The Sun.
London, England, 1859-03-17 00:00:00

PETITIONS.

Several petitions were presented praying for the esta-
blishment of Intermediate Schools between the Upper and
Lower Schools in Ireland ; for the separation of certain
Poor-law Unions ; from a Chamber of Commerce,
in favour of Lord John Russell's Bankruptcy and
Insolvency Bill, by Lord john Russell; from various places
to the same effect ; for the adoption of Vote by Ballot and
Extension of the Suffrage ; against the Government Reform
Bill ; for the repeal of the hop duty, &c., &c.

TRAMWAYS (IRELAND) BILL.
On the motion for the house going into committee on
this bill,

Sir ROBERT FERGUSON said that he wished the
bill to ga through committee pro forma and be reprinted.
The bill was accordingly committed pro forma and the
house resumed.
BANKRUPTCY AND INSOLVENCY BILL.

On the motion for the second reading of this bill,
Mr. BAINES said that the strongest feeling prevailed
in the district which he represented in favour of the
bill, which he believed, with some alterations that might
be made in committee, would remedy the evils which were
admitted to exist, and which were the ground of complaint
from one end of the country to the other. From the state-
ment of one of the Commissioners in Bankruptcy, it ap-
peared that there was a waste of no less than 50 per cent.
of the assets of the bankrupt. There was also a strong
feeling in favour of abolishing the difference between bank-
rupts and insolvents, and the complications of the present
law, which this bill would effect. The bill proposed to
do away with no less than 20 acts of Parliament on
the subject, and consolidate into one act of Parliament the
whole statute law. The measure further proposed to faci -
Mate voluntary arrangements which were most difficult at
present, and also to reduce the expenses attendant on bank-
ruptcy and insolvency proceedings.
The ATTORNEt-GENERAL concurred in a consi-
derable degree with the remarks ofthe hon. member. With
regard to the principle of the bill, he thought there was no
doubt they would receive the sanction of the house. With
regard to some points there was much difference of opinion,
and he suggested that after the second reading of the bill it
should not be proceeded with _further until the bill in the
House of Lords came down to this house, and then both
measures would be before hon. members. _

Mr. VANCE approved of the bill generally, and parti-
cularly that part of it which related to dealing with the
effects of a deceased bankrupt; but he objected to the pre -
ference given to friendly societies over other creditors. He
was also oivosed to some other parts of the bill.
Mr. J. D. FITZGERALD agreed with the leading
principle of the bill, and particularly with the provision
which proposed to terminate the difference between bank-
rupts and insolvents, and to do away with that nuisatice—
the Insolvent Court as separated from the Bankrupt Court.
Mr. W. CRAWFORD said that a large and influential
meeting had been held in the City of London on this
subject, and a committee was appointed to investigate the
merits of the bill of the Lord Chancellor and that of Lord
John Russell. That committee comprised a number of
those engaged in trade, and they came to the resolution
that the former ought to be rejected, and the latter adopted,
as being a greater benefit to the commercial community.
Mr. COWAN approved of the bill, and expressed a hope
that a provision would be introduced by the noble lord
(Lord J. Russell) to prevent fraudulent debtors flying
from their creditors and evading their just claims by becom-
ing nominally traders in Scotland, and availing themselves
of the Scotch laws.

Mr. MOFFATT approved of some portions of the bill,
but objected to others, and considered that it should be
referred to a select committee.
Mr. AKROYD supported the bill, and considered the
present bankrupt law was quite inoperative. He was
anxious, however, to see some
.provision made by which an
examination might take place into the character of a bank-
rupt who was not able to pay the whole of his debts. He
thought such provisions were necessary to protect the com-
mercial community against those who engaged in gambling
in trade. .

Mr. HEADLAM and Mr. CROSSLEY supported the bill.
Lord J. RUSSELL said he was happy to perceive that
the bill was so favourably received by the house, and he
had no objection to adopt the suggestion of the Attorney-
General, by not proceeding further with the bill after its
present stage until the other bill was before the house. Ho
would almost despair of success if the bill were referred to
a select committee, and he thought, considering the consti-
tution of the house and the assistance they would receive
from the learned Attorney-General, that they were quite
competent to decide on a bill of this description. There was
no political principle involved in the measure, and they must
admit that it was of great importance to a commercial coun-
try like this, where, he was sorry to say, gambling existed
to a large extent, that the principle of the bankruptcy laws
should be settled.

The bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be
committed this day fortnight.

REGISTRATION OF COUNTY VOTERS (SCOT-
LAND) BILL.
Sir E. COLEBROOK moved the second reading of this bill.
The LORD ADVOCATE said that as the blll could be
fully considered in committee, the Governinvat would not
oppose the second reading. If the Goverment Reform
Bill passed the second reading, it was prrposed to bring in
the Scotch Reform Bill before 'Easter.

ELECTION, Scc.,i3lLL.
On the motion of Mr. COLLINS, this bill was read a
second time, and ordered to be committed pro forma to-
morrow.