The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-01 00:00:00

MIDNIGHT BUSINESS.

Mr. BROTHERTON moved, that if any new business
be brought on after twelve o'clock at night, and a mem-
ber rise to order, and objects to the house proceeding
with the debate, a division shall, without further discus-
sion, be immediately taken on the question, that the
debate be now adjourned, unless the mover of the ori-
ginal motion agrees to its being postponed. The hon.
member said the time had arrived when a stop ought to
be put to sitting after midnight. In 1849 the house
sat 76 hours after midnight ; in 1850, 108 hours ; in
1851, 86 hours ; in 1852, 61 horns ; and in 1853,
133 hours. This was the only country, he believed,

in the world where the business of the legislature
could not be carried on in dAylight, and he thought it
was a disgrace to our nationality that the House of Com-
mons should sit so long at unreasonable times and
hours. He hoped, therefore, the house would ex-
perience no difficulty in adopting his motion, and put
an end to the bad practice which he and others
complained of, and which had already seriously
affected the health of many honourable members
who entertained a conscientious conviction that it was
a duty they owed to the country to remain in the house
until its rising. (Hear, hear.) Let them try the expe-
riment which he proposed for one session, and if it did
not answer he would most readily give it up. Hear.)
Mr. WILLIAMS seconded the motion, but he felt
that it did not go far enough. The evils of these late
sittings were greatly on the increase, and not the least
of them was to be found in the confusion which prevailed
in our statute books. Many modern acts of parliament
were a mass of inconsistency and confusion, which no
lawyer could understand ; and this was the natural
result of hasty legislation, carried on at late hours of
the night. (Hear, hear.) He appealed to the house to
put an end to this disgraceful state of things, and he
thought the first step towards doing so would be to
adopt this motion.
Sir J. PAKINGTON said this was a question of

hours as disclosed by the motion, but he mast be per-
mitted to say that, if they made it a question of months,
it would be more satisfactory to the country. Could
they not so amend the forms and practice of the house

as to make it necessary for them to meet earlier in the

year, or to prorogue in sufficient time to admit of au-
tumn sittings ? Would it not be better to appoint a
committee at once to consider the whole subject ?
Lord J. RUSSELL had long felt and fully admitted
the inconvenience of protracting the sittings to a late
hour of night, but hitherto the exigences of the public
had demanded that the deliberations of the house should
extend beyond twelve o'clock at night. (Hear, hear.)
At the same time he could not see what good could
result from the adoption of this motion, since it
would still leave it open to members to move ad-
journment after adjournment when they were
opposed to proceeding with new business after mid-
night, even supposing the majority of the
house had already decided that such new business
should be brought in. He thought. however, that great
advantage could be obtained from the appointment of a
committee on this subject, but as matters now stood he
was afraid many measures of great public advantage
must remain undisposed of, if the house did not now
and than choose to sit at a late hour. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. HUME could see no reason why the business of
the country could not be done in sufficient time to allow of
the prorogation taking place in July. He might be
asked how this could be done ? Why, simply by limit-
ing every member who felt disposed to address the house
to a speech of an hour. Much of the mischief complained
of was attributable to the conduct of the great guns of
the house. (A laugh.) Instead of giving their views
and opinions early in debate, they generally kept them-
selves in reserve so as to have the last word in attack-
ing one another. (A laugh.) Now let this practice
be abandoned, and all questions of importance could be
disposed of with a night's debate. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. WALPOLE said they seemed to be all agreed
that the business of the house was not conducted in the
best possible manner, and he thought they could not do
better than at once to appoint a committee to consider
the whole question. He suggested that in future more
measures should originate with the Lords, and then the
business, instead of coming in a mass upon each at the
same time, would be equally divided between the two
branches of the Legislature. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. E. DENISON advocated the appointment of a
committee.
Mr. H..4DFIELD trusted the hon. member for Sal-
ford would persevere in his motion as it was impossible
that members could continue the late sittings of last
Session.

Mr. NAPIER, on the contrary, hoped the hon. mem-
ber would not divide the house upon the motion, but
leave the question to be disposed of in the manner sug-
gested by the hon. baronet, the member for Droitwich,
and suggested by the noble lord., the member for the
City of London.
After a few words of reply from Mr. BROTHERTON,
the house divided, when there appeared—
For the motion
Against it
The motion was, consequently, lost.
HEREDITARY REVENUES.

. 54
.. 84-30

Mr. WILSON give notice that to-morrow the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer would move in committee of the
whole house, for a bill to alter the mode of providing for
certain expenses now charged upon certain branches of
the Public and Heriditary Revenues, and upon the Con-
solidated Fund.