The Express.
London, England, 1867-07-31 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDB.—TuEsnsT, Jaw( 30.
Tux Hsu se of Lours, yesterday, again went into
esminitteu on the Representation of the People
Bill, resuming the discussion on clause I', which
abolishes the power of compoJndiag fur rates
Within parliamentary boroughs.
Earl (:11V moved to uwa the sine s. He expa-
tiated on the advantages of compounding to pa-
Mahe', and contended that it w.ght not to be
abolished in an indirect manner in a bill brought in
for other objects,
The LORD CHANCILLOR pointed out that if the
douse were struck out, every compounder would
be disfranchised, and the whole bill would be re-
dnoed to a mate of utter confusion, and they would
thereby endanger the possibility of its palming.
Earl Rrs.szu. agreed that they could not well
strike the clause out of the bill, although he re-
gretted the abolition of a very useful measure.
Earl ti vitxx expressed a similar opinion.
The Duke of RIcHNIOND pointed out that the
dense was one affecting taxation, and that it was
sot competent to their lordships to alter it in any
way.
The discussion was continued by Lord Cairns,
the Earl of Emmy, the Earl of Harrowby, and
the Duke of Argyll, the latter of whom, while
declaring his intention to vote against the amend-
ment, said he looked forward with some anxiety to
the effect which the abolition of compounding
would have.

On a division, the amendment was rejected by
148 to 43.
Lonl LIFAX moved to add to clause 8 words
enacting that no person be registered as a county
voter in respect of any premises situate in a
borough if he would be entitled to be registered in
respect of such premises as a voter for the borough.
The Duke of liter( voNn said the government
bad been strongly urged by their own friends to
support this amendment as the must conservative
one that could be proposed. But he had his doubts
whether this was the object of the noble viscount,
which was most difficult to understand.

Earl Rt,,,,sit supported the amendment.
On a division the amendment was rejected by
335 to 41.

Lord LvrrstroN proposed to add words enacting
that no person shall be entitled to vote who cannot
Irmo t legible hand, but the amendment WILY lick),
tived without a division.

An amendment, moved by the Marquis of CLAN-
ZICARDC, to disqualify future created freemen,
was also negatived without a division being called.
Lord Cu u:ss moved that in constituencies return-
ing three members, the voters shall be respectively
entitled to vote for two candidates only. There
were, he said, eight constituencies of the kind now
existing, and if the bill passed in its present shape,
there would be eleven, besides thA City of London,
which returned four members. H, enforced the pro-
position as the only meansof giving representation
to the minorities in these constituencies, which he
said numbered hundreds of tho-otands of persons.
Another advantage of the plan would be that it
would prevent contests.
Thu Earl of MALNIVICCEY objected to the pro-
posal because it was newfangled. Besides, Eng-
lishmen had always been azcustomed to obey
majorities. Another objection to the proposal was
that the bill gave an additional member to Man-
chester, Birmingham, Liverpool, and Leeds, and
these members were given them that they might
have more strength in the lobbies ; but if this pro-
posal wore adopted they would practically be
takiwy, away with one hand what they gave with
the other.

Earl asked if they were to reject every
novelty because it was a novelty. By the present
working of our constitution the principal members
of the administration must he members of the
House of Commons, and he asked if it were likely
to find men fit to hold those offices in the members
for large manufacturing towns, who were generally
engaged in large manufacturing or commercial
operations, and the members for uounties,who were
generallygiven to agricultural pursuits ; therefore
it was that small boroughs were useful, bemuse
their members were generally men who had leisure
to devote themselves to the public service. He
thought that by the adoption of this proposition
they would be more likely to get men of moderate
views, who would give the weight of their influence
and votes to moderate party action, and in that
way the House of Commons would derive great
advantage. _ _

Lord De?ruse opposed the amendment, and Earl
Eirrecan and Earl STANHOPZ supported it.
The Duke of hisittamwoon said this proposal
was well considered by the government, and they
came to the conclusion that on the whole it would
be injudicious. The inevitable effect of this system
would be to do away with contests, and the electors
would be managed by election committees just in
the way that these things were done in America,
and it would take away the vigour of the decisions
of the House of Commons which had always
hitherto had the respect of the country because
they were known to represent the feeling of the
ma4a3rrlity of the people.
COWPIR considered the proposal could be
advocated from a liberal as well as from a con-
servative point of view.
The Earl of Csamsavos thought the proposal
deserved support because it wee not of a party
character.

Lord Ilouenvelt remarked that the principle of
the representation of minorities was that every
Englishman should be represented, and on that
ground he gave the proposition hi support.
The Earl of SHRZWABERY and Lord STRATFORD
DE FatIx:LIFFE also supported the motion.
On • division the proposition was carried by 142
to M.

The Marquis of BRIRTOL moved to omit clause
9, which disqualifies paid canvassers, agents, and
messengers • but, after some con% aviation, the
clause was agreed to.

On clause 10, which disfranchises the boroughs
of Totnes, Reigate, Great Yarmouth, and Lan-
caster,_

Lord ROMILLY moved to add words which would
have the effect of disfranchising those boroughs
only until the Ist of January, 11%0.
The LORD CHANCELLOR opposed the motion, and
reminded their lordships that there was this diffi-
culty about it, that the seats had been given to
other boroughs.
The motion was negatived, and clauses 10, 11,
and 13 having been agreed to, further pro-
gress with the bill was then postponed.
home other orders were then disposed of, and
the house adjourned at half-past ta eke o'clock.