The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-25 00:00:00

DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE BILL,

This Bill also passed through Committee. Report this day.
REAL PROPERTY—(No. I.) BILL.
The House then went into Committee on this Bill.
The Bill went through Committee, and the House resumed.
......

The report was brought up and adopted, and the Bill, as
amended, was ordered to be printed.
ASSIGNMENT OF TERMS BILL.

The House then went into Committee on this Bill, the
clauses of which were agreed to, the report adopted, and the
Bill was ordered to be read a third time to-morrow.
GRANTING OF LEASES BILL.

After a short conversation between Sir T. Wilde, Mr. M.
J. O'Connell, and the Attorney-General, the last of whom
cordially supported the measure, this Bill went through Com-
mittee.

The report of the County Rates Bill was brought up, and
;he Bill ordered to be read a third time to-morrow.
SCOTTISH TURNPIKE TRUSTS BILL.

On the motion being put for the committal of this Bill, it
was moved that it be committed that day three months.
Mr. P. M. STEWART supported the Bill, and declared
that the Hon. Member had misrepresented its purpose and
purport. He was quite sure that this Bill would be looked
upon by the people of Scotland as an improvement on the
existing law, and, were it not so late at night, he could easily
dispose of the arguments of the Hon. Gentleman against

Mr. FORBES MACKENZIE confessed that he did not
agree with the views of the Honourable Member who had just
sat down, and intimated his intention of ♦oting against the
committal of the Bill.

Strangers were then ordered to withraw, and the House
divided, when there appeared—

For the amendment
Against it
Majority for the amendment
The Bill is consequently lost.
FEES (CRIMINAL COURTS) BILL,

Mr. ESCOTT:in moving the committal of this Bill, stated
that its object was to prevent a person being, in certain coun-
ties in England, compelled to purchase his right of pleading,
and his right of trial, when charged with a criminal offence, by
the payment of exorbitant fees to the officers of the local cri-
minal courts. They would never get any justice unless they
should decide that no person should be inflicted with any fine
beyond the damages for the offence. He was at a great loss to
know why this Bill should be opposed. This was a
mere question of money. These fees formed a con-
venient way, except to the parties who paid them,
of paying money into the pockets of men other-
wise respectable, but who would not be thoroughly
respectable as long as they received those fees. He wished
then that this Bill would be allowed to go into Committee. and
if any amendments were to be made as to the practical working
of it he would be most happy to listen to them. Though the
Bill might not be perfect, there was no doubt that it would do a
great deal of good, and would create a great admiration for the
administration of justice in this country and a love of the laws.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM said that they had now arrived at a
period of the session, and at an hour of the morning, when it
would be necessary to cut this matter short. He had heard
the Honourable Member say that the Bill was not
necessary ; but it was as necessary as most other measures
of superfluous legislation. With regard to parties acquitted,
he agreed with his Friend ; but he totally differed from
him as to patties found guilty, for he did think this latter class
ought to be made to feel the infliction of the law.
Lord J. MANNERS said it was impossible for any Member
to understand this, what he would call " hocus pocus " legis-
lation.

Sir JAMES GRAHAM said that if the House sided with
him in staying the further progress of the B It, he would give
notice that, to-morrow, he would introduce a Bill for the
abolition of fees upon pleading and acquittal.
Mr. P. BORTH WICK briefly supported the motion.
Mr. ESCOTT, at the request of several Hon. Members,
then withdrew the Bill.
DRAINAGE BILL.

The Earl of LINCOLN moved for leave to bring in a Bill
for the Improvement of the Sewerage and Drainage of Towns
and populous Districts, and for making provision for an ample
supply of water, and for otherwise promoting the health and
convenience of the inhabitants, He said it was not his intention
to press the Bill through the House in the present session, but
simply to have it introduced and printed, and placed in Hon.
Members' hands, so that their best attention might be given to
its details during the recess.
Leave was then given to introduce the Bill.
The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the
House adjourned at Half-past One o'Clock.