Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-08-18
A STORMY SCENE.
PlimsOIPs Speech I'm the British House of
commons on the Shipping Bill.


The London correspondent of the N.
l. tribune gives this graphic sketch of
the recent stormy scene in the British
House OF Commons over the bill to pro-
teet sailors from being put to sea IN
rotten ships:
1t is about month since the Prime
Minister, with an arrogance which the
House found offensive, declared that all
the important bills the Government had
in hand should be passed even though,
he lntlmated, the session might be pro-
longed into September. Thursday
night saw curious change of mood.
He then told the House it had become
TO pass the Merchant Ship
ping bill-the bill which, all imperfect
as 1t was, was beyond comparison the
most important and benefcent measure
OF the session. The announcement
or rather the purpose known before
hand--stung Mr.. Plimsoll past endur-
ance. He was standing at the bar and
began speaking from the bar, which the
rules OF the House do not permit. Lord
Francis Conyngham gave him his
place on the front bench
below the gangway, and
from there Mr.. Plimsol delivered
perhaps the most outspoken speech
ever heard in the House. Conventions
al1sm he flung to the winds at the start,
with his lmpassioned entreaty to the
Prime Minister mot to consign some
thousand living human beings to a
miserable DEATH" Then, turning upon
the President of the Board of Trade,
he charged him with having expressly
drawn the bill in form to incite hostile
amendments, and declared that since
the commercial marine of this country
had been committed to the Board OF
Trade, the whole matter has been get
ting worse and worse. "With the aid"
Numbered Mr.. Plimsoll, 'sof ship
owners of murderous tendencies out
side the House, and who are immidiate-
ly represented in this House they, have
frustrated and defeated every effort to
secure a remedy for this state of
things"
Not single ship-this on the author
ity of the Secretary of Lloyds-had for
thirty years been voluntarily broken up
by her owners. Out Of 5000 vessels
on Lloyd s register, no fewer than g.
654 have gone off their class and for
felted their position.
What follows? every winter, hun
dreds and hundreds of brave men are
sent to death, and their wives are made
widows, and their children are made
fatherless, SO that few speculative
scoundrels cheers |, in whose hearts
there is neither the love of God nor the
fear OF man, may make unhallowed
gain. Cheers.] There were ship
owners who never built ship and new
er bought one ship knackers'-a
one of them was a member of the
House." Here the speaker interposed
with warning that discussion was out.
of order. 4 49, sG#
TIE climax followed instantly:
'Then, sir, give notice Of question
which 1 will put on Tuesday next to
the right honorable gentleman, the
President of the Board of Trade"
After naming four vessels which were
lost with 81 lives in 1874, and two
others which were abandoned at sea, he
proceeded 81 shall ask whether the
owner, Edward Bates, is the member
for Plymouth or some other person of
4he same name. Hear, hear. And,
sir, shall ask some questions about
members on this side of the House,
too" Laughter. 81 am determined
(raising his clenched hst) to unmask the
villains VINO send these sailors to DEATH"
The Speaker rose in his chair-Mr
Plimsoll being all the while out of
his place, and gesturing violently
to express his hope that Mr.. Plim-
soil did not mean to apply the word
villain to any member. of the
House. 81 did,. replied he, s'and l
don't mean to withdraw it. The Speaker
rejoined that it was uhparliamentary,
and again asked him to withdraw the
word, but MIR. Plimsol declined to re-,
tract. .rB bs5si1d vlluisyaa
Then the Speaker said .'Does the
honorable member withdraw the express
sion % t%ssf&
Mr.. Phmsoll replied, ssNo, he does
not.'' Cries of Withdraw Ii
" IT," rejoined the Speaker, IL g the
honorable member declines to Withdraw
it, [ must leave the matter to the iudg-,
ment of the House, :
Mr.. Plimsoll, who had meanwhile
token a. seat on the front Opposition
bench, again advanced to the front of
the table, and, placing . written paper
upon it, said, 81 shall be very happyto
submitsto the Judgment of the House,
and this is my pro test. . He. remained
standing at the table for about a minute.
amid cries Of !" Chair,'' and then re-
sumed his seat, still manifesting great
excitement sts 3;l atg.
Mr.. Disraei rose. AS leader of the
House it is his business TO look after
what iscalled it's dignity, when things
have gotlto such pass that. a motion
is necessary. A brother member, he
remarked, had conducted himself in a
most unparalleled manner. $50 has
the Government, broke in Pllimsoll.
His conduct, MI. Disraei said, had
been Of the most offensive kind, and,
though with reluctance, he felt bound to
move that Mr.. Plimsoll be reprimanded
by the Speaker. The culprit was there
fore directed to make his defense,
and then withdraw, but defense
he would not make, and withdrew at