The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-14
PRIVILEGES OF COMMONERS
EngIand's Home Secretary Apologies
for the Indignity Put Upon OBrien,
Bnt Stoutly Maintains that Pyne and Gill
haoly Have No Grievance Demonstration
in Honor of I. d. Sullivan-Cable Notes.



The Home Secretary Apologies to O'Brien,
but the Latter Is Not Satisfied.
LONDON. Feb 13.-In the House of Commons
this evening Mr.. Picton, member for Leicester.
directed the attention of the House to the breach
OF privilege committed in the arrest Of Messrs.
Pyne, O'Brien and GilhooIy.
The Speaker said that Pyne and Gilhooly had
been arrested upon criminal warrants, and
therefore there had be en- no breach of privileges
in their case. In the case of Mr.. O'Brien the
Speaker ruled that q breach of privilege had
been committed.
Mr. Henry Matthews, Home Secretary, apollo
gizsd to the House and to Mr.. OBrien for the
unfortunate indignity to which that gentleman
had been subjected.
Sir r. E Webster, Attorneys general. denied
that any privilege existed; therefore, there could
not have been breach of privilege. Explana-
tions and apologies had been given to Mr.
O'Brien. and if he were not satisfied he could
prosecute the police officials and obtain the
remedy he sought elsewhere than in the House.
Mr.. Picton was not satisfied with the At
torney -generars opinion. Parliament, he said
must clearly vindicats its rights. He therefore
moved that the wrongful arrest OF OBrien,
when leaving the House of Commons, was q
breach of the privileges of Parliament"
McLaren Radically. in seconding the motion.
referred to the arrests of Giihooly and Pyne
within the precincts of the Commons.
The Speaker reminded McLaren that the
cases of those gentlemen were not before the
House. E1a~
The Attorney general moved amendment
to the effect that the House regretted the indig-
nifty to OBrien. but, considering it a mistake,
did not think IL necessary to proceed any fur
Their.
Mr. Gladstone admitted that SO far as apollo.
~ was concerned. the Home Secretary had
done all that could be expected. but OBrien, he
said. was not only arrested within the precincts
of the house, but seized by a constable without
a warrant. The circumstances afforded reason
able grounds for referring his case to COM
mittee on privileges. The incident was not
merely an innocent error; it was either care
lese or worse procedure, which demanded IN
quiry. If the Attorney-general persisted in his
amendment. and if it carried. ne would
move that the matter DO referred to the
committee on privileges
Sir Edward Clarke, Solicitor-general. an
nounced that the government could not adopt
MIR. Gladstone's suggestion, there being no
breach OF privilege and nothing to refer to the
committee.
Mr.. Parpell said: "The government would
have taken different course if it had been
English member. aud would have sent detectives
who knew the member wanted. He protested
against the duties which the government now
thrust upon the constables guarding Parlia-
ment Surely il was question of privilege
whether members were entitled to go to and fro
from the House without being molested.'
Mr.. W b. Smith. the Conservative leader.
denied that the government imposed duties of
espionage upon any officers of the House
John Morley (Liberal) intimated that the OPP
position would allow Pictons motion to be
negatived without division. He then moved that
the matter be referred to the COMMITTEES or
privilege. Rejected-246 TO Isl.
James @. Flynn, Nationalist, then resumed
the debate on the address in reply to the
Queens speech.
MIR. Parnsll tainted Mr.. Balfour with having
treated Irish political prisoners with conspicuous
meanuess. and concluded by Offering the follow
ing amendments: 1--WE beg humbly to represent
to her Majesty that only the remedial por-
fion of the last sessions Irish legislation
tended to dimini sh crime, whereas the
repressive measures havo done much to alienate
the sympathy and respect of her Majesty's Irish
subjects for the law, and that the adminstra-
ton of the crimes act. well much of the
general action of the executive, has been harsh
and partial"
Mr. OBrien, Solicitor-general for Ireland re-
piled in behalf Of the government, and made the
point that Mr. Parnefs remarks were irrelevant
to the amendment. On motion of Sir Geo. O.
Treveiyan the debate was adjourned.