The Express.
London, England, 1867-06-05 00:00:00

'ERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.-TVEBDAY, JUNI 4.

Is the Musa tbf Loans yesterday,
.the Chester
Courts Bill was read a second time.

p. The Contagious DiseaieTs(init;al a) Bill, and the
County Courts Act Amendment Bill, passed
through committee.
The Pier and Harbour Orders Confirmation
Bill, the Intestates' Widows and Children Bill, and
the Pier and Harbour Orders Confirmation (No. 2)
Bill, were also read a second time. .

`Tile third readin,, of the Increase of the Epis-
copate Bill was posioned until the 21st instant,
at the request of Ear Gam., who stated that he in
tended to move the re-insertion of the clauses struck
out of the report yesterday.
The Earl of DFREY stated that on Friday he
should move that the house adjourn until the fol-
lowing Monday week, for the Whitsuntide
holidays.

The house adjourned at 20 minutes to 7 o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—Tuesosv, Juris 4.
IN the novas of Comm()Ns yesterday, on the
order for going into committee on the Bankruptcy
Bill,

The ATTORNEY -0 EN ERAL explained the altera-
tions mule in the bill since it was last before the
house. One of these related to imprisonment
for debt. This was abolished except in a few cases,
such as in a ease of damages for libel or slander.
At present a debtor against whom a judg-
meat has been obtained to an amount not ex-
ceeding '2Ol. may be su, . ed before a judge,who
may question him as to his means of payment, and
order him to pay the debt by instalments ; and in
ease of refusal to answer or to pay, may order his
imprisonment for any period not exceeding forty
days. This power it was proposed by the bill to
extend to judgment debtors of an amount between
201. and 50/. When the debt was above ilot, the
debtor would be liable to be e ummoned before
the Bankruptcy Court and be made a bankrupt.
Then it was proposed by the bill that the creditors'
trustee should have the entire management of the
estate, but there would be a provisiunal assignee to
protect the estate for the first two or three weeks.
Another alteration was with regard to the dis-
charge. It gave the court power to order a debtor
who was in any aim or employment to apply a por-
tion of his salary towards the payment of his debts.
Mr. MOYVATT complained that the Attorney-
General had not explained the principle on which
the bill was founded, or stated that it had any
principle. Ho asked whether the bill was intro-
duced to provide a creditor's remedy or a debtor's
escape. The hon. member criticised at some
length the details of the bill, expressed a preference
for the Scotch system, and an opinion that debtors
ought not to be allowed to imdce themselves bank-
rupts, and that that was a matter which ought to
be left to their creditors.

Mr. SELWYN pointed out that under the provi-
sions of the bill it was possible for a debtor, on
payment of ten shillings in the pound, to obtain
his discharge, to commit great frauds on his credi-
tors, and he submitted that the provisions enabling
the creditors to seize after-acquired property were
not sufficiently stringent to meet such cases.
Sir it. PALMER also criticised in detail the carious
clauses of the bill ; and said he doubted the wisdom
of requiring the debtor to pay as much as ten
shillings in the pound in order to obtain his imme-
diate discharge. There were very few bankruptcies
in which so large a dividend was paid. Then the
power of seizing future-acquired property, while it
would deter the debtor from exerting himself to
acquire property, would probably be of little value
to creditors. The old Insolvent Debtors Court had
that power, but it was rarely or never exercised.
He also objected to the reappearance of the provi-
sional assignee, and suggested that instead the
court should have the power to appoint an interim
receiver.

Mr. J. S. Max said they had passed not sud-
denly but by degrees from the old barbarous treat-
ment of debtors to a state of law by which persons
without being guilty of actual punishable fraud
enabled persons to make away with the property
of others, and he should support the amendments
of which Mr. Selwyn had given notice, which
were intended to alter the law in that respect.
The discussion was continued by Mr. E. K.
Kerslake, who spoke generally in favour of the
provisions of the bill ; by Mr. Goschen, who ex-
pressed his approval of that part of the measure
which allows future-acquired property to be made
available up to the extent of ten shillings in the
pound ; by Mr. Freshlield, who thought the bill an
able and perspicuous measure, and better than the
bill of last year, but who suggested that an officer
of the court should be associated with the inspector
under deeds of arrangement, and that all appeals
from the county courts should be, not to the Lords
Justices, but to the Bankruptcy Court in London.
Mr. ii..ItTON was addressing the house against
the power of imprisonment of the poor debtor,
when, it being 10 minutes to 7 o'clock, the debate
stood adj owned, and one or two bills having been
forwarded a stage, the sitting was suspended till
9 o'clock.

At the evening sitting, which commenced at 9
o'clock,

Lord EsFTZLD moved for and obtained the ap-
pointment of a select committee to inquire and
take evideloe as to the law and practice relating
tothe sunanonins, attendance and remuneration of
special and common juries.
Sir W. Hon obtained leave to bring in the bill
for the better regulation and supervision by the
Board of Trade of the accounts of railway and
other joint-stock companies.
Mr. VANDIRBYL called attention to a petition
from the inhabitants of the Cape of Good Hope
praying that her Majesty's forces may not be with-
drawn front the colony, and moved an address to
her Majesty to grant the prayer of the petition.
The colonists were exposed to the incursions of
native tribes, and the presence of the troops was
necessary for the protection of the colonists.
Mr. fh.a.sr believed that the presence of the
troops WaS a source of weakness rather than
strength. because it led to divided authority.
Mr. LA worcr, who said be had spent a year and
a half in the colony. expressed a similar opinion.
Mr. AI,I,BILLEY said the object of the petition
was that this country should continue to protect
South Africa. This petition was in consequence of
a despatch from Lord Carnarvon that the four
regiments now in the colony should be gradually
withdrasn. The Cape only contributed 70,000/.
towards the expense of its own protection, while
England e. ntributed 300,0001. a year, and he asked
why this should continue.
Mr. CARDMILL expressed his concurrence in the
policy which he had, when in office, given direc-
tions should be carried out in New Zealand, of
gradually leaving the colonists to provide for their
own defend u.
The mot,on was then withdrawn.
On the "...vend reading of the Master and Ser-
vant Bill,

Mr. E. ?Orme admitted the injustice of the
present 1:t-e, but said he thought it premature to
deal with the question now. ;Wlien the conivnission
on trades unions made their report a revision of
the combination laws would no doubt have to be
made. He moved the rejection of the bill.
Mr. C. CLIVE supported the bill.
Mr. Pa i-ts had a strong feeling against thepower
of imprisonment, but there were cases in which
that power should be maintained. He also objected
to that prevision of the bill which gave power to
the justic,.+ to annul contracts.
Mr. $A Al urasox thought nothing could be more
impolitic than to keep up this source of irritation
between inviter and servant, the power of imprison-
ment, untie they could legislate on trades unions.
The di ,eusaion was continued by Mr. Liddell,
who suggested that the bill should be referred to a
select committee ; by Mr. Henley, who so far ap-
proved of the bill, as it placed the master and man
on the same footing ; by Mr. Bruce, who cited
cases in i% blob he thought a fine would not be
sufficient t , prevent a great evil, and who joined
in the su7:t.ttion to refer the bill to a select com-
mittee ; by Mr. Fawcett, who gave a general
support to the measure, because it dealt
with nelLter and man equally ; by Mr.