The Sun.
London, England, 1866-06-06 00:00:00

PUBLIC BUSINESS.

Sir S. NORTHOOTE said it would be for the con-
venience of hon. members if the right hon. gentleman
would state the order of business for Thursday next ; and
whether the Terminable Annuities Bill would be taken on
that day or not.

The CHANCELLOR of, the EXCHEQUER said the
Terminable Annuities Bill could not be discussed on
Thursday, because it was not of such an urgent nature as
several bills which were waiting to be proceeded with. He
would take care that due notice 'would be given when

the bill was to be proceeded with, but he thought it
would be a distant day. On Thursday next the com-
mittee on the Reform Bill would be proceeded with,
which he believed would be the business of the
night. There would, however, bo a communica-
tion made to the house previous to proceeding
with the bill on the subject of one of the royal family. He
would take that opportunity of stating that to-morrow
morning a series of amendments to be made to the Reform
Bill, in consequence of the house deciding that the bill
for the redistribution of seats and the representation
of the people should be fused into one bill. The amend-
ments might look formidable, but they made no material
alteration in the measure, and the only alteration of im-
portance was that as both bills oliginally had different
times for coming into operation, the amendments were
for the purpose of putting the united bills into operation
at one and the same time. He had also prepared a draft
bill which would show exactly the nature of the amend-
ments proposed, supposing they were all agreed to ; and
therefore he should move that it be printed in that state
for the use of members.

Mr. HUNT thought the proper course was to go into
committee on tho bill, and then to order that it be re-
printed.

The SPEAKER did not see that there could be any-
thing contrary to the rule of the house in printing the
draft bill.

Mr. VENLEY said no doubt it would be convenient to
have a draft bill, but he thought the usual course of going
into committee pro forma should bo adhered to.
Sir G. GREY said there was no doparturo from the rules
of the house in printing the draft bill. Such a reprint
would be very different from a bill reprinted by order of a
committee.

Lord J. MANNERS thought that confusion might ensue
if all the amendments were printed in the manner proposed
by Government.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said his
only object was to show them the bill as it would upper,
supposing the amendments were agreed to. The debate
on committee conguenced kat night, and ho thought tho

course ho proposed would be for the convenience of the
house.
Mr. WALPOLE hoped the right hon. gentleman Would
not press his motion without notice, but that he- would
postpone the matter until to-morrow.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he had
no objection to postponement.
Mr. BOUVERIE thought the Government had got into
the difficulty through excess of caution. He could not
see why any objection should be raised to the course pro-
rosed by the Government.
Viscount CRANBORNE said the Government were
deviating from the rules of the 'house': The right hon.
gentleman (tho Chancellor of the Exchequer) did nothing
without a good reason, and what he asked for was twenty-
four hours delay to afford time to find out that reason.
Mr. AYUTON did not think tivre was any deviation
at all in GOvanment printing a draft VB.
After a few words from Mr. CARDWELL, the motion of
the Chancellor of the Exchequer for printing the bill was
withdrawn.
THE CONFERENCE. •

General PEEL wished to ask a question of the Govern,
ment, and it was whether the proposed Conference at
Paris had been given up?
9.'he CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he was
sorry to state that he must give an answer substantially in
the affirmative to the question put by the hon. and gallent
member. A telegram had been received from Paris stating
that Austria had imposed such conditions that the object of
the Conference became impracticable. Since then it had
been ascertained that Austria desired that all the Powers
proposing to take part in the Conference should be re-
quired beforehand to determine to exclude from the
deliberations that tended to give to any of the states or
powers any territorial augmentation or increase of power.
The Government of France thought that condition was
equivalent to breaking up the Congress altogether, and her
Majesty's Government participating in that feeling, he
regretted to say that the prospect for the present of the
Conference assembling was at an end. •
CHURCH RATES.
An HON. MEMBER observed that the Oxford Commemo-
ration was fixed for the 13th of the month, the day fixed
for the second reading of the Compulsory Church RateS
Abolition Bill, and under such circumstances ho should
like to know whether the house would alter its arrange-
ments on that account. '

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
thought that very few members of Parliament attended at
Oxford on those occasions, and` therefore he could not
alter the arrangements already made.
MEDICAL OFFICERS (IRELAND.)

