The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-08-08
ORDEAL OF THE CELTS.
THE DEBATE ON THE INQUIRY BILL
TO CLOSE TODAY.


Several Amendm ents to the Original
Draft Put Through During Yester-
Disclosures Punishable on the
Ground of Contempt-A Test Propo-
sition Defeated.
LONDON, Aug TN the house of COM
mons this evening Mr.. Smith moved that If
the Parnellite inquiry bill we're not passed
by midnight the p o'clock rule be sus-
pended.
The motion was adopted, and the house
proceeded to consideration of the bill as
amended.
MIR. Matthews, home secretary, moved to
insert the following: 'If any person
having been served with a summons under
this act shall fail to appear the commission
shall have power TO issue a warrant for the
arrest of such person"
He supported the motion by stating that
when the committee stage of the bill was
drawing toward its conclusion, Mr.. Parnell
intimated that special evidence might be
adduced to prove that the letters published
by the Times were forgeries
Mr.. Sexton and Sir Charles Russell
agreed that the insertion of such a clause
was advisable, and the motion was adopted.
INsURING ATTENDANCE.
Mr.. Matthews next moved that anybody
who is summoned to attend before the COM
mission, and who refuses or fails to attend.
shall be liable to punishment for contempt
of the high court of justice of England.
Mr.. Molloy QiberaD suggested that the
giving of evidence ought also to be made
compulsory.
Mr.. Parnell moved an amendment to the
effect that any person refusing to make
true disclosure touching all matters in re-
spect of which he might be examined should
be liable to punishment by the high court
of justice. The amendment was received
with cheers. Mr.. Parnell explained that
his object was to compel the Times to pro-
duce the person who supplied the letters
that had been ascribed to himself. [Cries
of hear hearWl.
MUST TELL EVERYTHING.
Mr. Matthews held that failure to make
full disclosure in reply to any questions
asked would be contempt of the commits
sion, which had full power TO deal with wit
nesses. The amendment therefore was
needless. The commission had the absolute
powers of the high court of justice.
Sir John Simon QiberaD supported Mr..
Parnelrs amendment on the ground that
pIOUSCtlOu OuSub w W given W dlL WIZ
nesses from whatever quarter and however,
involved
T. 2. O'Connor said that the Irish mem
bers would neither ask nor accept a certif-
cate of indemnity from the commission.
Mr.. Parnell's amendment was rejected by
| a vote of 1871 to 120.
An amendment introduced by Mr.. Clancy
| (nationalist) empowering the commission
| TO report from time to time, was accepted
| hv the oOVerDrnant and anOptad
A TEST PROPOSITION
A long discussion ensued on a proposal
by w. A. Hunter QiberaD to compel the
Times to formulate its charges before the
opening of the inquiry by the commission.
Mr. Hunter said the governments reception
of his proposal would show whether their
object was to get the Times out of its scrape
or to get the Parnellites into a scrape.
Sir Edward Clarke, solicitor general, op-
posed Mr.. Clancy's proposal on the ground
that it would place the Times in the position
of a defendant.
The proposal was rejected by vote of
184 to 11S.
CHANCE FOR THOSE IN JAIL,
Mr.. Healy moved that no accused mem
ber of parliament should be detained in
prison UNDER the crimes act during the sit
ting of the commission.
Sir William Vernon Harcourt spoke at
length in support of the motion, and was
followed by the solicitor general, who ac-
cused him of coming, after an absence OF
three hours, for the purpose of infiaming
the discussion, which had previously been
calm and businesslilxe. The Judges, the
solicitor general said, might safely be
trusted to do no injustice TO absent men.
L. Ii. Courtney Qiberal unioniso sug-
gested that Mr. Healy'S object might be
attained by means of a short proyiso
securing the attendance of accused persons
The government leader accepted the sug-
gestion, and Mr.. Healy withdrew his
motion.
FINALLY ADJoURNS.
LONDON, Aug. 8, 3 A. M.-Several amend
ments, consisting mainly of minor instruc-
tions to the commission, were rejected.
Some comment was caused by an incidental
statement by Mr.. Matthews to the effect
that there were many allegations in the
Parnellism and crime articles in support of
which it was possible no evidence would be
adduced
At o'clock this morning Mr.. Labouchere
moved to adjourn the debate.
The motion was opposed by Mr.. Smith,
who appealed to the house to make further
progress with the bill Mr.. Smith also
asked if an understanding could be arrived
at, as to the hour tomorrow, at which the
bill could be read the third time.
After "a few remarks by Mr.. Parnell, Mr.
LabOuchere withdrew his motion.
Other clauses we're then debated, and tie
house adjourned at 2:40 O'Clock
ITsS OIIITH ENGIISH YOII KNOW