The Express.
London, England, 1868-03-24 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—blownsv, Mason 23.
IN the buss of Loans, yesterday, the LORD
Onexcemoe moved the second reading of the
Bankruptcy Acts Repeal Bill, the Bankruptcy
Bill, and the Judgment Debtors Bill. The bills
embodied the recommendations of an influential
committee a the other house, and they consoli-
dated the whole of the law on lte subject. They
abolished the law of imprisonment for debt so far
es the creditor was concerned, but securities might
be required from persons likely to abscond, or a
debtor might be imprisoned by order of the court.
Provision was also made for the gradual abolition
of the power of the county court judges to im-
prison, but power was given to attach a man's
wages to the amount of one-fourth. Debtors might
file a declaration of insolvency, and for a period
of 21 days would be debarred g
taking
any further steps, in order that the creditors
might have an opportunity to step in. After that
there would be a proceeding analogous to the Scotch
system of trusts over bankrupt estates, except that
the services of an official assignee would be re-
tained. With respect to the discharge of a bank-
rupt, there would be no suspension of a certificate
for more then three years. and that only in cases
which were rigidly defined in the act. In certain
cases, and after a second bankruptcy, there would
be the power to attach after-acquired property.
With respect to deeds of composition, a deed once
enrolled must be a judicial act of the court, and
every creditor would be called upon to prove his
debt in the usual way. No new courts or addition
to the present judges would be proposed, but the
district courts would be gradually absorbed, and
a concurrent jurisdiction given to the county courts,
on which ultimately the whole of the bankruptcy
business of the country would devolve. In the
metropolis the existing judges would be retained,
and have not only a concurrent jurisdiction with
the county courts, but would also sit as a court of
appeal, subject to a further appeal iu certain cases
to the Court of Chancery. He was quite ready to
refer the bills to a select committee.
Lord WESTBURY and Lord ROMILLY criticised
the provisions of the bills adversely.
Lord CHELMSFORD said he believed that the
alterations proposed would effect a great saving in
expeose, and at the same time establish the only
system that could be effective and satisfactory.
The bills were then severally read a second time.
The Non-Traders Bankrupt (Ireland) Bill was
also read a second time.
The house adjourned at ten minutes to eight
o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—MONDAY, Maim 23.
IN the House of Commons, Mr. Gcaueroxs
stated the terms of his intended motion on the
Irish church. lie said :
The motion, sir, that I propose to make on the subject of
the Irish church will be to the form of three reaolutions, to
be mop ed in committee, on acts relating to the established
church in Ireland, and the terms of the three resolutions
will la. these: First, that in the opinion of this house it is
necessary that the established church of Ireland should
cease to exist as an establishment—(opposition cheers)—
due regard being had to all personal intermits and all in-
dividual rights of property. (A laugh.) Secondly, that,
subject to the foregoing considerations, it is expedient to
prevent the creation of new personal interests by the ex-
ercise of any public patronage, and to confine the opera-
tions of the Ecclesiastical Cotundasioners of Ireland to
objects of immediate necessity, or involving individual
rights pending the final decision of parliament ;
and thirdly, that an humble address be presented to her
Majesty humbly to pray that with a view to the purposes
aforesaid her Majesty will be graciously pleased to place at
the dispoal of parliament her interest in the temporalities,
in archbishoprics, biahoprics, and other meledastical dig-
nities and benefices in Ireland sail in the custody thereof.
(Cheers.) I gave notice that I would take the liberty of
asking her Majesty's government, either to-day or to.
macros, as might best suit them, whether it would be
munpatible in their view, with the state of public business,
to oiler any sanistance for the discussion of this motion,
and possibly the right hon. gentleman will now be pleased
to say what view he tibes of that matter. In case it
should not be in the power of the right hoe. gentleman to
afford such assistance I should then feel it my duty to
endeavour to bring it on the first day on which I could
ireplarly propose it, and I believe that would be Friday
next, and I shall give notice of it as an amendment on
going into committee of supply. (Cheering.)
Mr. Dloß/ILI said it was of primary importance
that the Secretary for War should get the vote
for the men to-night, in order that the Mutiny
Bill might be brought in. Subject to that, he
would name next Monday ; but he impressed on
the house the necessity of getting on with the
Irish Reform Bill, in order that parliament might
be dissolvod at the beginning of next year.
The 04ANI.6LLOR of the Exefir.eunt gave notice
of his intention on Thursday to bring in a bill to
enable the government to acquire and work the
electric telegraphs • and
Mr. CORRT stated that it was hie intention to
move the navy estimates on Thursday.
Sir J. PAK imovom brought forward the army esti-
mates. He said he wished to remove the impres-
sion that the cost of the army was 15,465,030/.
That was the amount which appeared on the face
of the estimates, but there were repayments to the
Exchequer of 1,568,0001. The increase this year
was 203,200/. The number of men asked for was
137,530, being 168 more than last year. The re-
cruiting was in a very satisfactory state. Out of
39 of the recommendations of the recruiting com-
mission, 24 had been carried into effect, and the
result had been most beneficial. On the second
vote, which was for the reserve forces, he stated
that the numerical strength of the militia, assum-
ing it to be recruited to the full strength voted,
was 128,925 ; yeomanry cavalry, 15,823 ; volunteers,
187,864 ; and enrolled pensioners, 18,000. The in-
creased cost of the militia was 81,9501., which was
caused by an increttiled allowance to the officers foe
lodging money. On the vote for the volunteers
there was an increase of 24,150/. A deputation
had waited upon him to induce him to propose an
increase of the capitation grant for the volunteers,
but he did not think it his duty to do so. The
number and efficiency of the force were continually
increasing, and he would not be justified in asking
the house to increase the allowance. On the vote
for stores, which amounted to 1,491,0001. and
which included the manufacture of artillery and
small arms, there was a decrease of 64,1001. This
vote included the cost of converting 160,000
Enfield rifles, which would exhaust all the Enfield
rifles in store capable of conversion. The question
as to wlich was the best arm wherewith to arm our
infantry had not been decided, but it was beyond
all question that the Snider was the best rifle
supplied to any army in the world. It was already
issued to the whole of the regular army, and
• he hoped it would soon be supplied to all
our other forces. This year 97 guns of different
calibres were provided for in the estimates, but
they had before them a large and inevitable ex-
penditure for heavy artillery for fortifications. He
was not satisfied that there was a sufficient cheek
and control over the manufacturing establishments
at Woolwich, and it was intended to appoint a
general commandant to supervise those establish-
ments. He explaineil in detail the steps that had
been taken to improve the administration of the
army, and said he had adopted the report of Lord
Stratbinairn't committee, and when the changes in
progress ware completed a wing of 25,0001. a year
would he effected and grealer efficiency secured,
and that a system of transport would be organised
which would be perfect and complete in time of
peace and capable of expansion in time of war. In
conclusion he moved that 137,530 men be voted
for the ensuing year.
A discussion followed, in the course of which
the Marquis of HARTINUTON remarked that the
increase last year was of itself an increase over the
estimates of the previous government.
General Para said it was a fortunate thing that
the fortifications had not been armed, asthe pattern
of the guns was continually improving.
Lord ELeno pointed out that the estimates were
continually increasing, and that the result of an
expenditure of nearly 14 millions was that we had
only 40,000 men available for the defence of the

country.
Mr. CHILDERS remarked that one of the changes
which a new parliament would make would be to
make the arimy more national than at preaent,both
as regarded officers and men.