obtain the consent of
Parliament before beginning warlike operations.—
Lord R. Churchill agreed in the main with
Mr. Gladstone's argument, but characterised the reso-
lution as thoroughly unpractical and purposeless. The
engagements with the Ameer of Afghanistan, with the
Khedive, and with the Powers relating to Greece were
engagements governing our foreign policy which might
at any time involve this country in war, and he chal-
lenged the Radical party, if they were sincere and in
earnest, to bring forward a substantial resolution re-
pudiating those engagements.—Mr. 0. Morgan, Mr.
Boyd Kinnear, Mr. Cossham, Sir J. Pease, Mr.
Illingworth, and Mr. Cruiser spoke in support of the
motion, aad Mr. Spicer opposed it.—Mr. Bryce main-
tained that the danger foreshadowed in the resolution
was not so real as was supposed, and that practically war
was never engaged in without the consent of Parliament.
He appealed to Mr. Richard to withdraw his motion,
which he declined to do. On a division being taken,
the motion that the Speaker leave the chair was nega-
tived by 112 to 108, and on Mr. Richard's motion being
put as the substantive question, it was negatived in its
turn by 115 to 109. The result was received with much
laughter and cheering.
• The Labourers (Ireland) Act Amendment Bill passed
through Committee, and the Matriages (Hours of
Solemnisation) Bill was read a second time. Some
other bills were sdvanced a stage, and
The House adjourned at 25 minutes past 12 o'clock.