The Sun.
London, England, 1852-02-04 00:00:00

lONIAN ISLANDS.

Mr. HUME gave notice that to-morrow ho should
ask a question respecting the Government of the lonian
Islands.

INCOME AND PROPERTY-TAX.

Mr. HUME also gave notice that he should ask a
question respecting the intention of the Government to
alter the rating of the income-tax.—(Cheers.)
BRIBERY AT ELECTIONS.

Mr. CHISHOLM ANSTEY wished to know
whether there was any provision made in the proceed-
ings of the Government for preventing bribery at elec-
tionsL
Mr. CarNrif 'ALL 'LEWIS said": that by the Act
upon the subject it was enacted that every person
guilty of bribery and corruption was liable to be tried
for high crimes and misdemeanours. The Government
were quite ready to answer the question.
Mr. HUME could only refer to the standing orders,
which completely settled that question.
VOTING MONEY AFI'ER MIDNIGHT.
Mr. HUME moved an amendment to the Standing
Orders, to the effect that no vote in Committee of Sup-
ply should be taken after midnight. It had been
the practice for four or five sessions to vote money
after twelve o'clock, when the House was
nearly empty. This practice did not redound much to
the credit of the House, which was supposed to hold the
purse strings of the country. It was invidious for a
single Member to get up in nearly an empty
house and oppose a vote, especially as the Govern-
ment were sure to urge the necessity of agreeing
to it. When the Tories were in office he
never allowed a single farthing to be voted after twelve
o'clock, and he blamed himself for relaxing his line of
conduct in regard to the present Government. It was
not fair play to treat the two parties differently. He,
therefore, hoped the House would agree to the amend-
ment.

Colonel SIBTHORP supported the proposition.
Mr. CORNE WALL LEWIS hoped the House would
not agree to tho amendment. He thought that on look-
ing back to the proceedings of the Committee of Supply,
no practical inconvenience or abuse had arisen to justify
the House in determining that no votes should be pro-
posed after twelve o'clock.
Mr. HUME said that it would be better to establish a
general rule, and exception could be made whenever
there was occasion. He considered the matter of so
much importance that he should divide the House.
The House then divided, when there appeared—
For the amendment
Against it 146
Majority
The amendment was consequently lost.
Mr. BROTHERTON announced that it was not his
intention this year to propose his annual motion that
the House should terminate its sittings every night at
twelve o'clock.
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS' KITCHEN.
Mr. STAFFORD moved that a Standing Committee
be appointed to control the arrangements of the kitchen
and refreshment rooms in the department of the Ser-
geant-at-Arms attending this House:—Lord Marcus
Hill, Mr. Mackenzie, Mr. Dawson, Mr. Alderman Hum-
phery, and Mr. Stafferd: three to be the quorum.
Mr. F. FRENCH considered this was a
very important motion, and one in which the House
was deeply interested.—(A laugh.) Hitherto the
House had not been well used in the Committee, and
notwithstanding that 400. a year was allowed for ser-
vants, besides lights and coal, Members were very
heavily charged for what they had in the dining-
room attached to the House.—(Hear, hear.) Now
why should the charges of the kitchen be
higher than those of a well-regulated club, and yet
Members wore charged 6 a bottle for sherry, that
really was not worth 3s. —(Hear, hear, and laughter.)
The House might laugh, but if these impositions were
got rid oe, and the tables in the dining-rooms were wall
arranged and kept constantly supplied with °loan
cloths, there would be fewer countings out than there
had been of late years.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.)
Under the present system many Members were forced to
dine at their° clubs, when they would prefer dining
and remaining in the House.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. C. ANSTEY found fault with the Committee
because there was no Roman Catholic upon
(Laughter.) How could a Protestant Committeee make
the necessary provision for a Friday's dinner for a Ro-
man Catholic?—(Renewed :laughter.) He, therefore,
moved that the name of a Roman Catholic Member be
added to the Committee.—(Hear, hear.)
The SPEAKER told the Hon. and Learned Member
that he could not make that motion without notice.
Mr. A, STAFFORD admitted that there was good
cause for these complaints; but with regard to the
abuses of the kitchen, the Committee had delayed
making the necessary reforms until they had got corn-
fortablyalitb the new House.
The tion was agreed to.

