Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-02-16 00:00:00

THE BUDGET.

The 3Teralel says that the Town Council of Coventry,
yesterday, agreed to petition against the treaty. A
public meeting is to be held at Coventry for the same
purpose.
The Daily News predicts, with still greater confidence,
that the Budget will be carried, possibly with some
minor amendments, but substantially intact and un-
spoiled.
The papers contain several 'reports of meetings of
Chambers of Commerce in favour of the Budget. At
Birmingham-a town's meeting will be held to support
the whole seherne of Mr. Gladstone.

The wholesale tea trade met yesterday, in Mincing-
lane, to complain that the proposed changes on the
re-bonding and warehousing of tea are considered exor-
bitant. The question of the heavy charges proposed to
be placed upon warrants, was also warmly discussed.
The Times, while eulogising the Budget, says that
the clause in the French treaty relative to coal ought to
be modified so as to leave ourselves at liberty to forbid,
on just cause, export of the chief munition of modern
warfare ; and the navigation clauses of the treaty, it com-
plains, are too one-sided.

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY AND THE

UDGET.

The Herald does not contain any semiofficial an-
nouncement of the intentions of the Conservatives, nor
any notice of the meeting at Lord Salisbury's yesterday.
The Star states that considerable difference of opinion
has shown itself in the •Conservative party, as to the
policy •of the projected alliance with the Ultramontane
portion of the Roman Cat Mic members, for the purpose
of throwing the present Government into a minority.
The Past says, the decision was come to at the above
meeting ,to oppose the Budget. The grounds of this op-
position are stated to be, disapproval of the additional
penny on the income-tax, the repeal of the paper duty,
the extension of the licence 'for the retailinc, of wine and
spirits, and the provisions of the treaty with France, rela-
tive to the export of coals from this ;country.
The .Daily News says, there is to be a sham fight on.
the Budget. Lord Derby declared to his friends yester-
day that he had no desire to expel his antagonists from
office. The truth is, he favours a demonstration ; but, to
avoid a deadly encounter, the financial scheme of Minis-
ters appeared the most eligible opportunity for showing
how numerous and how united they were. It ought to
be denounced by every old friend of monopoly and every
new convert to reaction. Mr. Disraeli has, therefore, put
upon the notice paper a resolution by way of an amend-
ment. It is one which the Daily News says, any man of
any party or any school of opinion might, under certain
circumstances, vote for or against, as the case might be ;
but it is simply and merely a feeble evasion of the whole
question at issue. Lord Derby well knows that though his
Carlton battalion were made strop; enough by ultra.
montaine and other help, to put Ministers into a mino-
rity on some single question of moment, it would not
be strong.enough to maintain the position thus prema-
turely gained.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

At a special meeting of the council, held yesterday,
W. J. Tomlinson, Esq.; was unanimously elected pre-
sident for the present year; R. Duckworth, Esq., and
T. B. Forwood, Esq., vice-presidents ; and Edward
Tennant, Esq., treasurer. The usual committees were
reappointed.
POST-OFFICE- SAVINGS' BANKS.
Letters on this subject were
.read, and referred to a
committee.

NEW SCALE OF TOWN DUES.
A letter from the Board of Trade was read, and sent
to the committee to whom the question had beer. referred.
WORKING ARRANGEMENTS OF RAILWAY COMPANIES.
It was resolved to request the members of the borough
to support the deputation to the Board of Trade as to
the bills promoted by the London and North-western
and other companies for authorising working of traffic
arrangements,

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS:—YESTERDAY.
The Speaker took the chair at twelve o'clock.
CORRUPT PRACTICES PREVENTION BILL.

Mr. MELLOR moved the second reading of the Corrupt
Practices Prevention Act, 1854, Amendment Bill, stating
that it was a provisional measure till Parliament should
enter upon a full consideration of the subject.

Mr. HUNT seconded the motion. He approved of
many of the provisions of the•billi but not of that which
forbids the employment of paid canvassers. At the same
time he doubted whether the evil could be cured, admit-
ting that it might be greatly mitigated.
Sir F. Gor.usxm opposed the bill as inefficient. The
only means of preventing bribery was disqualifying the
member who had so obtained his seat.

Mr. A. STSWART gave a qualified approval to the
bill.

Mr. COLLIER wouldlikewise consent to many of its
provisions, but thought it might be more effectual if
members were compelled to make declarations that they
had paid no money except through the election auditor,
depriving him of his seat if he had made payments in
any other manner.
Sir. G.. GREY said there were already two measures
before the House on the subject of bribery and corrup-
tion, and thought that the best plan would be to refer
the operation of the act of 1834 to a select committee,
whit* should inquire into the whole subject.
Kr. MELLOR acceded to this. proposal, and withdrew
his 'motion.

Mr. JAMES then moved for the appointment of -a
select committee to consider the operation of the -Corrupt
Practices Act, and whether any further measures are
vrecessary for preventing corrupt practices at4:lleetions.
Mr. Sergeant KINGIARE seconded the motion, which,
sifter some discussion, was agreed, to.