The Sun.
London, England, 1855-07-19 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
ROUSE OF COMMONS—(YESTERDAY.)
• STANDING ORDERS.
Sir W. HEATHCOTE moved the consideration of the
report of the Standing Orders Revision Committee. He
said the committee had endeavoured as far as possible to
make their standing orders agree with those of the
Upper House. They had also determined that for the
future no member, locally or otherwise interested in any
private till before a select committee, shall be a mem-
ber of that committee.
Mr. F. FRENCH drew attention to the very high
fees at present charged on getting private bills passed
through committee, and hoped some plan would be
adopted to lessen those charges.
Mr. SPOONER objected to the rule laid down by the
committee excluding members locally interested from
being members of a committee on private bills, as he
considered such members, from their local knowledge,
were of the greatest service on such committees.
Mr. BROTHERTON concurred in the objection of
the hon. member for North Warwickshire (Mr. Spooner).
Mr. SOTHERON defended the rule laid down by
the committee. He considered that members locally in-
terested in a private bill would be of far greater service
by giving evidence before the committee as witnesses
than in the anomalous position of members of the com-
mittee.
Mr. BARROW expressed his concurrence in the view
of the rule expressed by the hon. member for North
Warwickshire.
Mr. BOUVERIE said the local member was by the
rules excluded from acting as a judge on private bills ;
and as an advocate, he must also be excluded, so that
the only character he could appear in would be as a
witness. There was, however, one objection to that,
because there was no means of cross•examining him.
There were no local members on railway bills, and he
never heard yet that the public interest suffered from
that fact. (Hear.) He therefore hoped the house would
support the report of the committee.
After a few observations by Sir R. FERGUSON, Mr.
DEEDES, and Sir J. DUCKWORTH,
Lord SEYMOUR said he thought they had better at
once adopt the rule of the committee and exclude local
members altogether as members of committees on pri-
vate bills, and admit them only as witnesses.
Mr. MUNTZ also considered it better to admit local
members as witnesses only. He also thought it would
be much better if all witnesses before committees should
be examined upon oath. (Hear.)
After some observations from Sir W. TIEATHCOTE, in
reply, stating hie readiness to adopt the amendment of
Mr. Deedes,
Sir G. GREY said he thought that the majority of
the house was in favour of the proposition of the com-
mittee, and it would, therefore, be better at once to
adopt it and leave local members to be examined as wit-
nesses. _

Mr. ALCOCK could not agree with the suggestion of
the hon. member for Birmingham, that it was neceszary
to have members sworn before they gave evidence before
a committee. He agreed, however, with the proposition
that local members should not sit on committees where
the interests of their constituents were at stake.
Mr. R. PHILLIMORE supported the report of the
committee.
After some observations from Sir H. WILLOUGHBY
and Mr. APSLEY PELLArr,
Mr. BROTHERTON expressed a hope that the hon.
member for North Warwickshire would not divide the
house upon this question.
Mr. R. SPOONER said be felt so strongly upon the
question that he felt compelled to divide the house
upon it.
The house then divided, when there appeared—
For the proposition of the committee
Against it 57
Majority
The report was therefore agreed to without any mate-
rial amendments.
EPISCOPAL AND CA.PITITLAR ESTATES
BILL.
On the order of the day for the house resolving itself
into a committee on this bill, -
The Marquis of BLANDFORD withdrew the,bill,
after a few observations, seeing no chance of successfully
proceeding with it during the present session. In
adopting this course he did not deviate from the prin-
ciple he had set out with in bringing forward the mea-
sure, believing that in another session that principle
would be adopted if the Government would only con-
sider the subject during the recess. His only object in
bringing forward the bill was to make the Church of
England spiritually, ecclesiastically, and politically the
true representative of the religion of the country.
Sir G. GREY assured the noble marquis that this
important subject would receive the best consideration
of the Government during the recess, and every endea-
vour would be made to carry out, Where they could be
done effectually, the principles put forward in the mea-
sure.

