The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-10 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF COMMONS—This DAY.
The SPEAKER took the chair at 12 o'clock.
CHURCH RATES, COMMUTATION BILL.
Mr. NEWDEGAT-E moved the second reading of this
bill, the object of which was to throw the payment of
church-rates upon the landlord instead of the occu-
pier ; in fact to render the owner of property liable
for the rate when the occupier had conscien-
tious objections to the payment of church-rates.
He could not see that there could be any valid objection to
the principle of his bill, except from some parties who de-
sired to make the constitution of this country in this par-
ticular respect like to that of the United States, where there
was no form of Christianity recognised by the State. When
they looked for a moment at the condition of affairs in that
country, where the President had been murdered and the
life of the Prime Minister attempted, he did think there
would be some hesitation before they adopted the proposals
of those whose distinct object was to remove the character
of the constitution, of this country. The object he sought
to effect by his bill was by no means new. He had last
year endeavoured to obtain the sanction of Parliament
to the principle of his hill, which was to substitute a charge
of 2d. in the pound on real property in lieu of existing
church rates. The bill was only to extend to property at
present assessed to church rates within the last seven
years, and not to places where church rates had been
opposed and a poll taken for three successive years.
The tax he proposed was to be levied as laid
down in schedule A of the income tax, which he thought
more equitable and convenient than the system at present
pursued. He felt the best result would follow from the
passing of the bill, as it would remove that bitterness
which prevailed for so long a period. Ho only sought to
enact that which the Poor Law Commissioners recom-
mended in 1843—viz., that the burden of church rates
be treated as a charge upon property instead of on the per-
son. He hoped his motion would not be rejected, especially as
ho only asked the house to assent to the principle of the bill
by reading it a second time, in order that it might be re-
ferred to a select committee, who would make it the basis
of inquiry.
Sir C. DOUGLAS moved that the bill be read a second
time that day six months. The objection ho urged last
year against the bill he offered on the present occasion.
The feeling of the house appeared to be, after the repeated
discussions that had taken place, that the question of
church rates should be submitted to the next general elec-
tion on the hustings, and for that purpose he took the
course he did.

Sir G. GREY advised the hon. member not to press the
house to a division. Ile thought the same course should
be adopted by the house as on a former occasion, that the
matter should rest until after the general election.
Mr. SCHOLEFEELD supported, and Mr. KINGLAKE objected
to the bill.

Mr. COLLINS hoped his hon. friend would adopt tho
course recommended to him, and withdraw the bill. Ho
would by that means receive the support of both sides of
the house. (Laughter.) If ho pressed it to a division ho
hoped it would be rejected by a large majority.

After a few words from Mr. NEALE, Mr. IVHALLEY, and
Mr. HEY GATE, •

Lord JOHN MANNERS advised the hon. member for
North Warwickshire not to press his motion to a division.
Mr. GILPIN said no measure would be acceptable to a
great number of persons in this country which did not en-
tirely abolish compulsory church rates.
Mr. Alderman ROSE thought there was no sincerity in
the advocacy of the pasties opposite with respect to the
abolition of church rates. They used it as a convenient
hustings cry, and there the matter ended. He objected to
a minority in the countryi dictating to a majority on the
subject of the abolition of church rates.

The house then divided, when there appeared—
For the second reading 42
Against it
Majority —B4
The bill was consequently rejected.
COUNTY VOTERS REGISTRATION BILL.

On the motion for going into committee on this bill,
Mr. HUNT moved that it be an instruction to the
committee that they have power to extend the provisions
of the bill relating to the powers and duties of revising
barristers to the cases of registration in cities and boroughs
with reference to theibrdering the immediate payment of
costs, and in having the power to commit persons for con-
tempt of court.
The motion was agreed to, and the house went into com-
mittee on the bill.

