The Express.
London, England, 1863-06-11 00:00:00

!MPLRIAL PARLIAMENT.

-
HOUSE OF COMMONS.—WEDNIIISDAY, JUNZ
(Coceluded from yesterday's leper.)
THE SAVINGS BANKS ACTS AMENDMENT BILL.
The above bill, after some verbal ameodoeste, reed
through committee and the house resamed.
ELECTION PETITIONS BILL
Mr. iII:NT moved the second reading of this bill. Its
principle was that no petition should be withdrawn without
the circumstances under which such • course was taken
were disclosed to a stealing committee of the house. His
object was to prevent sham petitions being presented, and
afro to prevent any corrupt bargain being made in the MINI
Cis petition which might be sustained. In many cases peti
boos had been presented merely for the purpose of extract-
isg mouey from the pockets of the successful candidate.
Be proposed that if the standing committee should
led there was no good reason for the withdrawal
el a petition, or that it wan frivolous and vexa-
tions, or that any corrupt compromise had been made
relative to the withdrawal, in that event the recog-
aisaoce., to the extent of 1,01101., r required by the act of
1111 e, should be forfeited as • tine to the Exchequer.
Ho. COX cordially supported the second reading of the
bah He had suffered in his own person from the presenta-
tion of • sham petition against his return in 1657.
Mr. COLLINS would vote for the preamble of the bill,
although he could not support any of the clauses. (A
laugh.) He thought the proper course would be to compel
eke petitioner to pay the coats attending the presentation of
a petition.
Mr. BOUVERIE said there was a great variety of con.
trivances by which parties sought to evade the wholesome
moieties, enacted by the legislature to prevent these
abuses. (Hear, bear.) The house was greatly indebted to
the hog. member for Northamptonshire for devoting so
much attention to the subject, and having at last attempted
to devise a practical remedy for some of the more glariug
evils which it was admitted existed. The recent CYO of
Lisburn was an example of what was done to get up elec-
tion petitions for purposes of extortion. The very agent
who presented that petition got the parties who signed it to
oleo sign the withdrawal. He did not my that the provi-
sions of this bill were exactly those which ought to be
adopted, but he thought that some measure of this kind
might tend to check corrupt bargains for the withdrawal of
'petitions, and to prevent the house from being deprived
of its jurisdiction in the investigation of these cases.
There was, be thought, an omission in the bill in not
making provision for the proceeding with • petition which
it was decided should be prosecuted, but these and other
details might be considered in committee.
Mr. AV ETON did not doubt the glad motives with
which the bill had been introduced, but the question was
whether they would not do more harm than good by • law
which discouraged the presentation of election petitions.
If the bill made the duty of presenting • petition so burden-
some that few would be disposed to undertake it these
petitions would be set iously discouraged, and he thought it
would be better to piece petitioners precisely on the
name footing as prosecutors in other offences
were under the existing law of the land, which
required them to enter into recoprunances to pp:sleuth
If the bill were read a second time the clauses would de-
mand most careful consideration lest they led to greater
evils than they attempted to redress.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL joined in the approbation
which bad generally been expressed of the mein object of
the bill, which was to prevent the abuse of the right to
petition against the return of members. At the same time
they ought to be careful not to impair or lessen that free
right to petition, and his apprehension with regard to the
bill was, that under its provOions persona who felt
they had • bond fide ground for (petitioning might
not be disposed to present • petition. (Hear, hear.)
The bill would prevent the withdrawal of a petition with-
out an inquiry by • committee to ascertain whether it
ins frivolous or vexatious, or whether the propose] to with
draw it arose from any corrupt motive, and that com-
mittee would report to the house. The burden of the ex-
pense of those inquiries would, however, fall upon the
petitioner, unless the committee reported otherwise. He
thought that was rather hard in caries where he had acted
entirely bond fide, and be suggested that it was worth the
consideration of the bon. member who introduced the bill
whether the petitioner could not, under such CirCUZISt•DOM,
be relieved from so serious a punishment as the
payment of all the coats. (Hear, hear.) He, however,
agreed that there were defects in the existing law which
ought to be remedied, and he would support the bill, in the
hope that it might, in some degree at least, effect the
object they all desired.
Mx. Serjeant PIOOTT said that though his name was on
the back of the bill, and he approved of the measure, be did
not claim any portion of the credit of introducing it to the
house. They were all agreed that there ought to be some
legislation on the subject. From his own professional ex-
perience he knew that • number of petitions were presented
merely as • set-off against other petitions, or for the worse
object of extortion. This was • matter in which the whole
louse was interested, and they ought to try and de-
viae a remedy for so grave en evil. He did
not think that the expenses of the investigation
before the committee would be so great as some imp,
mood. as so counsel need be employed, and it would
probably not be necessary to examine many withering. He
agreed that the right of presenting petitions against the
return of members should be freely exercised, but this bill
would not subject • bona Me petitioner to any greater risk
than he now incurred, while it would protect members who
bad obtained their seats by honest means from being
harassed and annoyed by frivolous petitions. He there-
fore did not look upon the measure as a speculative or
fanciful piece of legislation, but se one likely to prove may
beneficial.
Sir W. MILES. in supporting the bill, and that all who
had read the proceedings of the Lisburn committee must be
satisfied of its necessity. If the petition in that instates
had not been referred to a committee upstairs, • most Deis-
rions case of corruption would have escaped the cognisance
of the house, and he bad no doubt that this bill would,
with some alterations in detail, prevent petitions of that
hied being withdrawn without due inveetigation.
The bill was then read a second time.
METROPOLIS TURNPIKE ROADS ACT AMEND-
MENT BILL.