Mr. LIDDELL approved of the course adopted by
the noble marquis withdrawing the bill, and felt grati-
fied that the Government had expressed a determination
to give a measure of such importance their best con-
sideration.
After some observations from Lord John Manners,
Sir G. Grey, Mr. Spooner, and Mr. A. Pellatt, the bill
was withdrawn.
DWELLINGS FOR LABOURING CLASSES
(I REL AN D) BILL.
On the motion that the house should resolve itself
into a committee on this bill,
Mr. Mr.MAHON moved as an amendment, that the
house should go into' committee on the bill that
day three months. He looked upon the mea-
sure as a petty, paltry, and trumpery mode of legis-
lation, and totally unworthy of the consideration of the
house.
Mr. DE VERE seconded the amendment, and con-
curred in all that bud been said by the bon. member for
Wexford. He thought the bill imposed a clumsy restric-
tion upon the power of eviction, and thereby reduced
landlords to improve the houses of their tenantry.
Sir W. SOMERVILLE supported the motion for
going into committee on the bill, considering that the
present condition of the Irish labourers' dwellings was a
disgrace to that country. He considered that such a
state of things was brought about by the difficulty and
expense of eviction ; and he believed that the present
measure, by giving facilities to the obtaining possession
by the landlord, would be productive of the best effects.
The present was a measure which he believed would be
productive of the best results, and his only wish wal to
carry it through the house without opposition. He
could not but express his surprise at the course that had
been adopted by the bon. and learned member for Wex-
ford.

Mr. J. FITZGERALD gave' the right hon. baronet
who had introduced the bill credit for the most philan-
thropic motives in bringing forward this measure. But
there were objections to the bill, which he should pro-
ceed to specify, and to state the course he (Mr. Fitz-
gerald) intended to pursue with regard to it. The bill
now before the house was based upon the Summary
Jurisdiction Act of 1851, of some clauses in which he
could by no means express himself in favour. We were
now asked to extend that measure so as to take in the
cettier tenantry of the country, where the house was let
with half an acre of land. Now in some instances it
occurred that magistrates themselves were the landlor.ls ;
and. the principal objection to the act was that it would
place the magistrate in a position in which his
duty and his interest conflicted. This, he
contended, was far from equitable or just.
This, however, might be remedied by giving an
appeal to Quarter Sessions in case of dispute. Again,
the bill would not apply to the ordinary relations of
landlord and tenant—namely, in cases of tenantcy at-
will and tenantciee for longer than a year. He recoin-
• mended that some alterations, with these views in parti-
lar, should be made in the bill; and that it should, in the
meanwhile, be withdrawn. (Hear.)
Mr. NAPIER supported
the bill, because he believed
in his conscience that it would promote the social well-
being of the labouring classes in Ireland.
Sir T. BURKE had hoard the statements of the right
hon. baronet (Sir W. Somerville) with great pleasure,
and believed the bill was calculated to be the most bene
ficial of avy measures that had yet been introduced for
the amelioration of the social condition' of the humbler
classes in Ireland. It was on this broad and general
ground that he gave it his most cordial support.
Colonel GREVILLE thought that a few alterations
in the bill would be advisable before its further progress
was pressed forward.
Mr. 11. HERBERT supported the bill in principle,
but contended that the objections raised against it would
be better considered in committee.
Mr. MAGUIRE was not going to enter into a ques-
tion already discussed. Aa, however' the Government
had counselled the withdrawal of the bill, on account of
certain, as he considered, very proper objections, he put
it to the right hon. mover whether it would not be better
to be withdrawny; particularly as in its present stage it
had elicited, on the whole, so satisfactory a discussion.
Re contended that a bill of this ,kind ought to
be introduced by the Government, and not by
a private member. Besides, if this bill went into
committee there was no chance of its coming before the
House of Lords before Monday next, and unless it did,
according to established rule in the Upper House, it
would not be considered. (Hear.)
After a few words from Mr. GROGAN', Mr. KENNEDY,
and Mr. PAGAN,
Mr. HORSMAN regretted that the house was going
to a division without some acquiescence, on the part of
the right honourable baronet, in the objections urged
by the Solicitor-General for Ireland (Mr. Fitzgerald).
He thought these objections were so obvious and palpa-
ble, that they were worthy of every consideration.
Sir W. SOMERVILLE said it would be perfectly
useless for him to assent to any proposals of his hon.
and learned friend which would impede the progress of
the bill. Ile should much prefer going into committee
upon the bill ; but as he could not agree with the vali-
dity of the objections urged agamst the measure at
this stage of its progress he should take the opinion of
the house upon a division.
Sergeant SHEE said it was absolutely impossible that
tha bill could pass this session unless the right hon.
baronet consented to the amendments pointed out,
After some further discussion, the house divided, when
themumbers were—
For the bill 124
Against 6B
Majority
bill.
The house accordingly went into committee upon the

After a long discussion, clause 1 was agreed to, and
the chairman reported progress.
NW ME. Mr. STRACY took E
the oathsMß and his goat
for East
Norfolk.
The other business upon the paper ha,v!nl
•
been dß'
posed of,
The house adjourned at a few minutes beforet-6 o'clock'