The Sun.
London, England, 1861-07-25 00:00:00

SUPPLY.

The report of supply was brought up and received:
On the motion for going into committee of supply,

General PEEL draw attention to the estimates for mili-
tary expenditure, which, he contended, did not really con-
tain the amount that would be required. He did not com-
plain so much of the military expenditure which the
Government had made last year, but he did strongly object
to provision being made for the same by the votes of the
house, and, the amount that was necessary having been con-
cealed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. He considered
at the same time that retrenchments ought to be judiciously
made, without impairing the efficiency of the provision for
the defence Of the country. The hon. and gallant member then
entered into different details to illustrate his opinion. He com -
plained that these army estimates were not made until
fifteen months after the financial year. On five votes for
1859-60-61 there would be found an excess of expenditure
over estimates of nearly a quarter of a million.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER sail that.
the term for making up the army accounts was fixed by law,
and the delay that might take place was not chargeable to
any person. From the time when the accounts were made
up the estimates were necessarily founded on insufficient
data. He denied that the Treasury had any perfect control
over the number of men that were to be employed, and
they were not necessarily cognisant of the increase in the
number of men, nor the amount provided for by Parlia-
ment. He adverted to India to show how impossible it
would have been for the Secretary of War or the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer to have made a correct estimate of
the number of the men that were required, in consecuence
of the events that had occurred, in that country. He con-
tended that it was quite impossible that the Government
could foresee the claims that might arise in any prospective
year. If there were anything defective in the existing
system it could not be remedied by a discussion in that
house, but by a minute investigation of details, which
could not possibly be carried on at a sitting of the whole
house. The right. hon. gentleman then proceeded to de.
fend the expenditure that had been incurred in respect to
China. As regarded the appropriation of the surplus
arising from savings in certain military to other votes, it
was the absolute duty of the Secretary of the Treasury to
make a transfer of these surpluses before asking for a vote
of credit. With respect to any alleged misappropriation of
the funds voted for China if there was anything wrong in
respect to that vote, he.showde the responsibility was with
the War Department. He considered, however, that no
benefit would arise from the general question raised by the
gallant member being discussed at so late a period of the
Session.

LEFT SITTING.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—YESTERDAY.
The SPEAKER took the chair at 20 minutes past 12.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The Devon Valley. Railway Bill was read a third time
and passed.

THE INDIA BOARD.

Sir G. LEWIS gave notice that to-morrow he would
move that the house go into committee to consider the sub-
ect of raising money for the service of India.
CHURCH RATES LAW AMENDMENT (N 0.2) BILL.
Mr. CROSS explained his reasons why he had brought
in this bill so late in the session. He had done so on
account of the conciliatory tone which had been shown by
Sir I. Trelawny, and in the debate which followed. As he
saw no hope of passing the bill this session he should now
move that the order be discharged.
_ _

Sir M. PETO strongly objected to the bill, which would
provide a system infinitely worse than that which at pre-
sent existed. The only way to settle this question would
be by Churchmen adopting a voluntary rate.
Sir G. LEWIS said that this was merely a motion for
discharging the first order of the day, and he hoped the
debate would not be continued.

After some remarks from Mr. Henley, Sir C. Douglas,
Mr. Newdegate, and other gentlemen, the order for the
second reading of the bill was discharged.

CHURCH RATES COMMUTATION BILL.
This bill was withdrawn.

VOTES FOR DISQUALIFIED CANDIDATES
This bill was withdrawn.
• INDICTABLE OFFENCES METROPOLIS DIS-
TRICT) BILL.
Sir G. LEWIS said that, in the absence of Mr. Walpole,
he would move that this bill be postponed for a week, but
he did not think it would be further proceeded with this
session.
The motion was, agreed to.