The hones thee went committee upon this bill.
Upoo clause 7,
Mr. COX moved an amendment for the purples of con-
veying to parishes the " stood poste, water levers, and
elder conveniences" along roads, without any payment on
the part of those parishes.
Sir W. JOLLIFFE opposed the amendment.
Upoe a division the numbers were
For the amendment ll
Against it
The clause was then agreed to, as were the remaining
edauses,_

11r. ii. LEWIS moved en additional clause providing
that the roads shall be kept in repair by the commismoners
until lit July, 1864, and be delivered up to the several
perish°. in the like and u goad state of repair and condi-
tion u they are now in, the same to be metalled with the
same or like materials as now. _

Sir J. V. SHELLEY supported the clause, which he
thought a very fair one.
Sir W. JOLLIFFE said on the part of the promoters of
the bill he must strenuously resist am clans', which. if it
were inserted in the bill, would lead to litigation. It was
the intention of the commissioners to keep the roads in a
proper state of repair.
Lord ESYIELD and Mr. W. WILLIAM supported the
clause.

--/dr.4l. BRUCE said the dame would force a bed pens-
dent Every year they were extinguishing traits, but no
such clause as thin was inserted iu the bill He objected
to plaedog on the commissioners a prospective liability which
ought pot to rest upon them.
Air. H. LEWIS said he did not want to impomm say
Debility upon the commiasioners, but that they 'Muhl he
bound to apply the funds they collected in the repair of
the roads.
Mr. AICRTON suggested that the clause should be wfik-
dr..mie, and brought up again on the lepurt aruended so as
to limit the liability of the commissionen to the amount of
the tolls received by them.
The committee divided :
Foe the claims
Against it
On the motion of Lord Hamm the parishes of Twicken-
ham and Teddington were added to the fleet schedule.
The bill was then reported with the amendments to the
!name.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUPPLEMENTAL BILL.
This I,ill Was reed a third time and pew&
OFFICERS OF ROYAL NAVAL RESERVE BILL.
Thin bill weed through committee.
DOC [(YARDS PROTECTION ACT AMENDMENT BILL.
This bill mu read a third time and pared.
boos adjourned at 10 minutes to 6.

RAILWAY AND PUBLIC CONRAN-I= IN PARMA-
XllT.—Yesteaday, in the committee ori the proposed new •
line to Brighton the Duke of Richmond was examined on
behalf of the Brighton Company in opposition to the new .
line. He said be was a considerAls landowner it the county,
and knew it well. In his opinion it was at present perfectly
well supplied with railway accommodation by the Brighton
Company, and he thought that there was no necessity what-
ever for a new through line between Loudon and Brighton.
It would be a detriment rather than an advantage to the din- .
trios, because by withdrawing from the Brighton Company
a portion of its present revenue the company would not be '
able to accommodate the public no well as they did sow. U
additional railway accommodation were required to Rant
Sussex it would be better accomplished by manners. bass
than by new through lines from north to south. The
=ratline could only obtain traffic by subtractine it from
ing line. as there was comparatively no load teak,
Mr. Seymour Fitzgerald, M.P. ; Colonel Barttelot, and Mr.
A/demise Saloenoos were subsequently examined in corrobo-
ratios of the foregoing evidence. It is expected that the
ere fee opposition will close to-day, and that the committee
will decide the cue on Friday. The oase for the Kins-
ton and Eardisley Railway closed, bat the committee have
suspended their decision. The opposition of the Lancashire
and Yorkshire and Oreat Northern to the South York-
, shire line proceeded. The ease of the Glasgow and South
Western, Ayr and Ifs bole Railway, wee opened, and wit-
nesses were examioe& In the Crest Western and West
Midland Amalgamation comm Mee, Mr. Pievey, C.E, was
examined at considerable length in oppaitiso, on behalf of
the Ceireekry system of railways.