The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-23 00:00:00

IMERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF LORDS—LAST EVENING.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC OATHS ABOLITION
BILL.
The Marquis of WESTMEATH presented petitions from
some rural districts against this bill, and went into their
prayer at some length in a rather informal manner.
THE NATIONAL GALLERY, ecc.
The Earl of SHAFTESBURY presented petitions from
different bodies of artisans in the metropolis, praying that
the above institution, and other institutions of a similar
character, might be opened to the public three times a week
in the afternoon or evening, so as to enable the working
classes to avail themselves of inspecting the valuable col-
lections they contained.
TRUSTS ADMINISTRATION (SCOTLAND) BILL.
The LORD CHANCELLOR, in moving the second
reading of this bill, made a few observations explanatory
of its objects.
Lord BROUGHAM expressed his approval of the bill,
which was read a second time.

The Lunatic Asylum Act (1853), &c., Amendment Bill
went through committee.

The Fortification (Provision for Expenses) Bill was read
a second time.

The Malt Duty and Harbour Transfer Bills were read a
second time.

Kingston Harbour Bill was also read a second time.
The General Post-office (Additional Site) Bill passed
through committee.
The report of amendments on the Railway Debentures,
&c., Register Bill was brought up and received.
The Publichouse Closing Act Bill was read a third time
and passed.

The report of the amendments on the Locomotives ox
Roads Bill was brought up and received.
The Admiralty Acts Repeal Bill, the Admiralty Powers,
ac., Bill, the Dockyards Bill and Regulation Bill went
through committee.
PRISONS BILL.

On the motion of Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY,
the motion for going into committee on this bill, which
stood on the list, was postponed.
The Small Benefices (Ireland) Act (1860) passed through
committee. _ _

—___......
The report of amendments to the Mortgage Debentures
Bill was brought up and received.
The report of amendments to the Prisons (Scotland)
Act Amendment Bill was also brought up and received.

The Trespass (Scotland) Bill, the Ecclesiastical Leasing
Act (1858) Amendment Bill, the Pier and Harbour Orders
Confirmation Bill, and the Pilotage Orders Confirmation
Bill were read a third time and passed. _ _

The report of Amendments on the Smoke Nuisances
(Scotland) and Procurators (Scotland) Bills were brought
up and received.
The following bills were read a third time and passed :
—Church and Chapel Exemption (Scotland), Colonial Va-
lidity, and Defences Act (1860) Amendment.
The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and
the house adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—LAST EVENING.
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The following bills were a third time and passed :—Bel-
fast and County Down, and Belfast, Holywood, and Ban-
gor Railway Companies ; Bristol Port Railway and Pier ;
Cork and Limerick Direct Railway ; Isle of Wight Rail-
way (Steamboats) ; and Llanelly Railway and Dock.

NEW MEMBER.
Mr. EATON took the oaths and his seat for Coventry.

LEEDS BANKRUPTCY COURT.

Mr. HOWES brought up the report of the committee
appointed to inquire into the matter. The report was
ordered to be presented.

THE CIVIL SERVICE.

Sir C. DOUGLAS asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer
whether it was the system throughout the civil service
that two persons were selected by the Treasury,
in each office, to make out the list of payments to be
made, which lists are sent to the Paymaster General,
who pays them without question if signed by the offi-
cers duly appointed to sign, and the Audit-office passes the
accounts (of some offices) in the accounts of the Paymaster
General ; whether those officers in the several departments
do not substantially draw cheques on the Paymaster Gene-
ral, as the Treasury banker, which are honoured by him,
and passed by the Audit-office as a matter of course ; who
audited the accounts of the drawers of cheques ; what secu-
rities there were against the drawing of cheques contrary to
Treasury authority, and possibly not for the public service, '
or against fraud, except the integrity of the drawers of
cheques; and if there was any, and what, security for the
discovery of fraud by an audit of the accounts in the ac-
count of the Paymaster-General.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
could only answer the question in detail. He would in
preference be happy to give his hon. friend every facility
to prosecute his inquiry by personally explaining to him
the whole arrangement. He, however, could inform him
that there was no uniform rule; different departments were
governed by different regulations.