The Sun.
London, England, 1857-07-16 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

ROUSE OF COMMONS.--(YEsTBE,DAY.)
The Snwant took the chair at 12 o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The Lords' amendments to the Burslem aid Twistsll
Gas Bill were considered'and agreed to.
FINSBURY PARK (No. 2) BILL.
On the motion of Mr. Charles FORSTER the stand-
lug order 212 was suspended and this bill ordered to be
read a third time to-morrow (Thursday).
FALKIRK BURGHS.
Mr. COBBETT presented a petition from Mr. Merry,
a member of the house and representative for the Falkirk
Burghs, against whose return a petition was now pend-
ing. The petitioner alleged that, on the 21st May, a
petition was presented to the house, bearing the usual
endorsements as to the recognisances, &c., which was
referred to a select committee. The principal allegation
of the petitioner was that no such recognisances were
entered into on the 21st May, nor with regard to the
petition against the return referred to the committee.
On the 19th May a petition went before the examiners,
and the recognisances, &c., entered into, but between
the 19th and the presenting of the petition referred to the
election committee, either a totally new petition was
substituted, or the original petition on which the recog-
nizances were entered was so altered by interlineations
and erasures so as to make it substantially a different
one. The petitioner (Mr. Merry) prayed the house to
adopt the usual course in such matters, and take into its
consideration the allegations of his petition, and do him
justice on its merits, or refer it either to a select com-
mittee or to the committee appointed to try the validity
of the return. He moved that the petition be printed
with the votes, and taken into consideration to-morrow
(Thursday) at twelve o'clock.
Mr. BLAKEMORE, one of the members appointed
to try the return, said that the committee were to be
sworn in to-morrow at twelve o'clock, and he suggested
that Mr. Merry's petition should first be disposed of-
Sir G. GREY said that there would be plenty of time
to dispose of this petition before the committee would
sit. The committee would be sworn to-morrow, but
they would not sit till the following day.
The motion wag agreed to.
ELECTION COMMITTEES.

The Committees appointed to try the petitions against
the returns for the boroughs of Weymouth and Mallon
were sworn, and obtained leave to sit to-morrow (ThurE-
day) at 11 o'clock.
SLIGO ELECTION. _ _

Mr. I. BUTT presented a petition from Mr. Somers,
a member of the house, complaining of a breach of the
privileges of the house, in the institution of an action in
the Giurt of Queen's Bench in Ireland against the re•
turning officer for the borough of Sligo for
rejecting a vote at the last election, while a pe-
tition complaining of the same matter and of the
return of the petitioner was pending in this house,
and calling the attention of the house thereto. He moved
that this petition be printed and taken into considera-
tion to-morrow (Tnursday) at 12 o'clock. Agreed to.
MAYO ELECTION
_

