The Express.
London, England, 1853-06-16 00:00:00

RAILWAY.

Mr. M GIBSON pveuotieslitSt he should oppose this
bul on Use third roadisot.

PUBLIC BUSINESS.
ELECTIONS BILL.
The house went into committee on this bill.
Sir O. OBEY asked the hon. and learned member who
had drawn up the bill (Mr. 0. Butt) to state what was
the alteration of the law made be the first clause.
Mr. 0. BUTT said by the 2.11 th Geo. 111., chap. RI, it
was provided that the sueriff of the county shall within two
days aft. • the receipt of the writ, make a proclaims.
dun for holding a county court to proceed with the election
not later then the sixteenth nor sooner than the tenth day
after the proclamation. lie proposed to alter the law so as
to make it not later than ten days nor sooner than six.
Sir G. GREY said the first pert of the clause re-enacted
the oil law, and then went on to m eke a provision which
was inconsistent with it. Ile thought it would be better to
repeal the old law altogether.
Mr. G. BUTT said his reason for not repealing the old
clause was thct it contained other matter.
Mr. FIRRWEN thought that on some occasions holding
the election a the sixth day would be too soon. He bad
no ebjeetione to it when there was • general election
Mr E DENISON suggested that as • reform bill was to
be brought in next session it would be better not to proceed
with this bill.
Mr. AOLIONBY did not concur in the suggestion. He
had no great continues in a reform bill being brought in,
and still less in its being • satisfactory measure, and he did
not like to postpone these small measures.
Mr. MALINS thought there would be • reform bill, and
that it was not worth while to proceed with the bill. He
did not think there were any practical evils under the ex-
isting system.
Mr. G. BUTT said these clauses were first brought for-
ward by him in the shape of an instruction to the committee
on the bill of the noble lord the member for Middlesex.
They were approved, but it was suggested that they should
be introduced as a separate bill. When he moved for leave
to bring in the bill, and when he moved the second reading,
he stated the reasons for the measure, and he ought not to
be called on to state them now.
After some further conversation,
Captain SCOBELL said the necessity for passing this bill
was not removed by the promised reform bill, which would
doubtless create • great sensation. and would probably be
thrown out by the other house. This would or course lead
to • diesolutiun, and then the provisions of the bill before
the house would come into operation.
Mr. AGLIONBY deprecated ageless discussion on minor
points. It was hard on members who had been there since
12 o'clock to beer objections started two or three times
ever by geemben as they dropped in, and began to enter
Into the discussion.
• • Mr. G. BUTT, believing the bill to be • good and useful
one, could not consent to withdraw it. If only one general
electron occurred under it, it would be worth all the trouble
and expense.
Mr. V. SMITH thought it a waste of time to discuss the
present measure.
After • conversation, in which about a desert members
each suggestel • different course with the bill,
Mr. BUTT consented to postpone the clause.
Clause 2 was also postponed; and clause 3 was negatived,
after a conversatioa, in the cowls of which Mr. Hunt ex-
pressed his belief that nine'tenths of what were called
sheriffs' expenses were illegal.
On clause 4, which provides for additional polling-place,
Sir G. GREY said he had never beard of any incon-
venience nines from the existing law, and they should
clearly understand what they were doing before they
altered it.
Mr. G. BUTT said the clause did not alter the existing
law, but enabled sheriffs to provide additional places where
the public convenience required it.
Mr. B. DENISON was in favour of the magistrates
having an entire discretion as to the whole regulations con-
nected with taking polls.
The clause, witti erne verbal amendments, was agreed to,
as wen the remaining clauses.
In lies of clangs 3,
Mr. G. BUTT proposed the following clauses:
" That the nomination of a member or members to serve
in any future parliament for the Univenities of Oxford and
Cambridge respectively, shall take place on such day as
shall be Axed by the vice-chancellor thereof, being not
sooner than six nor later than twelve days after the writ
shall have bean received by such vice-chaamllar.
