The Sun.
London, England, 1868-07-17 00:00:00

THE APPROPRIATION BILL.

Mr. S. BOOTS asked for and obtained leave to bring in
the Appropriation Bill.

CORRUPT PRACTICES AT ELECTIONS BILL.
The house went into committee on this bill; resuming at
clause 46.

lir. PO WELL said he had placed an amendment on the
paper in this clause, but he was so satisfied with the pro-
posals made by the Government that he should not per-
severe with it,

On its being proposed to add words to the end of tho
clause, that no candidate should ba allowed to employ
as canvassers, or agents, any parsons who may have
been found guilty of corrupt practices at any preceding
election,

The committee divided, when there appeared—
For the amendment
Against it 63
Major iu favour

Mr. LONVTHER moved another amendment, to the
affect that any such agent so acting after he had been
convicted should b) guilty of a misdemeanour.

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL opposed the amendment,
as he considered it an extremely eruol propositioa.
The committee divided, when there appeared—
For the amendment
Against it
Majlrity against

Vise:mut AII.BERLEY moved an amendment t 3 the
same clause, that a candidata electel through the employ-
ment, knowingly, of agents who had been convicted of
bribery, should be incapable of sitting in the Housa of
Commons duaing the three years next after the trial of
the petition.

Mr. R. GURNEY thought the declaring the election
void, which it was already agreed should b 3 the case,
would be quite punishment enough. lie hoped the amend-
ment would not be pressed.
Mr. M. CHAMBERS supported the amendment.
The committee divided, when there appeared—
For the amendment 4B
Against it
Majority against ---63

On the question that the clause stand part of the bill,

Mr. WHITBREAD said without the house exercised
some discretion with respect to th 3 moving of amend-
meats to this bill, the hop 3 of passing it during the pre-
sent session would be out of the question.
Mr. GRIFFITH asked whether the hon. gentleman
had received any authority from her Majesty's Govern-
Mont to make such an appeal ?
Mr. DISRAELI thought the suggestion of the hon.
gentleman opposite necessary and well-timed.
On clause 47 being proposed,

Mr. MILL moved to insert the word "municipal" into
the clause.

Mr. DISRAELI said it would lead to endless trouble if
such addition was made. Tim.), would soon be called on
to consider the subject of munic;pal electiono, therefore he
hoped the hon. gentleman would not press his amend-
ment.

The amenclmlnt was ultimately withdrawn, and the
clause was ordered to stand part of the bill.

The next five clauses having been agrood to, on clause
52 being proposed,
Mr. AYRTON said it now bocam3 necessary that the
Government should state whether they would extend the
provisions of the bill to Scotland and Ireland.

Mr. DISRAELI said ho would, on the bringing up the
report, state whether it was possible to extend the measure
to Scotland and Ireland. If it was not possible to do so he
hoped the bill would bo an acceptable one, limited as it
would be to England.
Mr. GL..A.DS TONE thought it would do well to extend
the bill to Scotland and Ireland, as it would appear an
anomaly for the House to still hold its authority in the
countries named whilst it had given it up as regards Eng-
land. He had expressed a verystrong opinion on the motion
but the circumstances had altogether changed in conse-
quence of its being limited only to 3 years. He should
prefer a bill embracing England, Ireland, and Scotland,
but if that was impossible he was not prepared to refuse
the measure under consideration because it was limited to
England.

Mr. DISRAELI said he would, if possible, bring up a
clause extending the bill to Scotland and Ireland.
The clause was then agreed to.
_ _

Mr. DISRAELI then moved an additional clause as to
the payment of additional judges, and their remuneration
for the duties to be performed under the act.

Mr. AYRTON moved that certain words be added, to
the effect that the three new judges should not be ap-
pointed until all the election petitions arising after the
dissolution had been presented to the Court of Common
Pleas.

Mr. DISRAELI said such an amendment would entirely
upset the whole effect of the bill, and therefore he could
not give his assent to it.
The amendment was withdrawn.

An amendment was then proposed to omit the payment
of the additional £5OO to the judge who should have to try
the election petitions, on the ground that it would
lead to canvassing on the judicial bench. Mr. Locke
thought the more preferable course to pursue would be to
increase the salaries of each of the judges .£5OO, rather than
make a distinction by giving that additional sum to
the single judge going to try the election petition. The
person to be tried might say to the judge, if such was car-
ried into effect —" Why, you would not come to try this
petition without you got a bribe of .£500."
Mr. CARDWELL said he thought the proposal of the
Government would be looked on as anything but a com-
pliment to the judicial bench. He was much more in favour
of giving the whole of the judges additional salaries than
giving the sum of £5OO to the judge trying the petition.
Mr. BOUVERIE thought that the proposal to give the
money to the judge would do more than anything else to
render the bill a failure.

Mr. WHITBRED thought there was nothing new in
giving additional remuneration for additional work.
Mr. GLADSTONE thought the making one addition to
the number of those on the judicial bench was an admis-
sion that Parliament did not wish to overwork the judges.
He thought whatever was the result of the house upon this
clause, no disrespect was intended to the judges. If there
was ground for increase of the salaries of the judges he
was not at all disposed to object to a general increase to
all of those distinguished persons.
Mr. HENLEY preferred to see the salaries of the judges
considered as a whole. He could not approve of the pro-
posal now before the committee.
The committee divided on an amendment omitting the
words, " Giving the judges going to try election petitions
an additional £500," when there appeared—
For the amendment
96
Against it

Majority 27
A clause was then agreed to limiting the duration of the
act to three years.
The consideration of the other additional clauses occu-
pied the house up to seven o'clock, at which hour the
sitting of the house was suspended.

COUI?SE OF EXCHANGE—This Eceninj.

Amsterdam Short ... 11 ... 11 18}
Do 3 Ms. 11 194 19 0
Rotterdam ..
.74

Autworp
Brussels
Ilamburgh • •••

• 25 3?., '25 42.
• 23 371 25 42
• 13 9I . 13 10

Paris

.. Short ... 23 1

25 221

Ditto

/1 ra3eilles

... 25 25 34

Frankfort-on-tho-Main
Vienna

120;
... 11 65