New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-15
THE OPENING or PARLIAMENT

The session of the British Parliament which
will open to-day is to be devoted to the arrears
of domestic legislation. Three IRISH sessions
have been held since the general elections, and
the Liberals have not redeemed their pledges
TO their constituencies. The time has now
come when the interests and needs of the re-
maindeI of the United Kingdom are to be con-
sdcred. The first half of the constitutional
term of the Liberal Commons has expired ard
the domestic legislation promised in the cleo
ton addresses has barely been begun. The
rules of procedure were revised because the
work for which the Government was held re
sponsible 10y the constituencies could not he
done under the old system. With the new
rules enacted, with ireland gradually settling
into state of tranquility, and with the threads
of the tangled sken of Egyptian diplomacy IN
Lord Duiferin's firm hand. no excuse can now
be offered for legislative inacton. Already the
general elections are looming up IN tie dis
lance. Not more than two sessions remain lOr
actual work for the Liberals when IN OppOSi-
ton beratcd Lord BeacOnstield for not appeal
ILg To the country year before hc did. They
must now prepare IN their turn to meet the
practical requirements of their constituencies
by adjusting outstanding claims upon their
political consistency ard their legislative ca
pacity A laborious and fruitful session Is
therefore 20 be fairly expected.
TIE TRIBUSTs special cable dispatches have
contained an outline Of the work of tn, session.
The first measure to he introduced will bc sir
Henry James, Corrupt Practices bill. This Is
a stringent measure for dealing with the abuses
of clcctionecring for curtaillng the expenses Of
...l .. L. ,.f
venality and corruption. As originally framed
it prohibited the hiring of cabs to convey yot-
ers to the polls, restricted tho number OF agents
paid for canvassing to two at each station i0r
each candidate, forbade the nsc of committee
rooms in publc-hOu,cs and the supply OF re-
frrshmcnts on credit, even to non-clcctors, en-
acted penalties for treating and similar
practice-, and established a tari1 of maximum
expenditures to bc incurred in a contest. Prob
ably the provisions of the bill have been Tcnd-
cred less Tigd, especially in regard To the en-
ployInent of canyasslng agents aud penalties
incurred through inadvertence; but the meas
ure undoubtedly retains its essential features
and is designed TO purify the present system of
elections, and by materially reducing the OK
peuses Of candidates 10 enable men with mod
crate, OF even small incomes, to enter Parla
ment 1t is a measure which interests every
member Of the Commons, and it will be cI
haustivcly discussed. The Government will bc
fortunate il it can secure its passage before
May The second great measure in the Liberal
programme relates To the uniiicatiOn of the gov
ernment of London, n city which Of itself com
prises nation as large as Scotland. The Cow
eminent bill will probably be based upon draft
measure originally drawn by Mr.. Firth, with
whom the Home Secretary has recently been
conierrng. lC will virtually create new
municipality which Will absorb the rights Of
the ancient Corporation and the powers OF the
Metropolitan Board of Works. TO these great
projects of reform are added two minor meas
nres, the Bankruptcy Act ana bill enabling
members of Parliament to affirm in place of
making oath.
Apparently the most harassing measures will
be deferred to another session. These are the
County Government and Franchise bills aud Il
measure for the redistribution of seats. Our
London correspondent has telegraphed that Mr. |
Chamberlain, who il justly regarded as the |
shrcwdesC political organizer in the Cabinet, is |
anxious to secure the adhesion of the farmers |
to the Liberal party before touching these crit |
zeal questions, aud accordingly has devised an |
ingenious substitute for them in the form Of |
tenant compensation. This agricultural class |
is the one which the Liberals have uniformly |
overlooked in their schemes of reform, the |
Ground Game bill passed during the short ses.
sion of 1850 being an exceptional effort to con-
ciliate it. second and more comprehensive |
measure would have an excellent effect in q
political sense. and certainly there is class
in the United Kingdom which stands ia greater
need of positive legislation than this. 1t is
probable, thcI elOre that the equalization of
borough and county franchise will not be at
tempted at the present session. 1t can prop
erly be reserved for another year, and then be
supplemented by redistribution of seats. a
dissolution ought naturally to follow so radical
q measure Of reform.
COOPERATING WITH BUTLER
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