The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-06-13 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-THIIRSDAY, JUNE S.

The house met for the first time since the recess.
The Great Western, Shrewsbury, and Birmingham, and
Shrewsbury and Chester Railway Companies Amalgama-
tion Bill was read a third time and passed.
Petitions against the opening of public-houses and the
sale of beer upon the Lord's Day were presented by Mr.
Barnes, from a Sunday school and congregation at Farn-
worth, near Bolton, and from the inhabitants of Roe-
gree:,, near Manchester.
THE MINISTER OF WAIL.
On the order for going into a Committee of Supply,
Lord J. RUSSELL announced the new arrangements de-
termined upon by the government for the military depart-
ment. Two questions, he observed, had engaged attention ;
one, that of giving more vigour and efficiency to the war
department ; the other related to the various subordinate
'departments connected with the military administration.
With respect to the first, it was the opinion of Her Ma-
jesty's government that the minister having charge of the
colonial department was unable, physically and morally,
to give the necessary amount of attention, time, and
labour to the affairs of the war department ; and that
these affairs, in time of war, instead of being united with
the administration of the colonies, should be separated
from them. In respect to the next question, as, to the
administration of the various departments connected with
military affairs, he referred to certain plans which had
been at different periods suggested for the improvement
of the military administration, and to the objections
offered against each ; and, in conclusion, stated that the
government were of opinion that the best thing that could
be done for the present was to confine themselves to the
separation of functions, by creating a distinct secretary of
state for the war department, and giving to him the
superintendence over the various subordinate military de-
partments. It was clear, he thought, that it would be
very unadvisable, at present, to incur the inconveniences,
the delay, and the confusion attendant upon a re-arrange-
ment of all these various departments ; and the govern-
ment were of opinion that the best mode of proceeding
was to leave it to the War Secretary of State to consider
from time to time what were the best arrangements that
could be made, and what improvements could be intro-
duced. The patronage .of the army would still remain
vested in the Commins.der-in-Chief. It would not be
necessary to have recourse to Parliament for authority to
carry the proposed separation into effect, and the existing
establishment would be nearly sufficient for the new
arrangements.
After some remarks 'by several members, the House
went into Committee upon the Civil Service, when certain
votes were agreed to, after discussion, in the course of
which, Mr. WALPOLE, referring to the announcement by
Lord J. Russell, that there was to be a Secretary of State
for the War Department, inquired of Lord Palmerston
whether any alteration was likely to be made in respect
to the superintendence of the militia.
Lord PALMERSTON declined to enter into further details
respecting the proposed alteration, which would be more
fully developed by Lord J. Russell.
The Exchequer Bonds Bill was read a third time, and
passed. . .
CRIMINAL LAW.—MT. AGLIONBY moved the second
readinz Procedure Bill, after a brief notice
of th,, •', TO the bill, the objects of which, he
•,• , • - • save a considerable expense to
ti‘ u-r . ',IS3 of time and trouble to prose-
cutors ancl•witnesses, and to spare the persons charged the
contamination of a gael,---Mr. COBBETT urged various ob-
jections, and moved to defer the second reading for six
months.—Lord PALlrmtwrox, admitting that there were
imperfections 'in the bill, thought they were capable of
being remedied in committee, and recommended the House
to consent to the lsecond reading.—After a short debate,
the amendment was negatived by 59 to 9, and the bill
was read a second time.
The House adjourned .at a quarter past one o'clock..

FRIDAY, JUNE 9.
A NEW WRIT was ordered for the city of London 'in
the room of Lord J. Russell, who had accepted the office
of Lord President of Her Majesty's Privy Council.
NEWSPAPER STAMPS.—Mr. GIBSON asked what course
the government meant to •adopt in regard to
That the
A`' resolu-
tion agreed to on the 10th of May, stating "
laws in reference to the periodical press andnd newspaper
stamp are ill defined and unequally enforced, a that t
subject demands the early consideration of parliament ?"
—The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that, since
the resolution of the house on th subject, the law in
reference to the periodical press andis the newspaper stamp
had been taken into and was•still under the special consi-
deration of the Attorney-Gene ral.
SUPPLY.—The house again resolved itself into a Com-
mittee of Supply upon the remaining Civil Service Esti-.
mates, the discussion of which occupied the whole even-
ing. - The chairman reported progress the t
again on
Monday. The report of the Committee of Supply was
brought up and agreed to.
LAW REForcm.— On the mogon of the ATTORNEY-
GENERAL, the Common Law Procedure Bill (brought
from the Lords) was read a second time, Mr. WrrirEsrnE
tom-
Mr. ATHERTON, and Mr. S. Wonaszy joining in
mendation of the measure.
BILLS of EXCHANGE. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL
moved the-second reading of the Bills of Exchange (No. 2)
Bill .brought from the Lords), briefly explaining its nature
and objects.—Mr. GLYN expressed the ,concurrence of the
mercantile body in the bill. —After tome remarks b Mr.
'
LOCREART, Mr. CAIRNS Mr. ATHERTON, and ot
members, the bill was road a second time.
NEW BlLLS.—Leave was given to the ATTORNEY-
GENERAL to bring in a bill to amend the law concerning
the making of borough-rates in boroughs not within the
Municipal Corporation Acts ; and to Sir .1. YOUNG, tO
bring in a till for the formation and regulation of convict
prisons in Ireland.
The home adjourned at ten minutes to one .o'clock.

"Tun Enrron."—The Richmond (Amelitan) Mail
throws off the 'following capital illustrationl---They ave
a steam-boat in -the western waters by the name of `have
Editor." This is the best name ever yet given to a steam-
boat, and more especially to a Mississippi steam-boat. We
are surprised it has never been thought of hrfore. The
Editor is a working engine, whose fires are going. day and
night. Now he sails against the tide, and now with it go 7
ing along at a dashing rate, until suddenly hey omes up,
'all standing, against some hidden snag, nearly
shivers his timbers to pieces. Whenever he moves he
puts the waters in agitation for a time, and leaves a wake
of troubled waves behind him, which lasts about five
minutes. He serves everybody but kimself, carries
freight and passengers in any quantity, nd goes puff—
putting down the stream of life. Often his powers are
overtasked, and the boiler bursts, but fortunately it kills
no one but himself, and who cares for an editor ?