The New York herald., 1870-06-19
ENGLAND.

The British Cabinet and the Grent sss;OciaI
Evip-Agitation i'm the KinGdOm-A Scene
in Pariinment-ssStranx in the House''--
The Press Reporters Ordered Out-A Erivaie
Debate-Is the British Press Yet Free and
independents
LONDON, June l. 1870.
strange and somewhat bitter controversy has
been going In England for the last three or four
months. The year before last a bill entitled ''The
Contagious Diseases Act" was passed into law, the
object of which was to remedy, or at least abate,
some OF the more glaring evils connected with the
..social evil" Representations had long made
to the government that both the army and navy
were being decmated by the ravages of a disease
whose vrulence is as nsidous it Is fatal. Garri-
son and naval towns especially, such Portsmouth,
Plymouth, woolwich and Aldershot, 1t was proved
suffered chronically and to an extent which not
the widest imagination could exaggerae. Naturally
timld OF the decacy Of the subject and the
squeamishness Of the people, whom Burns calls the
"unco gud," government at first refused to have
anything to do with the matter but in course Of
time the representations made to them were OF so
serious character that they resolved to grapple
with the evil and strive their utmost to abate It, With
this view the Contagious niseaoos aos was nassea
after brief struggle. Only some six or eight towns
were subjected to It's provisions and these towns
were all either occupied by large garrsons,
act simply enacted that women of professedly
loose character should be made subject to medical
supervision and restraint somewhat after the fashion
that prevails almost universally upon the Continent
According TO the testimony OF surgeons ana men OF
science an immense amount Of good mas been
wrought by this legislation, and its operation has
been proved to have largely promoted both the health
and efficiency alike OF the army and navy. Clergy
OF the lame and character OF Mr. Denison Mail
rice expressed their approval OF It, and 1t was SAN
guinely expected by some that in oil time it
would be made applicable to all large toWns garri
son or otherwise.
While however, practical men were hailing with
satisfaction The reform that had been accomplished,
the phllanhrOplss, theorists religloasts and ladies
| stepped in and got up hue and cry' upon the
| matter They declared that the government was by
its interference recognizing one OF the grossest OF
| human vices and outragng the feelings and senti-
| ments of the people Public meetings held all
the country petitions addressed to Pailia
ment, pledges were eXacted from representatives,
and diatribes were hurled from the pulpits predict
ing woe and desoiatlon and calling upon the govern
Inent repeal the obnoxious act. Strange to say
those who knew least about the matter-tne ladies'
took up the question as one that was derogatOry of
! their SEX and preached and agitated against the
| government. Led on by the great philosopher Mr.
John stuart Mill, the ladies at length succeeded IN
getting Parliamentary champion for their Cause In
| the person OF Mr.. Fowler, the member for Cam
bridge, who, after due investigation, resolved to
introa1ce bili to repeal the obnoxious act
His motion for enectng this object came up on
Tuesday last and gave rise TO scene that is almost
unprecedented In modern parliamentary annals. No
sooner had Mr.. Fowler risen 10 make his speech
tnan Scotch member rose and deliberately sad-
Mr Speaker, beg to call your attention to the fact
that there are strangers present the House." Com
mOnpace as the remark may seem, 1t has a very
deep significance, which shall IN couple OF sen.
tences explain. According to standing order OF
Parliament nobody who Is not the representative OF
constituency is entitled to be present during the de-
bates. When newspapers attained their present I'M
pOrtance and shorthand reports oil speeches became
indispensable this rule found TO he very ncOnve
nient, and the speaker winKed at the presence OF
STRANGERS ae mt mas osa a n see rSs% and po s se
are therefore, not In the House. 1t is however, In
the competency OF any member to warn the Speaker
that unprivieged persons are present. IN which
he has no option but TO turn them out.
This is exactly what occurred on the occasion to
which am referring. When the member have
alluded to said, 'sir, there are strangers in the
House." the Speaker was compelled to order the
not only the general public were summary eected'
but also the newspaper reporters, who come within
the parliamentary category OF strangers Relieved
thus OF the eaveSdroppers the House proceeded 10
discuss in private the question OF whether the
Contagious Diseases act ought to be repealed.
Although not present, learned that great indigna-
ton was expressed the part Of honorable gentle
men that the public had been excluded. Many OF
them had prepared ed elaborate nnnr ~ speeches upon upon
that they would not be reported. Govern.
ment also was very mucn dispeased, because
they felt that the incident might be made
handle against them at the hustings. What makes
the exclusion all the more unustliabe Is the fact
that there was no reason whatever for discussing
the question privately. Except double entendre
which was INDUCED In now and then-chie1y, per-
haps, because the speakers knew that tne reporters
appeared in print. The result OF all the talk was
that government promised royal commission TO
inquire into the whole question. They refused, how
ever in the meanwhile, to repeal the act and uLi.
matey the debate was adjourned, with the nten-
iOn OF its being resumed publicly At the first 0ppor
tunty.
When this decision was arrived at the reporters
were called in and were saluted by the members
with round after round Of the most enthusiastic
cheering.
LADIES, BEWARE bad FOR THE BACK HAIR
The Great Falls IN. H.. Journal says that young
| lady OF that place who had beautiful head Of halr
was obliged to have 1t cut OIL close to the head on
account Of the insects that had got into the hair
| from switch that she had been wearing. The
Rochester Courier says a similar case occurred at
Milton short time since, and every week we hear
of bugs insects destroying the natural hair. The
| switches are made from the bark OF tree and con-
tain these little bugs that fatal TO the hair. II
| Is only in such uncvllized countries as Arkansas
that the back hair useful There 1t Is