The Sun.
London, England, 1859-02-25 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS--(THis EVENING).

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.

The Duke of MARLBOROUGH presented a petition
from a place in Oxfordshire, praying for a more equitable
distribution of property rate to the poor.
EXAMINATION OF PRISONERS.
Lord BROUGHAM presented %petition from a person
named John Copley Hill, complaining of the want of a law
similar to that which he had introduced last night, by which
he had suffered great injury by not being allowed to give
evidence in a criminal trial in which he had the misfortune
to be defendant, and had wrongfully been subjected to an
imprisonment for 12 months.
THE MUNICIPAL FRANCHISE.
Earl "GREY moved for a select committee to inquire
whether the Act 13th and 14th Victoria, c. 99,f0r the better
assessing and collecting the poor rates and highway rates
in respect of small tenements, and the act of last session,
c. 43 to amend the municipal franchise in certain cases,
had produced any change in the character of municipal
elections and of town councils, and in the mode of conduct-
ing the local government of corporate towns. The noble
lord said in 1850 a bill passed through Parliament by
which the owners, instead of the occupiers, of small tene-
ments of the value of £6O were compelled to pay the parish.
taxes. The occupier, however, had the right of voting at muni-
cipal elections, but the result of the arrangement had been that
in numerous cases the number of municipal electors had
been very greatly increased. Rather contradictory accounts
had been forwarded to him, but he could state with cer-
tainty that in towns- where the number of voters
had been 700 the act ho had mentioned had increased
them to 2,300, 1,500 of whom were the inhabitants of
small tenements. The effect had been that the town
councils had very much deteriorated. His idea of having
the inquiry at the :present moment he thought would
bring out much valuable information ou the subject of
Parliamentary reform, and he also thought it would
be in the power of that house to render very essential ser-
vice in the consideration of that great question. He re-
gretted that Government had not taken advantage of a
suggestion he had thrown out during the last autumn, as
he was convinced that if they had made the inquiry the
result would have been of much value. A gentlemen of
much influence on the question of reform had recommended
that the municipal franchise should be adopted in Par-
liantentary elections, where it had worked well.
It was most desirable to see how far this was
the case because if the municipal franchise worked
well, he at once submitted that .the fact would be very ge-
nerally in favour of its introduction. But the contrary was
proved, that the alterations had not worked well ;
then the experience they would obtain would lead
them to discover how far it was desirable it should be
adopted in the election of members of Parliament.
The Earl of DERBY said he should like to find out the
exact object the noble earl had in view in moving for
this inquiry before ho expressed any opinion as to the
necessity of the inquiry. It would be impossible to obtain
any such information for it to exercise any influence upon
the impending discussion on the question of Parliamentary
reform. As far as he could see, it appeared to him the object
of the noble earl was not to see what had been the working
of the municipal system, but to see what effect had been
produced upon the system by the act of 1850. Supposing
the committee were granted, and they were to come to the
conclusion that the act of 1850 had worked injurious, did
the noble earl intend to move its repeal, and disfranchise
those who had been enfranchised in 1850. Before he en-
tered into the inquiry, he (Earl Grey) should make up his
mind what he intended to do supposing such a decision
should be arrived at. (Hear, hear.) He (Lord Derby)
did not suppose the noble earl or Parliament would be in-
clined to pursue such a course. He should also like
to know what useful purpose could be served by the appoint-
ment of such a committee. (Hear, hear.) Personally, he
had no objection to the committee, but he thought no defi-
nite course should be decided upon before they commenced
the inquiry proposed by the noble earl. (Hear, hear.)
Earl GRANVILLE said any information upon Parlia-
mentary Reform could not be too highly prized. There was
a general feeling in the country that their lordships' house
was more inclined to treat questions relating to the represen-
tative system in an illiberal manner thantho otherbranch of
the legislature. He believed such a feeling was a mis-
taken one, and he should be glad to see any steps
taken in the matter, while their lordships were as anxious
upon the question as the other house. He gathered from
the observations of the noble earl opposite that he
was unfavourable to the inquiry, and under those circum-
stances no good could possibly result from the labours of
the committee, unless the Government were favourable to
it. He trusted his noble friend would not press his motion.
[LEFT SITTING.]