Clauses 1 to 9 were agreed to.
On clause 10,

Mr. C. WYNN moved that instead of the sum stated in
the bill, viz. £3, that the sum ordered to be paid for costs
should not upon any one vote exceed the sum of Zö.
The Committee divided, when there appeared—
For the amendment

Against it
Majority

. 106
.. --5

A long discussion took place upon the proposition to
introduce a clause allowing persons claiming or omitted
from the list of voters, persons objected to, and persons
changing their place of abode, to make a declaration before
any justice of the peace or other person authorised to ad-
minister oaths in place of personally attending before the
revising barrister.

Ultimately tho house divided, when there appeared—
For the clause
Against it
Majority —ll

The clause was then ordered to be added to the bill.

The remaining clauses were then agreed to, and the
bill was ordered to be reprinted and reported on Mon-
day next.

work-
THEATRES, &c., BILL.
ectunndpraovvideerYd it was
send the
which bill t
the
eo ahesea
theatres,
Mr. LOCKE moved the second reading of this bill. He
said one of the objections to the measure was that it did
not go far enough, but he thought if the house agreed
the
to
hb
el
ethe
ne
est motion t
Ileoonf
should
tt
hheo
have
ua ; wouldtnoo
obb
sfienreferred t
were placed, and also to the
committee, where, with little labour, it might be made to
meet the wishes of those who objecte4 to it. The hon member
then referred to the acts of Parliament with respectt to
"players," and that regulations under
upaetoe.nitit.hellateret
of the minor theatres previous to o the position
6 and 7 Victoria, and. to the the passing of the
by the managers of those theatresclamour that was made
allnctoowfnlOatshthofe
legitimate drama. The hon for permission to act the
house at a quarter to six, wh •
. member was addressing the
standing order the debate when in accordance with the
was adjourned.
The other orders of th
house adjourned. e day were disposed of, and the

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE—This day.

LONTON, May 10.—Wind this day at noon—South-
Westerly; moderate breeze and cloudy weather, with
heavy rain.

SWANSEA, May 9.—Wind S.W.--Arrived—Atwisa,
from Caldera.

CLYDE, May B.—Wind S.W.—Arrived.—Mary Ann,
from Natal ; James Stuart, from. Pernambuco ; Era, from
Halifax, N.S. Sailed—John Hay, for Trinidad ; Barba-
dian, for Havannah.

CARDIFF, May 9.—Wind S.W.—Sailed—John Houston,
for Shanghai; Alexandrian, for New York; Victory, for
Bilboa.
AOLYIERAD, May 9.—Wind S.S.E.—Arrived—Echo,
from Nassau, and sailed for Liverpool. Sailed—Royal
Adelaide, for Bombay.

A WHIMSICAL FRENCH JEST ! —Considerable
merriment has been occasioned in French literary circles
by the publication in Paris of a squib entitled " The His..
tory of Napoleon 111., by Julius Cmsar."
TYPHUS IN MALTA.—A severe form of typhus
fever has lately been very prevalent in several of the coun-
try districts in Malta. Its virulence has now abated, and
from a report made by order of the Governor it appears that
it was due to overcrowding in ill-ventilated apartment

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF LORDS—LAST EVENING.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.

ROYAL COMMISSION.
The Royal assent was given by commission to the fol-
lowing bills :—An Act for Amending the Law of Evidence
and Practice in Criminal Trials ; East India Governer-
Generals' Powers, &c. ; Batc and Insolvency
(Ireland) Act Amendment Metropolitan Drainage
Extension; Enclosure of Lands ; Herring Fisheries
(Scotland) ; Land Drainage Supplemental ; Local Govern-
ment Supplemental ; Local Government Supplemental
(No. 2) ; Rossendale Union Gas; Mistley, Thorpe, and
Walton Railway; Brighton, Hove, and Preston; Constant
Service Water; Leicester Lunatic Asylum and Improve-
ment ; Limerick Embankment and Reclamation ; Oswastry
Local Board ; Holston Road ; Ramsbottom Gas ; and Bol-
ton Improvement.
The Royal Commissioners were the Lord Chancellor,
Viscount Sydney, and Earl St. Germans.