The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-24 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS-(YESTERDAY.)

NEWSPAPER STAMPS
Mr. CRAUFURD, seeing the Chancellor of the Ex-
cheque. in his place, wasdesirous of being informed when
the newspaper stamp returns, and the correspondence
with re-pest to unstarnped publications in Ireland,
which had been ordered by the house, were likely to be
laid upon the table ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—The
answer which I received with respect to the subject
of the honourable gentleman's question was, that the
newspaper stamp return was a very simple matter to
prepare—that it was in fact already prepared—and I
apprehend although I speak without certainty, it
is already on the table of the house. (Hear, hear.)
With respect to the correspondence, on the other
hand, it is very difficult, and takes a great deal of
time to procure. It is necessary to make a long and
laborious search through a great heap of correspondence,
and although every diligence has been used and will be
used in obtaining it, I am not able to say that it is
absolutely ready.

Mr. 14EWLiEGATE said it was very much com-
plained by many newspaper proprietors that the publi-
cation of the stamp returns placed them in the same
position in which they would be put by the publica-
tion of the income tax assessments, so far as con-
cerned the revelations of the condition of their trade.
(Hear, hear.) They were greatly gratified two years ago
at finding that the right hon. gentleman had refused
to allow them to be possibly injured by the produc-
tion of these returns ; and they wished to know whether
anything had occurred since then which had induced
him to consent to that which he had then refused, or
whether they might not still hope that this publication
to their prejudice would not, even now, be permitted.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—The
reason which induced me to consent to the-c returns Wag
one which did not at all address itseli to lily understand-
inif, but was connected with my sense of duty to this
house—it was fict a division of the Hou,ie of Coin-
nions. (Hear.) No doubt that division took place pro
forma upon a motion of adjournment made by my horn.
friend behind ; but I apprehend the clear ineanint;
of that division was, that the feeling of the house was
that these returns should be published ; and although I
individually was of a different opinion, as I stated
plainly at the time, I did not think it became
of the to
keep up a prolonged opposition to the wishes
house upon the subject.
GAMING HOUSES.
, The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved for leave to
introduce a bill for the suppression of gaming houses.
(Hear, hear.) The bill in question had for its object
the existing condition of the law relating to such esta-
blishments, and to supply its deficiencies ; and he
thought hon. members who had read the police reports
of late must have seen so many cases of the law being
set at (Woo end triißphe4 over by tjao kgepera of