" That at every contested election of • member or mem-
bers to serve in any future parliament Ise the said nal-
vesatiee reeperively, the polling shall asminemso an In '
' day r shall be deed by the vicechasealleit tbersof, being
not sooner thus six air later than twelve days after the day
of nomination; and such poling shall continue for five
days only, sash fivedays to be seecerdve days in one week,
' and than opeu at are of the els* is the lemeson, and
• close st five of the clock in the arteriole of easlk day: pro-
vided always, that if Christmas Day or Good Friday shall
happen to fell Orin she week fixed foe ends polling, each
day shall not be reeimeed arum of the tip days foe each
polling ; but the pen chill be eggerned bag the day pre-
' maims to the Ise fellevdeg meet day, and shell then pro-
, mango if wads esy had net talisesseaml.
• That as way enels elation the viessikenesiker shall
have power to appoint any amber of pee vies-chancellors,
. any one of wham may receive Mr rise sod decide upon
all quieter during the abed'', of seek are-chancellor ;
and such vice chancellor shall by power to appoint any
number of poll clerks mad *that Arm by sae or more of
whom the votes shall be Wend is such number of poll
books as shall be judged seesescry by such vice•chanciUor :
provided elegy', that so mote shall be entered in more than
one poll book
Mr. WIOILAM eggeelod the Maim to the first
dame of the wank m Thine ekes days' nodes being given
• of sheds, steak eemleatioe."
The clause wee ed=rith this ameadmeet.
On the ?anomie,
lir 0. GRIT dinned that the bW would lave this
Abet : while shoelenleg the time of county elections, it
would render it possible that a mouth might slams be-
%woes the isms of a writ for a university, and the conclu-
sion of the election. They had had • recent instance of
the inconvenience incident to university elections—(bear,
hear)—and as they were gemesilag the law, he saw no rea-
son why this should be poled over.
Sir R. INGLIS suppeeled the clause as it stood, and
after a conversation,
Mr. LABOUCIIIIIII hoped the bill would 'contain a
provision making the pen en seek day matinsiona. He
went to Oxford, at dales* eartest, M reined his vote, and
ereiviag about the middle of the day, Neal the elesed,
the Via-Chancellor having, as be was taßemys pee to
!stashes's'. (Groat laughter.) Having • the
matter to his entire satisfaction, the worthy
nursed, sad resumed the poll, after an laeserupdes of
about • cots* of holm.
Mr. WIORAM said the Vice-Chancellor wee hewed to
keep open the poll to • certain hour, tour or lee e'deek;
and he thought he should have a discretion M palms this
hoer if ggetegagy, as many members of the bar, profeediss-
ally engaged inLondon, could only go down after the ries
of their eosins.
Mr. R. PHILLIMORE said that after the eaperimase of
the last election at Oxford, and the disgrace and dotriment
to the university itself, much to the regret of ail nmileanni
men, some curtailment of the number of days was UMW
eery; but it was desirable that an extension of the hears
should be allowed, for the sake of enabling professional
men in Laren to go down and poll at the close of the day.
An amendment embodying this view was introduced into
the clause.
Mr. PHILLIMORE suggested the insertion of Ascension
Day amongst the excepted days.
Agreed le.
Sir 0. GREY moved an addition to the proviso em-
powering the Vice-Chancol/or to close the poll before the
expiration of the five days with the consent of the condi-
, dates sad their agents.
Agreed to.
The clams was then adopted, as was the following one,_
with the exception of the proviso—" Tire no vote shall be
entered is aims than one poll-book."
(;optain SCOBELL moved the following clause : " That
no poll at any each election shall be taken at any inn, h..
tel, tavern, public-house, or otter premises licensed for the
sale of beer, wise, or spirits, or in any booth, hall, room, or
other plass directly eommunicating therewith, unless by
11l :42,..tw5t of all the candidate., expressed in writing."
OY suggested that the weeds " unless by the
the candidates" should be struck out.
LIKER agreed with the bon. gentleman that
• . Id be left out. But there was this objection
e ther, that i one of the to of Berk-
-I.4l,lorlbbftelart ° !t
ogepolling places,n in fact the town-wns had, was
Sys OYM.
CHERE said that if the words were left
,jri▪
g.)& be attended with practical inconvenience. be-
*ow,.
I'll CAN.,/