The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-10 00:00:00

SCOTCH REGISTRATION BILL.

On the motion of the LORD AD VOCATE, the order of
the day for the second reading of this bill was discharged.

LOCKING UP RAILWAY CARRIAGES.

Sir W. GALWEY inquired if the President of the Board
of Trado possessed any power which he could exercise to
prevent the locking up of passengers in railway trains.
Mr. M. GIBSON replied in the negative.
LAW OF EVIDENCE BILL.

Sir G. GREY, in reply to Sir Fitroy Kelly, stated that
it was not likely Government would be able to proceed
with this bill on Manday next.

FIRE BRIGADE BILL.

Mr. T. G. BARING, in reply to Mr. llankey, said the
Government would probably proceod with this bill on
Thursday next.

IRISH CONSTABULARY.

Mr. BLAKE called attention to what he termed the
general practice on the part of the Irish constabulary of
handcuffing prisoners on their way to and from the place
of detention.

Mr. WHITESIDE complained of the custom of the
Dublin police in stripping females and boys in their cus-
tody for the purpose of searching them.

Sir H. CAIRNS directed attention to an arbitrary and
violent exercise of power on a recent occasion by some of
the constabulary in Belfast.

Sir R. PEEL promised that the subjects referred to by
Mr Whiteside and Sir H. Cairns should receive conside-
ration, and that he would communicate with the local
authorities respecting them. With regard to the alleged
practice, so justly reprobated by Mr. Blake, whilst ad-
mitting that there might be cases of harshness, ho denied
that the practice could be truly described as general. The
code of regulations enjoined upon the constabulary that
they should show the utmost leniency towards prisoners.
He would take care, however, to institute an inquiry into
the matter.

ACCIDENTS ON RAILWAYS.

Sir L. PALK draw attention to a late fatal accident on
the Great Western Railway, and animadverted on the fact
that in that case the injury done was rendered much more
wirions in consequence of the passengers being locked in
the carriages. The committee which sat in 1858 recom-
mended that it should he imperative upon every railway
company to establish means of communication between
guards and engine-drivers, the erection of telegraphic com-
munication along the line; and the telegraphing of all
express and special trains. The hon. baronet made some
very severe remarks upon the mismanagement of the Great
Western Company, and declared his belief that if the above
recommendations had been carried out the recent accident
would have been prevented.

Mr. GIBSON stated that an inspector had been sent
down to inquire• into this particular case; he did not see,
however, in what way legislation could have prevented
the accident. Looking at the vast number of persons who
travelled by railway, and the circumstance that human
tehinery had so much to be depended upon, the only
wonder was that a still larger number of accidents did not
take place. The most effective mode of insuring safety was
to make the railway companies responsible for the acts of
their servants, and this was at present done by the law.
He agreed that there ought to be a system of communica-
tion established between guards and drivers, and that there
were no mechanical difficulties in the way of its establish-
ment. Ho should, therefore, impress these points upon the
inspectors, in order that they might urge them upon the
attention of the railway companies. As to the telegraph,
it was already in operation or in course of construction upon
all the lines. It was not expedient, therefore, to bring in
a bill for these purposes.