The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-28 00:00:00

FENIANISIL

WHITES E asked when the papers relative to
rnia
would be distributed to members.
emr. V.FORTESCUE said the papers had been laid on
tae, but he could not say when they would be ready for
distribution.
REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE BILL.
On the
into committee on reading
this of bill,t order of the day for the going
Mr. BOUVERIE rose and moved " That the Represen-
tation of the People Bill and the Redistribution of Seats
Bill be referred to the same committee—that it be an in-
struction to the committee that they have power to con-
solidate the said bills into one bill."
The motion was put from the chair and agreed to.
Sir R. KNIGHTLEY then moved that it be an instruc-
tion to the Committee that they have power to make pro-

-.~

~~

I\l Mc: PARER
vision for the better prevention o ii*-_,44 ilopt is,
at elections. ii- ---.
•4. --x-i,e.
The CHANCELLOR of th X 4E917 it taid,.ll4
c,
instruction of the hon. membe Nalzi*.l3, 11)4iclir,
debate. He hoped, however, h )if Pei sevtfre witli,,, '
it. The labour of sitting, perh \ia,Sepiember :duel U.:o'
tober to dispose of the Represen ti4iik)f_tle. People I3i
and-the Redisttibution of Seats 'Bilk Wirir'dkrig. enough, •
without sitting into November to consbr thkque&n of
bribery.
Mr. B. OSBORNE said the hon. member for Northamp-
tonshire deserved the thanks of all true reformers in
bringing forward the motion relative to bribery, which he
looked upon as the plague spot on the constitution. ~ If the Government were to get rid of there re-
distribution of seats bill in order to consider the
best means to put an end the bribery anti corruption,
hey would then do something that wad really , useful.
(Hear, hear.) He knew very well what waiting for the re-
port of a committee on the subject meant—it meant this,
that nothing at all would be done. If, however, they
waited for a "convenient opportunity,', they would for a
very longtime. He hoped the hon. member would perse-
vere, and if he divided the house he would give him his
vote. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. EWDEGATE thought that whilst the subject of
redistribution of seats was under discussion bribery ought
not to be lost sight of.

Mr. CLAY thought it was unavoidable to postpone in-
definitely the consideration of such an important matter as
bribery, and it was of the highest importance that the
matter should be disposed of before the next election, and
no one coud say how soon that might occur.
Sir L. PALK also thought it highly desirable to consider
and dispose of the subject of bribery.
Sir G. GREY thought the law with respect to bribery
was now nearly as stringent as it was possible for a legis-
lative enactment to be. He thought that if hon. members
were in earnest the best course to adopt was rigidly to test
the efficiency of the law. He hoped that the consideration
of the bill for the amendment of the representation of the
people would not be impeded by the consideration of the
matter of bribery.
Sir H. CAIRNS said one member of the Government'
(the Chancellor of the Exchequer) said the law with re-
spect to bribery was gravely and seriously defec-
tive. (Hear, hear.) Now he should like to know
how that opinion was to be reconciled with the
statement made by the right hon. baronet who bad
just sat down. (Hear, hear.) Ite felt 'that L3gislatien
was absolateiy necessary on the subject.
Mr. IL VIVIAN said he was so deeply impressed with
the importance of dealing with the question of bribery that
he hdd given notice of a motion that a member who might
be found to ha're given bribes should henceforth be
disqualified from sitting in that house. The question of
bkibery was of itself quite sufficient to occupy the house
an entire session, and therefore he hoped the hon. bart.
woalti.not. impede ate,iill jalloyatingtlinuralailly-
.
tion.
-
Ml. MOWBRAY thought the Government was not in
earnest in issuing the commissions appointed to inquire
enrghda
od
into bribery. Up to the present time, although a month
had
.elapsed since the Commissioners were appointed,
done.
nyeettobeenut
Mr. STAN-ILA/WS said, to show the necessity for
snoemtinetnhgin
fgurtbehi
P down bribery, he knew a
borough on the east c
voters where 700 receioaesdt of England with about 1,000
—that the price paid onvth bribes—(cries of "Name name")
of the independent eaveraget was £35 per head, some
for their vote, and yet no electorsial received as much as £6O
that house complaining of suchmansthaV been
presented to
of things.
.• [LEFT SITTING.]