The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-14 00:00:00

REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE BILL

The house then went into committee on the English
Reform Bill, aud resumed the consideration of the third
clause.

An amendment, proposed by the CHANCELLOR of the
EXCHEQUER, to the effect that the compound householder
claiming to be rated and placed on the register should pay
an equal amount in the pound to that payable by other
ordinary occupiers, received the opposition of Mr. ATE-
TON, who made a strenuous attempt to open up once again
the questiOn of personal rating, in which, however, he
signally failed. For so little was the encouragement given
to him, that after a short speech from the Attorney-Gene-
ral, the amendment was put and carried sub silentio.
Mr. 11‘C. TORRENS moved to insert words enfranchis-
ing persons, who, occupying separately, and as sole tenant
for 12 months preceding the last day of July, lodgings
which unfurnished would let at £lO a year, and having
resided therein for the six months preceding the same
date, should claim to be placed on the register of electors
at the next ensuing registration of voters.

Mr. GOLDNEY proposed, as an amendment, that. the
occupation should be of the same lodgings, that they should
let unfurnished at £l5 a year instead of £lO, and that the
.residence should be twelve months instead of six.
The amendment of Mr. GOLDNEY was opposed by

Mr. GOSCREN, who contended that a £l5 lodger fran-
zhiso would be to all intents and purposes a middle class
franchise, and operate to exclude the most deserving of the
working men.
Sir R. KNIGHTLEY condemned the lodger franchise
as opposed to the principle on which the Government said
they had founded their bill, and declared that the Conser-
vative party had better return to their former places than
abandon that principle.
Mr. T. HUGIIES argued that the £l5 qualification
would exclude, at least, two-thirds of the people whom it
was the wish of the house to admit—the better class of
skilled artisans.

Mr. SCHREIBER believed that £lO lodgers would com-
pare not unfavourably With householders below £10; but
as was contrary to the principle of the bill ho should
vote against 13)th amendments until the lodger.was pre-
sented to him as a person who deserved to enjoy a public
privilege by the discharge of a public duty.
In consequence of a suggestion by Mr. BRIGHT,
Mr. GOLDNEY intimated his readiness to withdraw
his am ludment upon condition that Mr. Torrens would
insert the words "annual value" after ten pounds.
Mr. TORRRENS consented to this, provided it met
with the views of the Government.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, noticing
the observations of Sir IL Knightley, said that personal
rating and the payment of rates wai not the only prin-
ciple of the bill ; for there were other franchises contained
in it—as, fur example, direct taxation and tto possession
of money in the funds—with which it had nothing to do.
The principle of a lodger franchise had for some time been
accepted by the house, and tho only question was how to
apply it in a satisfactory manner. Upon the whole he
thought the payment of .ZlO, with the addition of the
words "annual value" supplied a fair solution of the
question.
A division was subsequently taken on the question
whether the term of residence should be six or twelve
months, and it resulted in the adoption of the longer
period by 208 to 145.
The proposal of a lodger franchise, with the above-
mentioned qualification was then agreed to.
Mr. WATKIN moved to add as a proviso to the clause
—that no tenement should be considered dwelling-house
for the purposes of the bill which contained less than two
rooms.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER assented to
the proviso ; and there seemed to be a general disposition
on the part of the home to acquiesce in it, but
Mr. NEATE rcse, and protesting that the subject was
one of great importance requiring discussion, moved that
the chairman should report progress.
This led to another division, but the motion was nega-
tived by 235 to 48.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER expressed
a bop that, after this divisioe, hone w:n:4m would allow

Mr. GOSCHEN opposed the proviso, and
Mr. PEASE moved to add the words, "and that Ne
said two rooms shall not toge Cher contain less than 1,600
cubic feet."
Sir R. PALMER objected t o the house coming to any
hasty decision on the question, and recommended that the
proviso should be withdrawn.. The Government under-
taking to consider how far in tau interpretation clause the
term "dwelling-house " could_ ;be so defined as to meet the
object of the proviso.

Some discussion ensued; btzt ultimately it WaS agreed
that the Chairman should repat Progress, and the house
resumed accordingly.

The Labouring Classes Thvellings Act, 1866, Amend-
ments Bill, and tha Railway C9:npanie3 Arrangements
Bill were rend a second time.

The British Spirits [lilt, and the Vice-President of the
Board of Trade Bill, wore pa ised thron;;lt committee.
Leave was given to Lord NAAs to bring in a bill to pro-
vide for keeping safely 1110 priblie records of Ireland ; an A
to S:r J. PAKINGTON leave to bring in a bill limiting. tno
period of enlistment in her Niaj •sty's army; also a bill. to
consolidate and amend the acts for rendering effectivo the
service of Ch-lsea and Greenwich (naval) out-pensiorwers,
and pensioners of the Etat India Comp iny, and for estab-
lishing a reserve forco of men who had been in her Ma-
jesty's service; and a bill to form a reserve of men in the,
militia to join her Majesty's army in the event of war.
The bills were subsequently brought in and read a ?Au
The house rose at a quarter to two o'clock.

time.