The Sun.
London, England, 1860-06-27 00:00:00

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proposed were on some
have been much better to have aL
tion he made, that the matter should be
committee sitting in reference to the British,
The motion was then agreed to.
CORRUPT PRACTICES AMENDMENT ACT.
Sir G. C. LEWIS said it would be in the recollection of
the house that a committee was appointed to inquire into
the operation of the Corrupt Practices Act. That commit..-
tee examined a number of witnesses, and agreed to some
recommendations, many of which went to suggest consi-
derable alterations in the provisions of the Corrupt Prac-
tices Act. It seemed to be the wish of members of the.
house that Government should introduce a bill in the pre-
sent session founded upon that report, and he had accord-
ingly examined with care the recommendations of the re..
ports, at d prepared a bill, which he would now, with the
permission of the house, lay on the table. It was framed
upon the plan of the Corrupt Practices Act, amending it in
the manner which the committee deemed desirable. There
was another recommendation of the committee, which re-
ferred to Commissions of Inquiry into Corrupt Practices,
which he had not thought it desirable to introduce into this
bill, but that would be made the subject of another bill.
Whether it was possible to pass this bill during the present
session seemed doubtful, laut if it did not pass it would be
necessary to bring in a bill to continue the Corrupt Prac-
tices Act.
Leave given to bring in the bill.
LOCOMOTIVE BILL.
On the order of the day for going into committee on this
bill,

Mr. D. GRIFFITH complained that the bill had been
reconstructed, and two clauses had been entirely omitted.
The house then went into committee.
On clause 4,
Mr. BOUVERIE said this clause proposed to enforce
upon the Home-office the duty of issuing badges for locomo-
tive carriages, and registering their weight. He asked why
the duty should be thrown upon the Home-office ? He
should move for the rejection of the clause unless the right
hon. gentleman agreed to accept the duty.
Sir G. C. LE WIS said it certainly was an innovation that
the Home-office should undertake duties usually performed
by the Commissioners of police—(hear, hear)—by issuing
badges and keeping a register of locomotive engines. If he
*-44 Anticipate the next clause, however, he thought it
that some power of regulating the use of
locomotive engines ~of a parOurlar size and form should be
vested in of Wei INVernment. Thrstould,
however, support the motion for tae omuisivii of the 4th.
clause.

Colonel PENNANT supported the view that the Home-
office should have some power of veto upon locomotive en-
gines, which might do damage to public roads.
Mr. AYRTON pointed out the difficulties under which
the Home-office would labour if it attempted to exercise the
powers proposed to be conferred upon it by this bill. He
thought they should simply enact that locomotive engines of
an injurious character should not be used upon roads; and
give pewers of inspection and control over these engines to
the local magistrates.
Mr. GARNETT said there could be no difficulty about
relieving the Home-office from a duty which they were un-
willing to undertake. He thought, however, there could
be no objection to placing outside every locomotive engine a
statement of its weight, whether that statement was to be
verified by a Government certificate or not.
Mr. STEUART suggested that the discussion could be
postponed. He himself had proposed an amendment,
which he had been only able to hand in a few hours pre-
viously. He thought a very dangerous principle would be
introduced into the bill if the authority of the Home-office
were not to be applied to the working of the measure.
After some further discussion the clause was omitted.
On clause 5,
Sir G. LEWIS, in answer to Mr. Steuart, said he saw
no objection to the Secretary of State exercising the powers
which it was proposed to confer upon him.
Mr. BOUVERIE observed that they did not attempt to
put down larceny by giving the Secretary of State power to
prohibit it; but they punished those who were guilty of
the offence. In like manner, what they wanted was to
make the employment of dangerous locomotives, or of loco-
motives causing excessive wear and tear to the roads, penal.
With a view to -carry out this suggestion, be would move
to omit the words—" It appears to one of her Majesty's
principal Secretaries of State."
Col. W. PATTEN thought the clause was necessary to
the carrying out the provisions of the bill.
After a few words from Sir G. C. Lewis, the amendment
was negatived.
Mr. DILLWYN moved that the clause be omitted.
Mr. J. LOCKE supported the clause.
After some discussion,
Mr. BOUVERIE moved that the Chairman do leave the
chair.

The house divided, when the numbers were—
For the adjournment
Against it
The clause was then agreed to, and the Chairman re-
ported progress.
SALE OF GAS ACT AMENDMENT (No. 2) BILL.
Mr. S. ESTCOURT moved the second reading of this bill
Under the present state of the law the greatest uncertainty
prevailed, to the great injury of the manufacturers of gas
meters, and it was to remedy that uncertainty he intro-
duced the present bill. He admitted that the bill in its pre-
sent shape was imperfect, because he brought it in in great
haste, under the pressure of shortness of time, but he
trusted that in the course of a few days it would be made
more perfect.
The bill was then read a second time, and rd erred to a
se ect committee.
EXCISE AND ASSESSED TAXES BILL:
The report on this bill was brought up and received.
ANSTRUTHER UNION HARBOUR BILL.
This bill was read a third time.
ISLE OF MAN HARBOURS BILL.
This bill passed through committee.
The house adjourned at 20 minutes past 1.

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