The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-19 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIADEENT

HOUSE OF COMMONS—LAST EVENING.
The SPEAKER, took the chair at twelve o'clock.
RYDE STATION AND RAILWAY BILL.
This bill was considered, and ordered to be read a third
time.

ELECTIVE FRANCHISE BILL.
On the order of the day for the adjourned debate on the
amendment of the second reading of this bill,
Mr. J. CLAY expressed his unwillingness to continue
the discussion on this bill, which he was afraid he could not
carry to a successful end. The measure had ono serious dis-
advantage, namely, its novelty, and he was sure the right
hon. gentleman, the late Chancellor of the Exchequer, •iN
ho
moved its rejection neither comprehended its pancipl..i, nor
had mastered its details. As he had no opportunity of
replying to the arguments adduced against the bill on that
occasion, ho would now make a few observations. The,
right hon. gentleman had objected to the bill that the stp,n_
third of examination was too high. In answer to that he
could only say that the subject was simple, and thv,‘ seve-
ral members had thought the test too simple. The ex-
amination would only last half au hour, and would take
place in the town is which the candidate resided. The
expenses to the person who did not pass would be
a shilling, while all that would be required from the
candidates who did succeed in passing the examination,
was 21. 6d. It had been said that the bill was the M&Y_f-
mum of Liberal profession, but the minimum of Lil;oral
performance. On the contrary, it was also contended that
the bill would create an universal suffrage. His (Mr.
Clay's) intention was to create a double test, so that Intel-
ligence might be represented as well as property. Ile him-
self should prefer at once to go down to household suffrage,
but he did not think there was ariy objection to getting
down to it by £2 at a time. One °kills chief objects, there,-
fore, was to introduce the elenxent of permanency. The irju.
gentleman concluded by adverting to the petitions pre-
sented in favour of the bill, one of which was signed by
between five and six thousand clerks, and said, that it
would have received even more general. support 'nad there
not been a general idea that a private member was. not
likely to carry a Reform Bill, but he had reason to know
that there was_ a considerable feeling among the work-
ing classes in favour of the bill. Should it ever
be his good fortune to carry this bill further,
there were several details which would require farther
consideration, such as the length of residence which would
entitle the candidate to a vote, age, itc. In addition to
that, he was of opinion that a more difficult test should be
introduced than that contained in the present bill. He moved
that the order for the adjourned debate be withdrawn.
Mr. GLADSTONE thought the hoe. member had exer-
eked a wise discretion in not proceeding to a division- on
the bill, which would only create a bitterness of feeling.
The bill was then withdrawn.
ELECTIONS (RETURNING OFFICERS) BILL.
Mr. JULIAN GOLDSMID moved that the house go
into committee on this bill.
Mr. LOWTHER said that while he did not think this
bill would have the effect of reducing the number of
petitions against elections of members of Parliament, it
would cause great inconvenience to the returning officer,
teof pvoositteisont.hers,ln
ctohuelicani
b:
a
no iyo
tdpholeaurcebi placing
being
tmhaelainweaclouuvar nguivmdeebleihearis casting vote in acoord-
nce with his own political leaning. He moved that they
go into committee upon this day three months.
Mr. DUTTON seconded the amendment.
Mr. G. DENMAN said the object of the bill was not as
the mover of the amendment seemed to think, to assimi-
late the law of England to that of Ireland.
Mr. BERESFORD HOPE objected to the bill on ac-
count of the position sn which it would place the sheriff
who appointed the returning officer.
Mr. WALPOLE adverted to the injury done both to
candidates and constituencies by a double return as a rea-
son why there should be an amendment of the law. He
apprehended the principle they had to go upon was that
there was no law to deprive any person of the right of vot-
ing. In the case of the returning officer he was not wholly
disfranchised, and it was for the general convenience that
he should not exercise his right of voting unless there was au
equal number of votes for both candidates. Individually,
therefore, he (Mr. Walpole) was in favour of the proposal
of the hon. member for Honiton (Mr. Goldsmid).
Mr. BRETT opposed the bill. His idea was that it put
the returning officer in the most agreeable position of all,
because it gavo him the absolute opportunity of serving
•his patty. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. DENT alluded to the inconvenience caused by a
double return.
The house then divided on the motion to go into com-
mit
tee :

For the motion 122
For the amendment 67
Majority - 55
The house then went into committee, Mr. Dodson in the
chair.

Sir ROUNDELL PALMER exphined that he and many
on that side of the house had supported the motion for
going into committee on this bill, because they thought the
manifest difference of the law in the three kingdoms ought
not to be continued. They thought it desirable, however,
that in no case was it desirable to give the casting vote to
a non-elector. If the committee concurred in that view,
the objection as to Scotland was done away with.
Clause 1 was agreed to.
On clause 2,
Mr. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN moved that the re-
turning officer on all occasions should be a duly qualified
elector. -
Some further discussion having ensued,
Sir G. GREY said he had voted for the second reading
with a desire to assimilate the law of the three king-
doms, but the debate which had taken place showed that
there were a variety of considerations to be taken into ac-
count. In these circumstances he thought the best course
was to refer the bill to a select committee.
Mr. E. CRAUFURD moved that they report progress,
which was agreed to, and the house resumed,
COMPULSORY CHURCH RATES ABOLITION
BILL.
Mr. GLADSTONE, in moving the second reading of this
bill, stated that in consequence of the late period of the ses-
sion and the understanding that it would not be opposed
by the Government, he did not intend to press the bill
beyond a second reading this session. In consequence of
this proposal being somewhat novel, some arrangement'of
details might be necessary, but the length of time that
would elapse before the measure was considered in com-
mittee would allow a sufficient opportunity for their set-
tlement.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
Government would not oppose the second reading, but he •
reserved his right to oppose tho bill even as regarded its
principle.
Sir G. GREY said, the understanding was that the Go-
vernment would offer no opposition to the principle of the
bill.

Mr. NEWDEGATE considered the principle of the bill
most vicious, and expressed a preference for the bill of tho
member for Bury St. Edmund's.
Mr. NEATE moved, as an amendment to the motion of
Mr. Gladstone, that no scheme for the total, or partial, or
absolute, or qualified abolition of church rates will be satis-
factory to this house which does not contain some legal
and certain provision for supplying any deficiency which
may ensue from such scheme, in the funds applicable to
the maintenance of the fabric of the Church.

Colonel BARTTELOT seconded the amendment, and
said that the bill of the right hon. gentleman (Mr. Glad-
stone) unsettled everything and satisfied nobody. It was
not a compromise, but quite the reverse ; it was unfair to
the Church and unfair to the majority of churchmen who
chose to raise a rate for the repair of the fabric. The bill
did not at all come up to what was expected, and therefore
he most strenuously objected to its further progress.
Mr. B. HOPE opposed the bill, which was not the mea-
sure which he had undertaken to agree to, for it did not
contain the provisions for retaining church rates, but its
sole object was for the abolition of compulsory levying of
the rates.
Sir R. PALMER said he accoded to the bill, because he
considered it combined the principle of abolition with that
of a retention of the means of providing for the mainte-
nance of the fabric of the church. He thought the mea-
sure an adequate substitute for the existing state of things,
which was not to be justified.
Mr. HUBBARD was addressing the house at a quarter
to six, when tho debate was stopped in accordance with
the standing order of the house.

-ROCHDALE VICARAGE BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
OYSTER BED LICENSES (IRELAND) BILL.
This bill was road a third timo and passed.
The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and
the house adjourned.
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