these places as to cali for a measure of the kind. Many
wise and useful provisions against gaming were already
in operation, and they had succeeded in putting the
practice of public gaming down ; so far the metropolis
presented a very favourable contrast to many conti-
nental towns, where, for unworthy motives, this prac-
tice was permitted. But, though public gaming was
suppressed, all our legislation had, unfortunately, been
without success for the preves.tion of private gaming.
Every day brought to light some fresh instances of young
men of hope and promise being led into these esta-
blishments, to the ruin of their fortunes and the de-
struction of their prospects in life ; and this, though
there were penalties imposed by many statutes against
those who kept such houses and those who frequented
them. The law permitted its officers to enter these
houses by force, to s Sze all the persons found in thew,
and to take the gaining instruments they discovered;
and one would have supposed that such means, unspar-
ingly used, would have hail the desired effect. Cer-
tainly no blame attached either to the magistrates or to
the police, who were both active and zealous in the per
formance of their respective duties. The reason why
the present legal remedy was ineffectual was that these
gaming establishments were conducted in private houses,
from which the keepers excluded all persons likely to
betray them, and to which access was only to be attained
by introduction. This system enabled them always to
keep out the police till they were enabled to get rid of
all the proofs of gaining which were required for their
conviction. He had been in communication with an
officer, who had explained to him the mode in which they
secered themselves from discovery. It seemed that they
regularly fortified their establishments ; that either
an outer or an inner door was fortified in a manner from_
which even the Board of Ordnance might take a lesson;
and that this caused a delay of at lee st half an hour to
the police who were endeavouring to effect an entrance,
and thus afforded time to make away with the implements
of gaming. As he had said, they took very good care
not to admit ail), one in whom they had not the most
titorough confidence. They admitted old hands, because
they were known to them ; they admitted young hands
when they came introduced by old ones ; but the police,
of course, they did not admit ; they were too well known
to the wary guardians stationed inside and out to have
any chance of that. The moment any suspicious-look-
ing person appeared, these men, either by rim ging a bell
or otherwise, give warping ; bolts, bars, and chains
were all immediately applied ; and long before the
police, if it was the police, could effect an entrance,
every article used for the purposes of gaming was removed
—entirely removed—for they had a convenience com-
municating with the common sewer. As soon as this
was done, the obstacles to the entrance were dispensed
with, the police were received with great politeness,
and a party of gentlemen were found upstairs, either
over the supper table or engaged in a harmless game of
billiards. They were all taken before the magistrates,
and the case was heard. At a particular point it broke
down for want of evidence, and everybody laughed, ex-
cept the discomfited police. The prisoners were then
discharged, probably only to resume their abominable
practices the same night. (Hear, hear.) This state of
things was very objectionable, and had been commented
upon by the press in the right spirit. The Government
had turned their attention to it, and, after due considera-
tion, he thought it clear that the cause of the' constant
defeat of the law wait the difficulty of obtaining legal
evidence. (Hear, hear.) Nobody doubted that these
houses did exist ; they were known perfectly well to
the police ; they were known as well as the hotels or
taverns in the same street, and it was notorious that they
were frequented by regular gamblers and by persons who
inveigled young wee into grew t gamble. The keepers
of theta inecee t the lew. It was most desirable that the
taw should be asserted. The first difficulty in the way
was the means they used of shutting out the police.
If the police could, as the act authorised them, enter at
all tones into these places, they would very soon detect
the gamblers, and bring time keepers of such establish-
meets to justice. As long as this barring out was
allowed they could do nothing. He proposed, therefore
to make it a substantive offence wilfully to take means
for excluding and preventing the entrance of the officers
when they demanded admission on the authority of the
law. (Hear, hear.) It !night at first seem obeeciionable
even to make the barring of a man's own house an
offence, but hue. members would see the distinction be-
tweet' the ordinary, precautions of a householder and
alms abselete f against the law, and the ma-
gie.rates Iniglit feisty he tee. wed todiserirnivate between
tS use t, v.) ea. a. Ile proposed that where an informa-
tion was laid, and a magistrate issued his warrant,
unusual and unnecessary ineens employed to keep out
the officers from the inspection they were entitled to
should be a substantive offence, and should render
liable to a penalty as such. (Hear, hear.) Next he
extended the principles of the act relating to gam-
ing. By that it was provided that where any cards or
lice, or other implements of gaining were found, it
should be cornpeteet to the magistrates to suppose that
time house in which they were discovered was used as a
gambig house, and to throw the burden of disproof upon
the persons accused. He proposed to extend that prin-
ciple to cases iii which houses were thus unnecessarily
fortified, and to make their keepers prove them not
ga ning houses, in spite of the suspicious circumstance
of their being so defended. He also proposed to let
the maei-trate—who ordinarily could judge which of the
prisoners brought before him were dupes and which
were hackneyed gamblers, select in each case those whom
it would be proper to prosecute, and those who, less
culpable, might be admitted as witnesses. There were
in what was called every "haul" some who would not
, perjure themselves, and whose evidence it was desir-
able and necessary, for the carrying out of the law,
that we should have. Believing, also, that nothing
would deter young nien more than publicity; he pro-
posed to make it an cffetice to give a false name and
ad Tress. (Hear, hear.) These provisions, he thought,
would remedy the evil at which they aimed. The
house had legislated successfully against the betting-
betimes; it would nu se be doing an equally salutary
work in putting down the remnant of the gaining-
houses that still existed in this country. (Cheers.)
Sir J. V. SHELLEY, as the representative of West-
minster, thanked the lion, amid learned gentleman for
having prop used this reform in the law.
Leave was thee given to bring in the bill,
The house then adjourned at half-past six °clock.

COUNTRI' MARKETS.

DERBY SMITHFIELD-MARCH 21.

The supply of fat beasts to-day was an average one
There were several lots of excellent quality, and others
only of the mi sort. The demand for beef was again
good, and high prices were realised. The number of sheep
penned was not so large as on some previous markets, but
were quite as dear. tat and store calves were again plen-
tiful. The supply of pigs, both English and Irish, visol
again large.

The following were the quotations : —Beef, ad to 60 ;
mutton, Id to 7.d ; lamb, (Al to Od ; veal, 7d to Od per
lb. ; pigs, 9s 941 to lOs per score ; rough fat, 5s 9d to Os Od
per 14.1 u.; hides, 20 to 3d per lb ; aid to 4d
per lb.