The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-02-21 00:00:00

THURSDAY, FEB. 16.

Lord J. RussELL, in answer to a question, said the
Scotch and Irish Reform Bills would not be brought in
before the 13th of March.

LIGHT-HOUSES.—In answer to a question whether any
steps had been taken to erect a light-house on Galita
Island, or the Aguglia Rocks ; and whether a light-house
on Keith's Reef, in the Skerki Channel, where the Athe-
nian, 64, was lost in 1806, was obtaining the attention of
government,—Sir J. GRAHAM said that as to the erection
of a light-house on Galita Island, or the Aguglia rocks,
the most experienced naval authorities were opposed to it,
inasmuch as it would only be the means of provoking
those in command of vessels to incur the hazard of trying
to run between that island and the coast of Africa. There
appeared to be no doubt that a light-house upon Keith's
Reef would be of the most essential service, but he thought
that this country should not be called upon to bear exclu-
sively the expenses, but that some arrangements ought to
be entered into on the subject.
THE FRENCH EMPEROR'S LETTER.—In answer to a
question by Mr. Disraeli, whether a diplomatic document,
which had appeared in the public journals, affecting to be
a copy of a letter from the Emperor of the French to the
Emperor of Russia, was authentic,—Lord J. RUSSELL
replied, that there was every reason to believe that the
document, as it appeared in the Moniteur, was authentic,
and that the government had been consulted on the sub-
ject of it.
BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION.—Sir F. KELLY moved for
leave to bring in a bill to prevent bribery, corruption,
intimidation, and undue influence, and to diminish the
expenses at elections. He proposed that, at every place
returning a member, an election officer (being a barrister)
should be appointed, and that, at every election, the can-
didate should be bound by oath to pay all money into his
hands alone, and should declare to the election-officer the
names of his agents, who should be required to take an
oath before the election-officer that no money would be
paid except through his hands. The remaining part of
the measure regarded voters, and a series of provisions
enabled electors to give their votes by means of voting
papers.—Colonel SIBTICORP pronounced the scheme im-
practicable and futile.—The ATTORNEY-GENERAL, on the
part of Government, did not oppose the introduction of
the bill, though some parts were of very doubtful policy,
especially that relating to polling papers.—Leave was
given to bring in the bill.
THE TRUCK SYSTEM.—Mr. C. FORSTER moved for
leave to bring in a bill to alter and amend the act com-
monly called the Truck Act, which, he observed, while it
struck at collusive contracts, overlooked collusive pay-
ments. The bill was similar to that introduced last ses-
sion by Lord Palmerston.—Mr. BRIGHT would not oppose
the introduction of the bill, though he did not expect any
good from it. If men could get up strikes," surely, if
this was a real grievance, they could get up an agitation
to put it down.—Lord PALMERSTON supported the mo-
tion, in conformity with the pledge he gave when he with-
drew the bill he introduced last session. He agreed that
upon general principles it was better to leave classes of
men to arrange with each other; but, at the same time,
cases would arise in which one party would be more or less
dependent upon another, and unable to take care of their
own interests. He recommended that the bill should be
referred to a select committee.—After some further dis-
cussion, the motion was agreed to.
IRISH TENANT RIGHT.—Mr. Serjeant SHER moved for
leave to bring in a bill to provide compensation for im-
provements made by tenants in Ireland. He explained
the provisions of the bill he intended to introduce, and in
what it differed from the bill which had passed that house
last session. Its main defects were to be found, he said,
in the specification of improvements (important classes of
improvements being omitted), and in the restrictions upon
claims for compensation.—Sir J. YOUNG said the govern-
ment had no objection to the bill being laid upon the
table, but they were not thereby pledged to give it any
support.—The motion was agreed to.