Mr. 3DEVOY moved a resolut'_on in favour of adopting
he recommendations of the select committee of 1858, to

he effect that Government should take into consideration

the claims of Ireland to a grant of the half-cost of medi-
cal officers of unions, with a view of providing for the
same in future, as is now the practice in England and
Scotland.

SON The proposal having been seconded by Mr. P. DAW.

The CHANCELOR of the EXCHEQUER said he was
prepared ',a accede to the principle of the motion after an
inquiry had bean mule with the view of ensuring an effi-
cient state control, and suggested that under these circum-
stances the motion had better be withdrawn.
Some discussion followed, in which several Irish mem-
bers took part, and ultimately the motion was withdrawn.
Mr. B. COCHRANE moved an address for the issue of a
Royal Commission to inquire into the constitution of the
Metropolitan Board of Works, the Office of Public Works,
and the Office of Woods and Forests, with the object of
seeing whether some means might not be devised by which
the improvements of the metropolis may be carried out in
a more comprehensive and economical manner, and with
greater unity of purpose. The hon, member enumerated
the various defects which marked the local government of
the metropolis, especially the state of the street traffic, and
suggested, as the best and most effectual means of provid-
ing a remedy, the amalgamation of the three depaements
mentioned in his motion, and the appointment of a chief
secretary, with two under secretaries, to carry out the
works now intrusted to those boards.

Mr. AYRTON opposed the motion, which, he argued,
rather moved backwardq than forwards. A committeo of
the house appointed a few years ago reported that the
Crown estates should be held in the hands of one officer
and the public works in connection with the metropolis
and the public buildings placed under the charge of
another. This arrangement was sanctioned by the house
and subsequently embodied in an act of Parliament. Later
another committee had reconsidered the question, and the
result of their inquiries was that the house adhered to their
previous resolution, and the two departments had been

kept separate ever sinco. Moreover, a third committee
had been appointed in the present session to examine the

matter, and it would be a slur upon them to inteiposo with

another course of action in the form of a Royal commis

sion.

Sir W. JOLIFFE was glad Mr. Cochrane had drawn
attention to this subject, and although he was not sure
that legislation was necessary, he thought that some uni-
form system for regulating the traffic of the metropolis
might, with the concurrence and approval of the commis-
sioners of police, be adopted with advantage.
Mr. COWPER objected to the motion, because it was
inopportune and impracticable. An inquiry into the state
of the local government of the metropolis was necessary,
and it was at that moment being conducted by a select
committee. It would not therefore be respectful either to
the committee or to the house to appoint a Royal commis-
sion practically to supersede that inquiry. The whole
difficulty connected with the question was this, that
although London had municipal institutions, those
institutions had been confined to the very small
circle which constituted the City proper, whilst the
rest of the metropolitan districts were governed like
country parishes, by means of a vestry. He thought
the time was approaching when the attention of Parlia-
ment should be directed to make such improvements in
the local government of the metropolis as would at all
events ensure the safety of foot passengers through its
streets and thoroughfares. As to the particular scheme
shadowed forth by Mr. Cochrane, it was impossible to
create a First Commissioner or Chief SeCretary to be a
ruler over the Board of Works, so as to check and control
them and the taxation of the metropolis.
After some remarks from Mr. Tite, Col. Hogg, and Sir
G. Grey, the motion was withdrawn.
MESSAGE FROM THE QUEEN.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER brought
up a message from the Queen announcing the approaching
marriage of the Princess Mary of Cambridge, and request-
ing the house to make the provision usual in such cases.
Leave was given to Mr. KNATCIIBULL-ULTGESSEN to bring
in a bill to amend the law relating to county assessments,
and a bill to amend the law relating to the repair of a hun-
dred bridges; to Sir C. 0'1)00,111.EN to bring in a bill to
render owners of dogs liable for injuries done by their
dogs ; and to Mr. BitucE leave to bring in a bill to amend
the law relating to the public health.
The house, alarmed at the fact that the next notice stood
in the name of Mr. Whalley, contrived to be counted out
at 20 milautes to 8 o'clock.