The Sun.
London, England, 1868-07-24 00:00:00

THE INDIAN BUDGET.

Sir S. NORTLICO I.E gave notice of his intention to
introduce the Indian Budget on Monday next, and also
tuat he did not intend to proceed further with the two
bills to improve the government of India during the pre-
sent session.

ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.

CORRUPT PRACTICES AT ELECTIONS BILL.
The house then proceeded to the further Consideration
of this bill. Amendments were agreed to extending the
bill to Ireland.

Mr. LOWTHER moved an addition to clause 43, to the
effect that if after a previous conviction before an election
committee any canvasser or agent should obtain such
employment at another election he should be deemed
guilty of misdemeanour.

The SOLICITOR-GENERIL opposed the clause, as
he considered it unjust and too severe.

Sergeant GASELEE did not think that it was so.
There ware plenty of those fellows always prowling about
to get hold of innocent candidates. (Laughter.) Young
men fresh from Oxford, who no doubt thought they would
one day become Prime Minister, went innocently to con-
test an election; they were got hold of by one of those fel-
lows, and consequently were to be disqualified for 7 years
from sitting in that house, whilst the other party got off
free. He did not believe the amendment was unjust, be-
cause every'tiine a person committed an offenco, he was
liable to punishment of an increased severity, and very
properly so. (Laugiiter.) Heloped the house would dis-
agree with the opinion of the Solicitor-General and adopt
the amendment.

The house divided, wlOn there appeared—
For the alneuduient 92
Against it
Majority agatust the anieuduxont --13

Mr. FAWCETT then moved that the following words
be added to the clause he had succeeded in inserting in the
bill throwing the expenses of the returning officer on the
ratepayers: -" That it shill not be lawful for any person
to be nominated as a candidate at any such election, unless
he or some person in his behalf shall have paid to the re-
turning officer the sum of £lOO, to be applied in the
following manner (that is to say): where a poll shall take
place at any such election, the returning officer shall apply
the moneys so paid to him by any such candidate who
shall not, at the close of the poll, have received a number
of votes equal at least toone-fifth part of the votes received
by the successful candidate, if only one, or by such one of
the successful candidates if there shall be more than one,
as shall have received the smallest number of votes, in and
towards defraying the lawful expenses of the returning
officer relating to such election; andafter any such election
the returning officer shall forthwith repay to any such
candidate who shall have been declared elected without a
poll, or who, whether declared elected or not, shall have
received a number of votes equal at least to such fifth
part, the moneys so paid by or for him as aforesaid."
de said the house having on a former occasion accepted
his proposal of making the ratepiyers liable for the ex-
penses of the returning officer, he thought that it was
but right that soma guarantee should be taken that no
candidate net having a prospect of being elected should
come forward merely for a Party purpose. He was not at
all indisposed to alter the a nortat of money to be depo-
sited or to the sum to be deducted from the deposit for

hustings expenses.
Sir M. LOPES thought the sum to bo deposited alto-
gether too small ; 1i proposed that the sum to be deposited
be for counties £3OO, and £l5O for boroughs.
Mr. BEAUAIONT moved, as an au Sad to Mr.
Fawcett's proposed new clause, to leave out all after
"that," and insert " the proposer and seconder of every can-
didate whoshall not have p )(led one-fifth of the total number
of electors voting at any election for a county or a borough
shall be liable (in the same way as if this act had not passed)
for his share of the expenses lawfully incurred by the re-
turning officers for the provision of hustings, poll clerks,
polling booths or rooms, Or any other requisites for the
conduct of the election, and the proposer and seconder of
every absent candidate shall be liable for the same ex-
penses."

After a short discussion, Mr. FAWCETT withdrew his
proviso in favour of the amendment of the hoa. member
for Northurnberlaad.
Mr. LOWTHER thought that without they made the
proportion one-third instead of one-fifth of the votes, it
would be no guarantee that " straw" candidates would not
be started.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said the proposal was
utterly inoperative, as it woull not in the least degree
prevent "straw" candidates gcdrig tlsto poll.
Mr. HARVEY LEWIS thought it highly objectionable
that the expenses of candidates at elections for hustings,
&c., should bo put upon
,the ratepayers; and 113 also

thought it wrong that a SucCessfuf candidate should be
called upon to defray any of the expenses incurred by a
man corning forward without the slighost chance of being
elected.

Mr. LEEMAN thought the most correct way of correct-
ing the abuse anticipated was to call upon the candidate
or his proposer to deposit on the instant a poll was de-
manded the sum of XlOO for a borough and £2OO for a county,
and such money to be applied by the returning officer
to the expenses of the election, provided such candidate has
not polled one-fifth of the electors. He begged to move
an amendment to the amendment to that effect.

Mr. HEADLASI hoped the hon. member for York would
not persevere with his amendment, as it was precisely to
the same effect as that which the hoe. member for Brighton
had withdrawn.

Mr LEEMAN'S amendment having been withdrawn,
the house divided on that moved by Mr. Beaumont, when
there appeared—
For the amendment
Against it
Majority against •

Viscount MILTON then moved a proviso to the clause
setting forth the mole of levying the county rate where
the county was divided.

Tho SOLICITOR-GENEEL.A.L objected to the pro-
posal.

The proviso having been agreed to without a division,
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL then rose to move that
clause 53 D be expunged, the clause moved by Mr Faw-
cett throwing the expenses of the returning officer
on the ratepayers. The honourable and learned
gentleman said the question had been so fully discussed
and so well ventilated that he need do no more than move
that the clause be struck out of the bill, as it was most
objectionable that ratepayers Should be called upon to pay
the expenses of parlia.mentary candidates.
Mr. FAWCETT then proceeded, amidst evident marks
of impatience, to address the house in justification of the
• couroo hal -srsued, ho at4Jusly