The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-03-05 00:00:00

ELECTRIC LIGHTING BILL.

In the HOUSE OF Lonna, March 1, Lord Thu by
moved the second reading of a bill to amend the
Electric Lighting Act, 1882, by relaxing some of the
restrictions imposed on electric lighting companies by
that measure. In the course of the discussion the
Marquis of Salisbury expressed his opinion that the
precautions taken for the protection of the public were
unnecessarily stringent, and had had the effect of
stifling enterprise in electric lighting throughout the
country. The bill was read a second time.

OTHER BILLS.

At the instance of Lord Hobhouse the Copyhold
Enfranchisement Bill wag also read a second time and
referred to a Select Committee; and the Lunacy Acts
Amendment Bill having been passed through Com-
mittee' their lordships rose at five minutes to seven
o'clock.

ALLEGED CORII-171;rIONIN THE CITY.

In the House OF Costatons, Mr. G. Howell moved
the adjournment of the House for the purpose of call-
iug attention to the alleged action of the Corporation
of London in corruptly expending money in order to
influence the decision of the House in regard to the 1
bill, introduced by the late Government, for the craft- 1
tion of a municipality of London. The hon. member,
who stated that he had seen the documents upon which
his allegations were based, asserted that large sums of
money provided by a special committee appointed by
the Corporation had been expended through the agency
of a so-called Metropolitan Ratepayers' Protection
Society, in the prommion of a bogus movement, and i
for the manufacture of a fictitious public opinion, in
order to defeat the Municipality of London Bill.
Sir R. N. Fowler characterised the statements cited
by Mr. Howell as "anonymous tittle-tattle," and de-
clared that the City Corporation would not shrink from
a full inquiry if a committee were moved for.
Mr. Bradlaugh undertook to prove before a
committee armed with the power of examining wit.
nesses on oath, and requiring the production of
documents, that money had been corruptly expended
in the direction alleged, and to connect Sir R. Fowler
personally with the issue of City funds under conditions
compelling a knowledge on his part that they were to
be corruptly used for the purpose of influencing the
decisions of the House.
Mr, Labsuchere assumed the responsibility for the
statements on which the charges against the Corpora-
tion were based, and said he had in his possession the
bank book and the account of payments made by ths
secretary of the Metropolitan Ratepayers' Associ ,tion,
of which Lord George Hamilton was a prominent
member. He had also letters from City officials to the
secretary, showing the connestion between the Corpora-
tion and the association, and he was informed that
money was placed at the disposal of the association
by the late City Solicitor.
After some remarks by Ur. J. Rowlands and Mr.
Cony be.are.
Lord G. Hamilton on the authority of Sir R. Fowler,
gave a denial to the charges which had been made, and
promised that if the House wished it the Government
would assent to a full inquiry, provided that it was
not confined to the operations of any one particular
association, but would extend to the whole of the
circumstances under which the agitation on the subject
of the reform of London Government was carried on.
It must not, however, be assumed that the Governtr ant
believed the allegations against the City Corporation
to he well founded.
Mr. Gladstone pointed out that the matter brought
before the House was the alleged use by the greatest
municipal corporation in the country of public funds
for an illegitimate and apparently corrupt purpose.
The discussion could not ba allowed to close without a
distinct understanding that the Government would
assent to the appointment of a eommitten to examine
into the specific charges made against the City Cor-
poration.
Mr. W. H. Smith undertook to consider any terms of
reference to a committee which might be proposed, and
intimated the readiness of the Government to assist in
obtaining a full and complete inquiry.
Mr L. Cohen warmly repudiated the imputation that
bad been made upon Sir R. Fowler, and after some
discussion Mr. 'Howell suggested that a Seise, Com-
mittee should be appointed to inquire into and report
upon certain charges brought by two members of the
Houre—viz., Mr. Howell and Mr. Bradlaugh—alleging
improper use and malversation of public funds of the
corporation of London by or with the consent of mem-
bers and officials of the Corporation; the committee to
have power to examine witnesses on oath and to compel
the attendance of persons and the production of books
and papers.
Mr. W. H. Smith having undertaken to consider the
terms of the proposed motion, and to state on Thurs-
day what course the Government would take with re-
gard to it, the motion for adjournment was withdrawn.