Mr. SCHOLEFIELD, chairman of the Mayo Erec-
tion Commites, moved that the evidence taken before
the committee be printed, and be gave notice that to-
morrow (Thursday) he should move the suspension of
the writ until such time as would enable the evidence to
be in the hands of hon. members. Agreed to.
MEDICAL RELIEF.
In answer to a question from Mr. Moonv,
Mr. BOUVERIE said that the attention of the Poor
Law Boaid had been called to a case that had happened
in one of the unions of West Somerset relative to medi
cal poor law relief. It appeared that the overseer gave
an order to a pauper for urgent medical relief, which
the medical officer obeyed. The guardians refused to
pay the charges, on which the medical man brought an
action in the county court against the overseer for its
recovery, but was unsuccessful. He (Mr. 800
eerie) considered the ruling of the judge correct
in point of law. The Poor Law Beard bad given
the guardians and parties interested in this case
some advice on the matter, but it was not the intention
of the Poor Law Board to alter the general law in re-
ference to these cases. Medical officers had, to a con-
siderab'e extent, the power in their own bands of
knowing whether or not the cases were urgent, and be
thought that a medical officer in possession of such facts
wouid be justified in disobeying such orders.
JUDGMENTS EXECUTION, &c., BILL.
The committee on this bill was resumed.
On clause 9 some discussion ensued, after which
Colonel FRENCH moved that the chairman do re-
port progress.
The Committee divided. The numbers were—
For the motion
Against it
Majority —2s
On the motion that the clause be agreed to,
Mr. MAGUIRE said that he regretted the time of
the committee was to be wasted in discussing this bill,
which was so objectionable to Ireland, and he moved
that the chairman do leave the chair.
The LORD ADVOCATE hoped Irish members
would not throw so many obstacles in the progress of
this bill, and he asked the hon. member to withdraw his
motion.
Mr. SPOONER reminded the committee that this
bill was objectionable to English as well as Irish
members.
Mr. M.ICANN thought it would be better to with-
draw the bill and re-introduce it in an amen,led form
newt session. Hon. members were unable to agree on a
single clause..
Mr. WATKINS regretted the mode of opposition
adopted towards this measure. He thought it would be
more discreet if the hen. and learned member for Ayr,
who had introduced the measure, would withdraw it
this session. He lookedaupon the bill as a movement in
the right direction, viz., uniformity of laws.
Mr. MAGUIRE defended the course he and those
who acted with him had adopted with reference to this
objectionable measure. The only way they could pre-
vent the passing of the measure was by such motions
as that before the house, as the hon. and learned mem-
ber for Ayr in charge of the bill, refused to withdraw
the measure.
Mto CRAUFURD assented to the suggestion and
withdrew the bill.
The bill was then withdrawn.
MARRIED WOMEN BILL.
Sir E. PERRY moved the second reading of this bill.
Sir J. T. BULLER, in the absence of Mr. MALINS,
moved that it be read a second time this day six months
on the ground that its effect would be to create diecorns
tort and dissension in families.
Mr. M. MILNES supported the bill.
Mr". IgASSEY said that this was a subject
of great importance, and he thought it should not
be got rid of in the summary manner proposed
by the amendment. He understood from the honour-
able and learned member for Devonport, that the
Attorney-Generel approved of the principle of the
bill, but ejected to certain details which be proposed to
a/ter in committee, and consequently he (!dr. Massey)
should not object to the second reading of the bill.
(Hear, hear.), There were clauses in the bill which
if allowed to remain would unsettle the present state
of married life in connection with property. The sub-
ject was ene that called for cautious a d delicate lsgie
lation, and ha I very properly been brought bef ire the
house, but he feared it would be impossible to
pass such a measure this session. It would be
better to refer the bill to a select committee, when no
doubt the Government would take the subject up and
introduce a bill neat session.
Mr. -HADFIELD supported the reference of the bill
to a select committee.
Mr. SPOONER objected to the principle lsid
down in the hill that immediately on its pass
ing married women should be liable for their hus-
band's debts, and the consequences resulting therefrom.
He opposed .the second reading of the bill.
Mr. BAG WELL was at a loss to understand why a
bill of this kind should be confined to England. He
thought that as intermarriages daily took place between
the inhabitants of the three countries, the bill sboul I
embrace all the married women of the three countries.
(Laughter.)
Sir E. PERRY said that if the bill went to a com-
mittee be would take care that it shoul l apply to the
'United Kingdom. The bill WAS intended for the relief of
the middle and lower classes of the country, in reference
to the property of married women. There was no
merit in-then objections that had been made to the bal.
He denied that by the provisions of the bid, mar-
ried, women, might be sued for their husband's
debts. At present, married women in the upper classes
who had separate,property, might be sued for their own
debt+, and ..that was the object of the clause re-
ferred toin the hill: This bill was no fanciful idea of
his, but the produc'ion of men of high standing after
Yeah' ol thought, such as Lord Btrughatn, Sir Lawrence
Peel; liadere of circuit., and the members of the Law
Amendinent Society. He assented to the suggestion for
fersititit to a select committee next session after read-
ing it a ascend time that day under the protest of the
' amendment:,
Mr. MILES, asked the member for South Doren to
withdraw the amendment, on the understanding that it
would be sent toes select committee next session.
Mr. J. D. FlTZGERassented to
ALD the second
reading of the bill under protest. The first cl
the bill, if passed without amendment, would causeati4e of
cn-i
siderable evil, and great disunion. lie considered the
hilla dangerous experiment. He admitted the
hut he objected to its presentprinciple
as required lendinent, 'le
as being too large, and its details too dangerous.
nciP
Mr, ROEBUCK. was surprised at this bill being called
a dangerous experiment, when it was founded on the old
Roman law.' He asked the house to a-sent to the second
rending of the trill,if only to affirm that a wife may
still preserve her sing'e legal existence, though she be.
come a married woman.
Mr, DE VE RE opposed the bill, on the ground of
its being applied to Ireland.
Sir J. Y. BULLER would withdraw the motion, on
the understanding that the bill should not be further
proceeded with this session.
Sir E. PERRY could not give that assurance. If the
divorce bill, which contained clauses relative to the pro-
perty of married women was thrown out, he should like
to have one day'a. discussion in conitni!tee on this bill,
and after that refer it to a select committee up stairs.
The house then divided. The numbers were—
For the amendment
Against it
Majority
----55
The bill was then read a second time.
SCIENTIFIC AND LITERARY SOCIETIES BILL.
The committee on this bill was resumed.
Mr. HUTT said that Lie object of the bill was to
. amend the Act 6 and 7 Victoria, which exempted literary
and soieatifle societies from local rating. The act Lai
proved, had a limited operation, and bad contrary to