The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-28 00:00:00

THE STANDING ORDERS.

Col. W. PATTEN called the attention of the house to
the report of the Committee of Referees on Private Bills,
and moved the following alteration in the Standing Orders :
—To repeal Order 88, and to substitute the following :
" The Chairman of Ways and Means, with such other
persons to be appointed by Mr. Speaker, and for such
period as he shall think fit, shall be referees of the house
on private bills ; such referees to form one or more courts,
and three at least to constitute one court ; the chairman of
each court to be a member of this house." After No. 90,
to insert the following :—" In case the promoters and
opponents of any bill shall agree that all the
questions in 'issue between them upon such bill shall be re-
ferred to the referees, it shall be competent to the referees
to inquire into the whole subject matter of the bill, and to
report their opinion thereon to the house ; and, in case they
shall report that such bill ought to be proceeded with, the
same shall, unless the house shall otherwise order, be re-
ferred to the committee on unopposed bills, and shall be
treated as an unopposed bill." After No. 91 : "In case
the referees shall report, with reference to any bill, that
the estimate deposited in respect thereof is insufficient, or
that the engineering is inefficient for the proposed object,
the bill shall not be further proceeded with unless the
house shall otherwis3 order." The hon. and gallant gentle-
man went at great length into the matter, and said he was
of opinion to compensate the members of the house
for the sacrifice of time they were called upon to make in
filling the office of referees.
Mr. AYRTON objected to tho proposition of paying
members of that house for services rendered in committee.

Mr. LIDDELL thought it would be better to postpone
the consideration of the matter until the next Parliament
met. He did not think that a thin house at the close of
the session ought to determine the matter.
Sir E. COLEBROKE was quite ready either to take
the motion into consideration on that occasion, or leave it
to be dealt with in the next session of Parliament. He did
not think they could carry out effectually the committee of
referees without the members were adequately compensated
for the undivided attention they were called upon to give
for the public good.
Lord HOTHAM objected to the payment of the refe-
rees without they were placed in the same position as the
chairman of committees.

Mr. HENLEY was quite disposed to vote for the conti-
nuance of the arrangement of the court of referees,
pure and simple, but he was indisposed to give his assent
to a proposition now made for payment of the members of
the house forming the court.
A long discussion ensued, which terminated in Colonel
Wilson Patten withdrawing the 88th order, which involved
the question of payment of members, and the other
alterations suggested by the hon. and gallant member were
agreed to.
The SPEAKER, at the conclusion of the debate on the
standing orders, said ho had to thank the several members
who had taken part in the transaction of the private busi-
ness of the house, and
Sir G. GREY, on the part of the Government, also said
that the house and the country were under deep obliga-
tions to the hon. gentleman for the valuable services per-
formed.

The amendments to the Clerical Subscription Bill were
considered and agreed to.
The amendments to the Turnpike Act Amendment Bill
were considered and agreed to.

The County Courts Equitable Jurisdiction Bill was read
a third time and passed.
The Colonial Docks Loan Bill, as amended, was further
considered, and ordered to be read a third time to-morrow.
The Poor Law Board Continuance, dm., Bill was read a
third: time and passed.
The Marriages (Lambourne) Bill passed through com-
mittee, and was reported without amendment.