readESS. the report
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pTroliceEedAinDg Dtoß
wh Il it W. R. Bulkeley brought up.
r. HUME rose and said that he did not wish to say
anything that could possibly be detrimental to the public
service, but ho did not, at the same time, conceive that
he should be doing his duty if he did not also say that
there were many things of which he had to Complain.
When he last night left the House, it certainly wus
to all perception comfortable, but when he got into the
open air he found that it was sufficiently keen to render
the difference very perceptible, even if it was not in-
jurious. He bad. however, found it injurious. He
would not say from what cause, but it certainly was
evident that some great mischief had arisen. The
House last night was too hot from one cause or another.
—(Cheers and laughter.) Ho thought that some alte-
ration ought to he made, but on that ho would not give
any opinion.—(Hear, hear.) The House was certainly
worthy of approbation in some senses, but he found
it quite unfit for the purposes for which it wee
built.—(Hear, hear.) Some years ago he had complained
in Parliament of the public works which were at that
time being exercised under the direction of Mr. Nash,
A committee of equiry had been instituted, and the
consequence was that Mr. Nash was removed from his
place, and Mr. Blore, whose abilities all could appreciate,
was substituted in his stead.—(Hear, hear.) The same
defect in the public administration of affairs seemed to
exist now. They had had abundance of ornament and
plenty of consideration, every opportunity for ability,
but what was the result? Why, a House far too small
for the Members to meet in, a number of ornaments,
but nothing fit for its purpose.—Hear, hear.) There
were, it was trne, the painted windows.—(Hear, hear.)
All very well in their way, but quite inappropriate
for the meetings of a legislative assembly. In fact they
reminded him of nothing more or less than the sign of
the Red Dragon at Brentford.—(Hear, hear, and laugh-
ter.) He saw around him the impresss of much taste but
little judgment; and the fact was that the money of the
country was being lavished for useless purposes.
No man knew better than the Noble Lord (Lord John
Russell) the principles of the Constitution, and he hoped
he would not disappoint the expectations which the
country had formed of him. Ho was sorry to find that
a large portion of the wealthy and influential classes
was not in favour of that extension of the suf-
frage which Reformers thought was necessary.
They perhaps feared that a more liberal franchise
might overturn our constitution which had withstood so
many storms and adversities, but he would tell them
that when peace and tranquility existed, they ought to_
concede to the great body of the people those political
rights which they were entitled to possess. Wl2es.
he dreaded most was, large numbers of c.i!
contented artizans, who were denied e the
privileges of citizens, and bad no
voice
elcNoble
the Legislature. He trusted sincerely that t
restly
Lord's Bill would give satisfaction. He was t at
disappointed that the promises of the Governme E Eu
- e governments,
our coloeies should have representative
bad been
had not been fulfilled. No notice whateve
New Zealand,
ex
taken of our colonial possessions,except
sorry to find
in the Royal Speech. Ho was also .
in the Speech
that no announcement was made
'a all its branches.
that free trade should be carried outiinterest had
He readily admitted that the agreel
lgh ht a
lbs landed in-
good grounds of complaint; he
tblot
free trade conceded
terest ought to have the benefits of
which
to them in reduced duties on many articles.
the affairs of France, the
consumed. In speaking of
Noble Lord had, he was sure, spoken the feelings of
he could only wonder what it was
the country, and f enc ' •
that had awoke the unfounded alarm 0 hin as
vion.
He hoped there would be no increase Fr
in the war
estimates, because be thought the present force was
quite sufficient, if properly organised and trained, to prc-
vide for the safety of the country against all comers. Both
country were equally interested in the preservation of
peace, and he could see no cause which could possibly
disturb it. He for one should endeavour to prevent any
additional expense being„ incurred, until that
force which the country possessed was collected and put
to its best use.
Mr. B. OSBORNE rose to complain of the • imperfect
nature of the fittings of the House. One of the
candelabra had yesterday lii
fe..en down into the
gallery and broken through the floor only a short
time bolero the sitting of the lbw. Witt% re-