The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-17 00:00:00

THE PRIVATE BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.

Mr. GIBSON moved a series of resolutions, empowering
the committee of selection and the general committee on
railway and canal bills, after the committal of such bills, to
refer them to the chairman of the committee of ways and
means, assisted by a committee of members, to hear the
parties promoting or opposing, and report thereon to the
house—fixing the scale to be paid by promoters and oppo-
nents—authorising the Speaker to revise the list of charges
for Parliamentary agents and solicitors; or ering that copies
of the minutes of evidence on opposed private bills Ira printed
at the cost of the parties requiring it, and directing that
private bill committees should meet at 11 o'clock in the
forenoon.

Lord R. CECIL, having enumerated the evils attendant
upon the existing system of conducting private bill legisla-
tion, insisted that the time had arrived when a change was
imperatively required. The proposal of the President of the
Board of Trade was a step in the right direction, and would
no doubt tend to lighten the labours of hon. members ; but
his objection to it was that it was an improvement which
proceeded at a snail's pace. He moved, as an amendment to
the first resolution, that it was expedient the duty of ascer-
taining the facts upon which legislation in respect to pri
vate bills was to proceed should be discharged by some tri-
bunal external to the house, who should report to a select
committee of the house.

The amendment was seconded by Mr. PAULL, and
opposed by Mr, GIBSON, who pointed out as the chief ob-
jection that such a preliminary inquiry would only add
another stage to the present proceedings.

The proposal led to a long and uninteresting discussion,
in which Lord H. Vane, Mr. Massey, Colonel W. Patten,
and Mr. B. Carter took part, after which the amendment
was withdrawn, and the first resolution, as to the duties of
the chairman of committee of ways and means, and the
committee of members by whom he is to be assisted, was
agreed to, as were also the succeeding resolutions bearing
on the question of fees and the printing of evidence.
On the resolution that committees on private bills be
ordered to meet at eleven in the forenoon,
Lord R, CECIL deprecated the proposal as cruel and
inhuman.

Colonel PATTEN believed that few changes in the
present system would more conduce to the diminution of
expense ; but it would be unpopular amongst members, and
he feared would not be found to work well.

Mr. HASSARD movod, as an amendment, the substitu•

tion of "twelve" for eleven o'clock, but leaving it to tho
committee to adjourn to such other hour as it might ap-
point.
Ultimately both motion and amendment were withdrawn.
At 20 minutes past 11 o'clock the notie•aa of motion were
called on, and

Mr. ADAIR gave notice that on the 15th of March Mr.
Fortescue (Andover) would call the attention of the house

to the court-martial on Colonel Crawley, and move for
further papers.
Mr. H. SHERIDAN gave notice of a bill to reduce the
duty chargeable on fire insurances.

Lord R. CECIL gave uotice that on Friday fortnight
Mr. Peacocks would submit a motion with reference to the
Tnscaloosa.

Leave was given to Mr. GIBSON to introduce a bill to
facilitate the obtaining of powers for the construction of
railways; and a bill to facilitate the obtaining of further
powers by railway companies.

The select committeee on the registration of county voters
was nominated on the motionof Mr. DODSON.
The house adjourned at a quarter to 12 o'clock.

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