The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-08 00:00:00

(From the Times.)

While the minds of men are keenly alive to the even-
tualities of the war in which this country is to all intents
and purposes already involved, and nothing but a languid
attention can be secured even for great measures of in-
ternal reform, is it possible to say a few words with
effect on the method in which private business is con-
ducted in Parliament ? The subject is of vital import-
ance, and of daily interest to all persons whose fortunes
may be compromised by the course of Parliamentary
legislation. Now, however true it may be that the
moment is an ill chosen one for raising a discussion
which might touch all the susceptibilities of party feeling,
or even imperil the stability of a Government charged
with the serious responsibility of conducting our warlike
operations to a successful conclusion, the same objec-
tions cannot apply to the consideration of a question in-
volving no such amount of conviction or of prejudice on
either side. On the contrary, it would appear that there
is a peculiar fitness in the present season for placing the
conduct of private business upon a footing satisfactory to
petitioners and to the public. Do what we will, men will
look for some time with far keener interest to news from
the seat of war thansto the minutes of domestic controversy.
Attention is stretched, not occupied. The question then is,
if we cannot utilise the time and ability of hon. gentle-
men in the intervals between the reception of the last
and the coming bulletin ? The time is peculiarly fit for
securing reform in certain minor matters ; minor, be-
cause each of thorn do not specifically bear upon the
interests of all, which would certainly be neglected as
soon as public business shall have once more fallen into
its usual channel. Time out of mind, private business
has been conducted in the most slovenly manner, but
the voice of remonstrance has been either faintly raised,
or absolutely drowned amid the universal and noisier
acclaim for onward progress in public matter's. Is it
necessary for us to say that the importance of business
which is denominated "private" really makes no dif-
ference in the disposition of the house? Year after
year since the conclusion of the last general war in
which this country was involved, private bills have
been passed which have operated upon an enormous pro-
portion of the existing property of the country, but these
bills have been hustled through the house with less at-
tention than would have been bestowed upon the trial of
an urchin at quarter sessions for filching a parcel of
linen from a hedge, or abstracting a couple of fowls from
before a farmer's barn door. Few people are aware of
the manner in which such matters are dealt with iu the
House of Commons. The absence of publicity insures
the continuance of the abuse. We may venture to sug-
gest as evidence—if such were needed—of the enormous
benefits which the country has derived from the labours
of the daily press, the difference which exists between
the manner in which the public and the private business
of the country is conducted. In the one case an accu-
rate report of the proceedings is laid every morning upon
the breakfast table of every person who feels an interest
in the matter—in the other no record is forthcoming in
a popular form of the course of Parliamentary business.
A letter has been forwarded to us upon this subject,
written by Lord Stanley to Sir John Pakington, in which
the modes operandi in such cases is very clearly and
sufficiently set forth. The writer, as we shall do—con-
tents himself with stating the abuse. The remedy is
best left for the present to the discretion of the house
and the public spirit of the members. Private bills are
brought in and read a second time, before reference to
committee, between the hours of 3.45 and 4.30 p.m. At
that hour few members are in attendance, or, if there
should be a gathering of the house, it is just because
hon. gentlemen are in a frame of mind which would ren-
der every subject irksome but the all-absorbing one which
stands for discussion immediately the private business
has been shelved. In ordinary cases the house at the
hour named is formed of a few members of Government,
of a few members who may have petitions to present,
and of the few members immediately interested in the
bill. Thus, as the writer of the letter truly re-
marks, " a jury is formed, fluctuating in point
of numbers not selected, but taken at random,
composed i❑ part of the very last persons who ought to
be admissible as jurors, and composed more largely of
such persons in proportion as the interest excited by the
case under trial is greater." In ordinary cases most of
the members who run in when the division bell is rung
have heard nothing of the discussion, and care nothing
about the arguments on either side. They either give their
vote at the suggestion of a friend, or at least upon the
inspiration of the first person who will give them a hur-
ried notion of the merits of the case. In many cases,
it is said that lion, gentlemen make it a point of voting,
at all events, for the second reading, because they are
of opinion that every private bill should have a chance,
and that it is the duty of the committee to whom the
bill may ultimately be referred to relieve the general
body of the house from its judicial functions. Who
shall say that this course of proceeding is unadvised ?
But, at the same time that it appears necessitated
by the course of business, it would also seem to in-
dicate the form of the remedy to be applied. If a
select committee is substantially invested in the end
with the judicial poWers of the house, and all proceed-
ings beyond those which take place before them, and
under their auspices, be really mere form and solemnity,