The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-10 00:00:00

BRIBERY AT ELECTIONS.

Captain ABCHDALL asked the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer if, in the opinion of her Majesty's Government,
the present tribunal for the trial of election petitions
was a satisfactory tribunal; and whether he would
consider the advisability of endeavouring to frame
clauses in the Bribery and Corruption Bill which shall de-
fine the limits beyond which clerical interference becomes
undue influence," and which shall state the precise
amount of violence required to constitute a "general riot"
at an Irish election.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he I
hoped to obtain leave to bring in a bill on the subject
this evening, and to induce the house to read the bill a
second time on Thursday nest. When they went into
committee on the bill the hon. and gallant gentleman
world have an opportunity of suggesting any clauses,
supposing those proposed in the bill were not sufficient
for the purpose intended.
THE REFORM BILL.
Mr. GLADSTONE—As the committee for the represen-
tation of the people was arranged to stand as the first
order for that day, he presumed there would be no dis-
turbance of that arrangement.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
arrangement would be strictly adhered to.
METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS.

In reply to Mr. TREEBY,
Mr. HUNT said he could not say why the return or-
dered on the 16th of May relative to the Metropolitan
Board of Works had not been made. The Board formed
no part of the Treasury department, th3refore he could
not say when it would be made.

FALSE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

In reply to Mr. ROEBUCK,

Mr. WALPOLE said it was not lawful for magistrates
to sit with closed doors whilst hearing charges against
tradesmen charged with using false weights and measures.
THE METROPOLITAN GAS BILL.
Sir S. NORTHCOTE said he did not intend to proceed
with his bill until after Easter.
THE REFORM BILL.
Mr. GLADSTONE said in the event of this amend-
ment limiting the rateable value in parliamentary
boroughs being adopted in committee, he should move
in the third clause that whenever the rateable value of
any tenant falling below £5 by reason of any deduction
of less than 20 per cent. for gross estimated value the
occupier may claim to vote if otherwise qualified.

THE LONDON, CHA.THA3I, AND DOVER

RAILWAY.

Sir M. PETO moved for the appointment of a select

committee to inquire into the means adopted by the Lon-
don, Chatham, and Dover Railway Company for raising
the share capital, and exercising their borrowing powers
under the various acts of Parliament authorising the con-
struction of the main line and its extensions and
branches.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
could not see how it became consistent with duties of the
House of Commons to undertake the investigation pro-
posed. They all knew and entertained the highest respect
for the hon. member forßristol ; they all knew the troubled
condition of the railway in question, and they could not but
regret that he had unfortunately become involved with
them. He thought, however, that the house ought to hesi-

tate before they agreed to that motion, because there were
peculiarities about it with which the house had no con-
cern. They were private speculations, and those who em-
barked in them did so at their own risk. He should like
to know where the line was to be drawn if this inquiry
was to take place into the London, Chatham, and Dover
Railway. Why should not inquiries be made into the
affuirs of other railway companies ? Why should the

position of railways only be inquired into ? Why should
not banks also fall within the scope of Parliamentary
inquiry ? He regretted the motion, but he could not re-
commend
the house to agree to it.
Mr. BARING asked the hon. member for Maidstone,
who had the following motion on the paper, whether he
intended to proceed with it :—" As an amendment to Sir
Morton Peto's motion for a select committee on the London,
Chatham, and Dover Railway Company, to add, at end,
rand also into the means adopted by three of the mem-
bers for Huntingdon, Bristol, and Dover, for raising money
for the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada, and the London,
Chatham, and Dover Railway.' "
Mr. WHATMAN said he did not intend to proceed with
his amendment. He was quite ready to meet the hon.
gentlemen mentioned in his motion in any way they
thought proper. (Laughter.)
Lord cr,_vNBORNE said he did not know whether the
hon. gentleman who had just sat-down implied a challenge
by his observations. (Laughter.) Ile (Lord Cranborne)
thought it highly unsatisfactory that, after putting an
amendment on the paper, pointing at something like fraud,
that when the tine came for bringing it forward he
should fail to substantiate his charges. Ho thought it was
desirable that SOlllO opinion should be expressed by the
house on such a matter.
Mr. AVIIATMAN said if it was the wish of the house
he was quite ready to go on. (Loud cries of "Go on, go
on.")

Mr. CRAWFORD rose to order. He thought
it was not competent for the houso to inquire into his
conduct other than that done in that house, or in his cha-
racter of a member of Parliament.
The SPEAKER could not say that the motion pointed
to anything like fraud. He could not say that there was
anything on the paper which was a violation of the rules
of the house.
Mr. GLADSTONE did not think it was the wish of the
house that the matter should go on. There was no charge
of fraud, therefore the character and high honour of the
hon. gentlemen mentioned was not impeached. He could
not but regret that the hon. baronet, member for Bristol,
had brought forward the matter, and no ono sympathised
with him, who had conferred so great a benefit on his
country some years ago, more than he did. He hoped,