The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-05-08 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

The HousE or CommNs met on May 3rd after the
Easter recess, but the attendance was very Beauty on
both sides. In accordance with the usual practice the
evening was spent mainly in
COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY.
The votes taken were the Civil Service Estimates
Classes I. and 11. There was the usual animated
opposition to the vote for Dover Harbour; and
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who pointed out
that the present vote was only for preliminary
inquiries as to site, &c., agreed, at the sug-
gestion of Mr. Bradlaugh, to amend his resolution
so that this limitation might be made clearer.
Lord Randolph Churchill, however, raised the
point of order whether it was competent foe such
an alteration to be made at the Instance of a
private member, and urged that to sanction this prac-
tice would be to relieve the Government of the re-
sponsibility for the Estimates. In the end the vote was
withdrown to be introduced in an amended form.
On the vote of £559,730 for the Metropolitan Police,
Mr. Childers, replying to Sir W. Barttelot, stated that
the inquiry which be had promised to institute in
relation to the organisation of the force would begin in
the course of a few days, and would be conducted by
himself in coniunetion with the new Chief Commis-
sioner and Sir H. James. Sir R. Cross also made some
remarks, in the course of which he deprecated any
hurry in the matter, and the vote was agreed to.
THE INCOME-TAX.
On the motion for the second reading of the Customs
and Inland Revenue Bill, Mr. Bartley called attention
to the inequalities in the assessment of the income-tax,
and advocated the abolition of the present mode of
paying collectors by way of poundage, an alteration in
the manner of appointing commissioners and collectors,
a thorough revision of the present system of appeal, and
that the amount of income paid on should not exceed the
income earned.—Mr. Gregory supported these sugges-
tions, and hoped that an opportunity would be afforde I
for an adequate consideration of the amendments
which he desired to propose.—The Chancellor of the
Exchequer agreed to this, and gave an assurance that
the Government would do all in their power to prevent
any unjust levy of income-tax •' but as to the payment
of poundage, he reminded the llpuse that Mr. Childers
had proposed to abolish it, hut had been compelled to
abandon the idea.—Mr. Tomlinson, Mr. F. Powell, Mr.
Round, and Mr. Warmington having spoken, the bill
was read a second time, as also the National Debt
Bill.

MEDICAL BILL.
Sir L Playfair next moved the second reading of the
Medical Acts Amendment Bill, the principal object of
which, he explained, was to insure the efficient educa-
tion of medical practitioners by consolidating the
various examining bodies and requiring that every
practitioner should pass an examination in medicine,
surgery, and midwifery, and to give medical men
generally the right of representation on the General
Medical Council.—Sir H. Holland, while not opposing
the bill, regretted that it did not more effectually con-
solidate the existing Medical Acts.—Dr. Foster, Dr.
Farquharson, and Sir H. Roscoe expressed a qualified
approval of the bill; Mr. Addison also spoke, and Mr.
Bryce having pointed out that the bill carried out the
recommendations of the Royal CommiQsion on the
Medical Acts which sat some years ago, it was read a
second time.

MISCELLANEOUS.

The Infants Bill was considered as amended; and
the Hyde-park Corner (New Streets) Bill was passed
through Committee, and read a third time. The Ulster
Canal and Tyrone Navigation Bill was read a second
time.