New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-19
BRITISH TOPICS. .
NOTES FROM LONDON.

COMMONS-DECIsIOS IN TIN hoIeh or Loiu'
IN RESPECT TO THE LIABILITY OF RAILWAY
COMPANIES FOR pAMAGEs-A CLUB FOR MEN
AND WOMEN.
ttnox THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSE.l
LONDON, June 1.-The love for compromise which
IL mart of the English character leads sometimes to
very miserable results. 1t did 40 on Monday night,
when the House of Commons arrived at what Is
called settlement of the Press question. 1t Is only
half settlement, and such grace as it might have
disappears in the face Of the conirulsion which was
needed to bring il about The whole matter Is I'M
dcrstood to have been arranged at private meeting
of Mr. Disraelis supporters. held Monday morning
at his official residence in Downing-st some means
had to be found of cvading the degree of humiliation
involved in acceptance OF Lord Hartlng'ohs
resolutions 1t would never do to let the leader OF
the minority have the credit of deciding
question so much agtacd as this has been.
Nor would it do to adopt the substance
of his proposal and change only the form. The in
Qenious mind of Mr.. Dsraeli hit upon third
method-to take half Lord HartingtOn's suggestion,
with unimportant notifications, and reject the
other half 1T has long been his motto to do moth
ing to-day that could be put off till tomorrow Mr.
Sullivan had made it impossible to put Oil any
longer the difficulty about the seclusOn of strangers.
Therefore the Prime Minister agrees that Ill future
when member spies strangers the question
whether tney bnstii De tuIHSu out nhfii
be put without debate. The Speaker or Chairman
of Committees is also to have the power of exclud-
ing them when he thinks it desirable. There is not
much 10 choose between this and Lord Hartington's
plan An absurdty has been got rid of. No single
unofficial member can now control the VIII OF the
whole House. Strangers-reporters lncluded-have
henceforth right to be present unless the House
directs them to withdraw. SO far, good.
In reality the other point which the House has re-
fused to dispose of is the more important. Lord
Hartngton's resolution to the effect that publication
of the debates should no longer be breach of priv-
lege has been rejected. No reason was given, none
could be given. All that could be said was said by
Mr. Disraeli's lieutenant, Mr.. Hardy. They were
afraid TO do it. They did not know what might hap
pen if the House should relnquish its power of sum
moplng TO its bar the printers of the papers which
every morning report the debates of the House. and
which have gallery provided for them in order that
they may report. The House is monarch perplcxed
with fear of change-not by disastrous twi-
light but by pure daylight-fearing to see
itself as others it, possibly. 1t Is natural
Tory leader should hate the Press and fear
it-natural he should wish to keep it in
state of even nominal dependence and subsection,
and above ALL modification. 1t appears to be some
comfort to the Tory mind to have a rope round the
neck of his enemy though he knows it must give
way at the first pull The Press takes it very easily,
after the English manner What would he intoler-
able to Frcnchman, or to anybody with quick
sense Of-hOnOr, l was going to say though don't
quite mean that, scarcely touches English phlegm
at all. Had the Press chosen TO insist, the House
would have had to yield. 1t is content with half
victory. The other half will come in time. Not
because of any theoretical grievance-that would not
be English. But when some day practical incon-
venience occurs, the wrong will be remedied. Inch
~. H. said the HouSp
gives way. Most reforms in England have been got
by inches.
That meeting of Mr.. Disraeh's supporters was held
for other reasons than to get ratification of his de-
cison about strangers and debates To draw tighter
the relaxing bonds of party discipline, say some.
There is a mutnous band in the crew, and there are
rocks ahead. The measure which interests the aver
age Tory-or average land-holding member OF either
party-more than all others of the season, is bill
dealing with the land. You never can touch the soil
without making this little island quver all through
The Government have bill called the Agricultural
Holdings bill-meant to make things pleasant all
round-a bill to favor tenants the farmers and not
to injurc landlords. A BILL unluckily which gives
with one hand and takes back with the other. 1t is
40 far from promoting the expected of universal
brotherhood that side, the farmers are form
ing societies protect themselves and the Other
forty landowners in the House have sent round robin
TO the Prime Minister declaring their determination
TO vote against certain clauses in the bill which the
Government deems vital. Mr. Disraeli's bed is not
ono of roses, even with drilled majority to soothe
his sumbers. He may yet loosen the Tory hold on
the counties and, when that day comes, good by
for many long year to Tory rule in England.
A decision likely to be of interest in America has
Just been given by the House Of Lords-a decision
limiting though not wholly destroying, as it ought.
the mpudent attempts of railway and other carry
ing companies to rid themselves of all liability to
their passengers for their negligence and de-
faults This was q case in which the plaintlf, an
officer in the army, bought ticket Of the defend
ants for the steamer Countess of Eglinton, plying
between Dublin and SillOch. The steamer was
wrecked by carelessness and Lieut. Stevenson sued
the owners for his expenses and the vane of his lug
care They pleaded in defense that there was no
negligence, when was promptly decided against
them; and secondly, that, whether they were neg
hgent OF not, they not liable because on the
back Of the plaintiffs licked was printed this re-
markable declaration, viz: "This ticket is issued
OH the condition that the Company incur no liability
whatever respect of loss, injury. delay to the
passenger, TO his or her luggage whether arising
from the act neglect, default OF the Company or
their servants or otherwise. Ii is also issued sub
iect to all the conditions and arrangements pub
hshel by the Company" That said the defendants
was part of the contract between them and Lieut.
Stevenson, and he had aud could have 10 cause of
action against them, because, when he bought his
ticket he agreed to this condition, and the Company
became free from all liability.
1t was admitted, so far appears from the re-
port, that Lieut.. Stevenson had not read the cond
tions. but the Company insisted he was bound by
them all the great deal was said both
by counsel and the Judges about the conditions being
printed on the back of the ticket and not on the