The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-21 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF COMMONS---Last Evening.
The SPEAKER took the chair at 4 o'clock.
GAOLS BILL.

Sir G. GREY moved the second reading of Gaols Bill,
the object of which was to carry out a portion of the recom-
mendations of the Lords' committee, which reported on the
subject of prison discipline last year. Amongst those re-
commendations were these—that the discipline, diet, and
labour established in prisons should in future be uniform,
and that the separate system should be enforced as far as
was practicable. Some misapprehension, he observed, pre•
veiled with regard to the fourth clause. It was believed
that that clause would give extraordinary powers to the
Home Secretary, and enable him to appoint Roman Catho-
lic chaplains in gaols against the wish of the county and
local magistracy. He denied that the clause would have
such an effect; but if it were thought by the house that it
would, he should be ready to omit it from the bill, Its real
object was to empower the Home Secretary to amend the
prison rules at any period pf the year, instead of in the
month of September only, as at present,
Mr ADDER LEY was of opinion that no legislation to
amend the present law relating to gaols could be satisfac-
tory that did not include some definition of hard labour
and a schedule of rules for gaols, and which did not provide
for all gaols being gradually adapted to the separate system
and for a uniform and classified treatment of all prisoners.
After the statement of the Home Secretary, that he had no
objection to withdraw the fourth clause, he would not op-
pose the bill in its present stage.
Mr N EWDEGATE moved, as an amendment, that the
bill be read a second time that day three months, on the
ground that it violated the principle of local self-govern.
ment, and failed to provide any adequate security or re-
sponsibility to guard its application, and render it an in-
strument effective for good. The honourable gentleman
admitted that it was desirable that a measure for the regu-
lation of gaols should pass, but he contended that the defi-
nition of the rules should not be left with the Home office,
but should be laid down and enacted by Parliament
itself, or the Home Secretary might, on his own responsibi-
lity, appoint Roman Catholic chaplains in prisons without
consulting the justices, who would then be left to incur the
odium of levying a tax for the expenditure.
Mr BARB) W seconded the amendment, resting his
opposition to the measure mainly upon its centralising ten-
dency.

Sir J. PAKINGTON approved of the bill as a necessary
one, and thought the right hon. gentleman had acted rightly
in consenting to withdraw the fourth clause.

Mr MAGUIRE commented on the speech of Mr Newde-
gate, and argued that the Roman Catholic prisoners had as
much right to the ministrations of the priests of their reli-
gion as the Protestant prisoners had to theirs.
The debate was continued by Mr WHALLEY and Mr
WALTER.

Mr MITFORD agreed that some legislation was neces-
sary, and was therefore prepared to ascent to the second
reading of the bill.

Mr HIBBERT was glad Sir G. Grey had intimated his
intention to omit the fourth clause. He should be sorry,
however, if another clause which gave the unwarrantable
power to the Home Secretary of removing prisoners from
certain local gaols and placing them in county gaols were
retained.

Mr S. ESTCOURT supported the bill, and, referring to
the objectionable fourth clause, said it did not confer any
power upon the Home Secretary that he did not already
possess.

Sir G. GREY, in reply, obs rued that whilst willing to
strike out the clause he did so without admitting that there
was the slightest foundation for the apprehension enter-
tained by Mr. Newdegate.

On a division the numbers were—
For the amendment
Against it
Majority
The bill was then read a second time.
COLLECTION OF TAXES BILL.

On the order for resuming the adjourned debate on the
motion for the third reading of the Collection of Taxes
Bill,
Sir J, TROLLOPE offered various objections to the
bill, which, he thought, was utterly uncalled for, and
which, he observed, though permissive, was only a prelude
to a compulsory measure, and he moved to defer the third
reading for three months.
The amendment was seconded by Mr PACKE.
Mr Cox and Mr S. Booth apposed the bill, which was
supported by Mr Ayrton.
Mr HORSF ALL, though he had voted for the second
reading of this bill, said he should vote against the third
reading, on the ground of its excepting the metropolis
from its operation.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied to
objections, and explained the reasons for excepting the
metropolis from the operation of the bill, which did not
apply to other large towns, reiterating the arguments he
had urged he support of the measure in its earlier stages.
Sir S. NOR L'HCOTE objected to the bill that, though
called permissive, the decision was to be made by the Land
Tax Commissioners, who were not elected by the taxpayers,
whose opinions were not, therefore, tested upon the ques-
tion. He thought that the house, representing the ti,x-
payers, should not throw the decision upon the Commis-
sioners.

