The Express.
London, England, 1868-04-22 00:00:00

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IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT•

ROUSE OF COMMONS.—TorenaY, APIIIIL 21.
Ix the Horse 9E Counoies, yesterday, Mr. S.
Lessens introduced • bill to amend the law with
respect to the propitty of married women. The
bill, be said, made a fundamental change in the
common lair of the country- on -this- umbret. ft
enacted that instead of marriage operating as a
transfer of all the property of the wife to the hus-
band, the wife should retain it. The bill also pro-
vided that in cue of existing marriages, any Money
coming to the wife in her own right, including
wages, shoidd not pus to the husband, but should
be her exclusive property, and that she might
sue and be sued, irrespective of her husband.
The discussion on the form of procedure in
committee of supply, which was raised last night,
was resumed by
Mr. MILTON, who moved to rescind the reso-
lution which provides that when it has been pro-
posed to omit or reduce items in a vote, the ques-
tion shall be afterward put upon the original vote,
or upon the redtieed vote, without amendment.
Be pointed' out that the effect of the resolution, as
ruled by the chairman of committees last night,
would be incase a motion had been made to reduce
or omit an item to preclude the committee from
deciding on the policy of the vote.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER looked
upon the matter as one of considerable importance,
and urged the propriety of delay, seeing that the
motion had been brought forward on very short
notice.
Mr. Childers, Mr. Goldney, and Colonel French
having addressed the house on the subject,
Mr. Meaux.' said he admitted the gravity of the
point, and should like to have it discussed, and in
order that it might be so with due notice, hemoved
the adjournment of the debate till this day week.
This was agreed to, and the debate was adjourned
accordingly.
On the motion for going into committee on the
Capital Punishment within Prisons Bill,
Mr. GILPIN moved, as an amendment, "That it
is expedient, instead of carrying out the punish.
ment of death within prisons, that capital
punishment should be abolished." He said
he could not allow this bill, which vir-
tually re-enacted capital punishment, to pus
without entering his protest against the continu-
ance of that punishment. The question between
him and those who were in favour of capital
punishtnetct was by what means they should pre-
vent the crime of murder. Whilst other crimes
for which capital punishment was formerly admi-
nistered had decreased the crime of murder, for
which it was still retained, had increased. The
first objection he had to thil punishment was its
essential injustice. He did not hesitate to say
that there were many persons walking about red-
handed amongst us who had been unquestionably
guilty of murder, and who, if the punishment had
been short of thst of taking life, would have been
found guilty aud be now in prison. This arose from
the unwillingness of jurors to convict. Evidence
which would be considered sufficient if the punish-
ment were merely imprisonment was properly re-
garded as insufficient when it involved the taking
of life. Thus the guilty often escaped. On the
other hand, it not unfreqnently happened that
innocent persons were executed„or were in danger
of being executed, and of thil he gave several
instances. . _

Mir. Garcon: opposed the motion. The punish-
ment of death was the great deterrent. Of the
eminent men who formedthecommission of 1866 only
four werifin favour of the abolition of capital punish-
ment. The Irish judges were unanimous for the
retention of the punishment, as were also the
English judges, with the exception of Mr. Justice
Shee, and the opinion of all those who were best
acquainted with the criminal class was that but for
fear of the punishment of death the lives of police-
officers would not be safe front them. In one of
the cantons of Switzerland 20 cases of murder took
place in 10 years, capital punishment being in
force, while in 20 years, capital punishment being
abolished, there were 47 cases of murder. While
believing in the necessity of maintaining capital
punishminit, he thought that it ought to be carried
out as the bill provided, within the prison.
Mr. Terre admitted that the punishment of
death was the most deterrent of all punishments if
it were equal in certainty. But it was not equal in
certainty.
Mr. J. S. MILL said it would be a great satisfac-
tion to hint if be were able to support this motiin,
for he always felt reluctance in voting against any
measure which was proposed by what were called
the philanthropists. He thought, however, that
they were mistaken in the present case. When it
was shown by clear evidence that a person was
guilty of murder with atrocity, it appeared to him
that to deprive that criminal of the life which he
had forfeited was the most merciful and the most
proper course to adopt. It was alleged that the
infliction of capital punishment did not prevent the
commission of murder ; but who could say how
many persons had been deterred from the commis-
sion of that crime by the contemplation of the awful
circumstances attending an execution I
On a division the amendment was negatived by
127 23.
The house then went into committee on the
bill, and the clauses were agreed to, with some
amendments.
The Religions die., Buildings (Sites) Bill passed
through committee.
The Artisans and Labourers' Dwellings Bill
also pissed through committee, but it was under-
stood that certain of the provisions should be
further discussed on the report,:
The Petty Sessions and Lobk-up Houses Bill,
and the Prisons (Compensation to Officers) Bill
were read third time and passed.
The Legitimacy Declaration (Ireland) Bill was
read • secottd time.

The house adjourned 25 minutes to 12.

REPRESENTATION 07 THE STIRLING AND
NORTREIGI ULM& Oliphant, M.P. for the Stir-
ling Burghs, has in accordance with the request of his
constituents, applied for the stewardship of the Chiltern
Hundreds; and the election ruitest, long begun in fact,
will now begin nominally. With respect to the represen-
tation of the Northern Burghs, a local journal states that
Mr. Laing, the present member, will meet with opposi-
tion from Mr. Loch of Uppet. deputy.governor of the
British Fishery Society. A. requisition to the latter is said
to have been signed by many of the most influential
electors.—Scotestae.

REPRESENTATION OF SHEFFIELD. —lt is now
quite aerials that Yr. Roebnek will not be allowed a
walk over" in this borough. His speech on the Irish
church resolutions will not be forgotten. His inconsistent
rote is not considered to make amends for Bin strange
political conduct.

NEWSVENDORte BENEVOLENT AND PROVIDENT
DtsrirPrioN,—The twenty-seventh annual meeting of the
above institution was held last evening at the News
Exchange, tilsekhorse-alley, Fleet-street ; Mr. Horace
Marshall presiding. The chairman, in opening the pro.
ceedinp, pouted out the objects of the society, Eiseman.
of which has, hitherto been thwarted owing to the want of
strength ano the want of unity not being sufficient among
the trade. semen, however, were becoming more alive
to the benedta of such an. institution, as the result of the
past year would show • and he had mach pleasure in
announcing the name, olairteen of his employ(' who were
anxious to become life members, and for whom he handed
in a cheque for 501. Bs. Mr. Jones, the secretary, read the
balance-Mt. which represented the receipt, of the past
year sa 7611. ifs. 96., the reverse aide leaving 331. 15a. Ild.
in the hands of the treasurer ; the amount of stock
invested is 3,0401., and the dividend on that capital
enabled the institution to In ing forward another candidate
(making the seventh) entitled to the pension. The ballot
was dividedeniong two candidate., the unsuccessful one
being awarded • saw equivalent to half the pension, in
consequence of a proposiEen OD the part of the ehairman,
which was received with loud cheers. The officers having
been re-elected and thanks returned the chairman retired,
after which the meeting separated.
OREstia. PALACE. ONE SIIILLIWO Day.—
TURADAT. Al,lll 21.—Admissions by season tinkles,
1,898 ; ditto ea payment, 2,300; total 'visitors, 3,806.
DrumsaB.—Biesiot irsrromay ET Do &mei
RZTAIMITA ARAIDCA FOOD TO TIE BTOZACIII, nary*. kllnea Ind
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