The Sun.
London, England, 1868-07-16 00:00:00

PUBLIC BUSINESS.

Mr. M. GIBSON, with reference to the Metropolitan
Foreign Cattle Market Bill, asked what the intention of
the Goverement was with respect 0 the bill. The leader
of the house said the Corrupt Practices Bill and all matters
eonnected with reform having been wound up, he would
state the course to be pursued with respect to the Cattle
Bill. Now the Irish Registration Act was decidedly one
of the necessary reform measures it placed after the Cattle
Bill. Then, again, there was the Corrupt Practices Bill,
that also was a necessary measure to pass. Under these
circumstances he should like to know the intention of
the Government. _ _

Mr. DISRAELI said Parliament would most certainly
not be prorogued until the Corrupt Practices Bill had been
passed. (Hear, hear.) With respect to the Irish Regis-
tration Bill it would be taken immediately the Foreign
Cattle Market Bill, which preceded it on the paper, was
disposed of. He proposed a morning sitting on Saturday
as well as to-morrow, which he hoped would enable them
to make groat progress in business.
Mr. M. GIBSON wished to know at what time the de-
bate on the Foreign Cattle Market Bill was to cease that
evening, in order that the Irish Registration Bill might be
considered.

Mr. DISRAELI could give no idea when the debate on
a measure which was not in committee would terminate.
THE BRISTOL ELECTION.

Mr. Sergeant GASELEE asked if it was the intention
of the Attorney-Genoral to institute criminal proceedings
against those parties found guilty of bribery and persona-
tion at the last Bristol election.

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said he was unable to
give any definite answer to the question.

SUPPLY-ARMY ESTIMATES.

The house then went into committee of supply.

General DUNNE called the attention of the house to the
report of the committee on the Military Reserve Funds.
He should like to know what steps the Government pro-
posed to take with respect to facilitating promotion and
reirement in the army. He contended that the Reserve
Fund had been improperly used for purposes of retire-
ment.

Sir J. PAKINGTON raid the subject was a very im-
portant one, and on considering the report of the commit-
tee he proposed to go on until the voting of the estimates.
Next session, it was to be hoped, the Government
would be in a position to submit a measure to the house
on the subject. He had hoped to have been able during
the present session to have adopted some plan, but that
had been found to be impossible. He wished it to be
clearly understood that no premature action should be
taken during the recess.

Captain JERVIS thought after what had been said by
the Commander-in-Chief about the present unsatisfactory
system of promotion some alteration would be speedily
proposed. Under the present regulations it would take
a subaltern 69} years to arrive at his promotion to the
rank of Goneral.

The vote of £389,000, in addition to £Bl,OOO already
voted for half-pay and retiring allowances, was then
agreed to.
This being the last vote of supply the house resumed.
CORRUPT PRACTICES AT ELECTIONS BILL.
The order of the day for going into committee on this
bill was postponed until to-morrow at two o'clock.