Mr Locke, Mr Lewis, and Mr Newdegate continued the
discussion amid much interruption.
The house then divided— _

For the third reading
Against it
Majority
The bill was therefore lost.
The result was received with cheers from the Opposition
benches.

The Railway Construction Facilities Bill passed through
committee,

RAILWAY TRAVELLING (IRELAND) BILL.
Sir C. O'LOG HLEN moved the second reading of the
Railway Travelling (Ireland) Bill, the objects of which
were tiN, deprive Irish railway companies of the power of
abutting out whole districts of country from railway com-
munication on Sundays, and enacting that every railway
company in Ireland should be compelled to run one train
at least on ..'.tuntlays each way at such hours as might be
approved by the Board of Trade; also to confer certain
rights upon third-class passengers.
Mr BLARE opposed the bill on the ground that there
Was .-40 Sunday traffic in Ireland to justify the house in
putting the companies to such an expense. He proposed as
an amendment that the bill be read a second time that day
three months.

The amendment was seconded by Lord NAAS, who said
that already the smaller railways in Ireland were working
at a loss, and that if this bill passed it would have the effect
of increasing that loss. Such legislation was novel and un-
fair; no great public good would be accomplished, whilst
much evil would be inflicted.
Major GAPIN and Mr O'REILLY supported the bill.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEtWER said it
was a question for the house whether, considering the na•
tare of the powers conferred by the act of 1851, it was ad-
visable to impose this additional burden upon the com-
panies.

The bill was opposed by Mr Hassard, Mr Lefroy, and Mr
Whiteside ; and upon a division was thrown out by 40
to 21.
The Pilotage Order Confirmation Bill and the Piers and
Harbours Confirmation Bill passed through committee.
The Lunacy (Scotland) Bill was read a second time.
The Countess of Elgin and Kincardine's Annuity Bill
was read a second time.
Other bills were also advanced a stage, and the house
adjourned.

REIW3VAL OF METROPOLITAN TURNPTEES.—Yea.
terday (Monday) morning workmen commenced the
relic:oval of the toll bars at Camden. town and other places.
The new Act, 26 and 27 Vic., cap. 78, will take effect after
12 o'clock on Thursday week, the 30th inst., and will
abolish on and from that time 81 gates and bars, free 51
miles of road, and reduce the tolls in the country districts
Hounslow, Brantford, Ealing, Uxbridge , Harrow, Edg-
ware, Tottenham, Enfield, Edmonton, Loa-bridge-n/Id, &e.
—to Id for every horse not drawing ; 2d every horse draw.
bag; every score of oxen, &c., 5d ; calves, sheep, &c., per
score, 21d. The gates and bars so to be removed on July 1
are :—Fulham—Walharn-green, Earl's-court, and all gates
and side bars in the district ; Kensington—Hammersmith,
Notting-hill, and all gates and side bars in Kensington and
Hammersmith; Harrow-road, Kilburn, and all gates and
side bars; Camden-town—King's-road-gate, High-street,
Chalk-farm, Haverstock-hill gate, and all gates and side
bars ; Camden-road—Brecknock-gate and all gates and side
bars in Camden-road, &c. ; Keniish-town—Gate in road
and all gates and side bars near and at Glocester-place, &c.;
Holloway-road. Islington, and Ball's-pond—all gates and
side bars; Kingsland-road—Cambridge-heath, Hackney,
and all gates and side bars in Hackney, Clapton, and
Stoke Newington; Twickenham end Addington—all gates
and bare; and the City-road gate and all gates and side
bare,