The Express.
London, England, 1853-06-11 00:00:00

EXCISE DUTIES ON SPIRITS BILL.

The hone then wentCatocOMm

Captain JONES moved en amendment, for the rejection
of so much of clause 1 as imposes an addition of Bd. per
gallon to the duty now payable on epirits taken out of
warehouse for consumption in Ireland. His arguments for
this modification rested mainly on the large existing duty ;
the encouragement which he conceived the proposed in-
crease would give to illicit distillation; and the lose to the
revenue which had been occasioned by increased duties on
former occasions._ _

After a discussion, the amendment was negatived by 100
to 38.

A lengthened discussion took pl►ce upon the other
clauses, in the course of which the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer stated, in reference to the controversy now exist-
ing between Ireland and Scotland as to eertatn advantages
supposed to be enjoined by the latter country, that the
question of allowing the distillers of both countries to dis-
til from duty-free malt was under consideration.
The bill passed through committee.
CUSTOMS DUTIES ON SPIRITS BI.L.

This bill passed through committee.
TENANTS' COMPENSATION (IRELAND), BILL.
On the motion for going into committee on this bill,
Mr. Serjt. SHER said he did not see the necessity of
going into committee at present. The house would agree
with him that it was of the utmost importance that a
measure, upon which the attention of the country had been
fixed for a considerable time, should not be passed hastily,
but that there should be the amplest opportunity given for
considering its details, or developing the objections which it
might he thought necessary to take against it. There had
not been the least reason to suppose that this bill
woull go into committee to night; indeed the chairman of
the committee from whom the bill emanated only put it
on the piper pro forma as it were, as it was felt by him and
other honourable members that there was no prospect of its
coming on to-night, while many honourable gentlemen who
took an interest in the clamant had gone away under the
impression that the discussion on the Successions Dill would
take up the whole evening. (Hear, hear.)
IMr. V. SCULLY certainly must protest against proceed
tog with the bill to-night.
Sir J. YOUNG was at a loss to understand how Irish bills
were to be disposed of, if the government were to be met
with obstacles like this.

Mr. NAPIER entered into an caplanation of what had
occurred in the committee up stairs, and admitted that the
committee gave the fullest consideration not only to the two
bills referred to them, but the whole subject of tenant right.
With regard to the bill he was opposed to its machinery,
and he advocated some delay in its being committed.
Colonel tiREVILLE urged that, u tho bill was only
in the bands of members yesterday, it should not bo pro-
ceeded with. He wished to know whose bill it was ?

The CHANCELLOR or the EXCHEQUER said that
the government attached great importance to the bill, and
they were anxious to proceed with it,
After a few words from Mr. lititx,
Mr. BRIGHT said that the house ought to know what
the views of the fpvernatent were on the bill; and it was
unfortunate that in the select committee those views were
not known. The chief secretary for Ireland had done his
best in the select committee to make the best of the bill,
and had taken a very liberal view of the question, but be
(Mr. Bright) would recommend the government to go care-
fully over the hill, and make up their minds to carry it as
a government measure. lie believed it was the best mos-

spre that could be passed, and would give greater satisfac-
tion in Ireland than some boo. members expected, and
would tend to set at rest this session the important question
of tenant compensation.
Mr. WHITESIDE said this was in truth a new bill,
and he implored English members to read it, and consider
bow they would relish having its principle • &tended to
England and Scotland. If the government believed in the
soundness of the principle of the bill they ought to take it
up, and endeavour to carry it.
The bill was then postponed.
The order of the day for the second reading of the Lon-
don and Edinburgh Gazettes Bill was discharged.
Thos WhitUebury Forest Bill was read a third time, and
passedTAX.
ING OFFICER COMMON LAW (IRELAND).
On the consideration of this bill, as amended,
Mr. I. BUTT moved, us an amendment, in clause 3, page
3, lines 3d and 36, to leave out the words "that tho said
principal officer shun be a barrister of at hest five years'
standing," and insert instead thereof the following words:
" that any such principal officer hereafter to be appointed
shall be an attorney of one of the superior courts of corn.
mon law at Dublin of at least ten years' standing."
Sir J. YOUNG opposed the amendment. the bill had
been prepared under the superintendence of the heads of
the courts of Ireland, and their opinion was that the
officer in question should be a barrister, and that the second
taxing officer should be a solicitor; by which system they
would get at once legal knowledge and the knowledge of
technicalities.
Mr. R. MOORE opposed the amendment. It was not a
question which profession should be consulted; but how
hest the public interests would be benefited ; and this bill
was based on the proper principle. With respect to juris-
diction and salaries, however, he thought that the two
officers ought to have been on a par.
Mr. FITZGERALD would support the amendment if it
left the office open to either professions. Ile had never
beard that the bar had too many offices. It was notorious
that the Irish bar was neglected by the Secretary to the
Colonies, and by the President of the India Board.
The amendment was withdrawn ; and

Mr. R. MOORE moved an amendment to the effect he
had suggested: but ho did not press it, but undertook to
bring it up at another stage.
A convenatin't then took place as to what the salary of
the second officer should be. The Secretary for Ireland
was disposed to make it 6001. a year ; and after some dis-
pute, the bill was recommitted for the purpose of deciding
the question. The result was that the salary of the first
officer was fixed at 1,000/., aad that of the second at GOO/.
The house then resumed.