The Portland daily press., 1888-07-24
paRNElLS CASE IN THE COMMONS.
The Tories not Disposed TO Give nlr,
aFalr Show.
Mr.. Blaine Coming on the Biggest
and Fastest Ship In the World.
other Foreign News OF Interest in
America.

LONDON, July 23.-In the Commons today
Mr.. Smith moved a second reading of the bill
dealing with the charges and allegations
against members OF parliament. He said
the government ordered a commission Of in
quiry upon precedents. He considered that
a commission with less authority than that
proposed would fail to do justice to all per
sons concerned. The government would not
be doing justice to the accused III 1t did not
give them the c0mpletest chance 10 clear
themselves. He had confidence In the pro-
posed tribunal 1t rested with the House 10
say how complete powers OF the commission
ought to be. Sir James Hannen, would be
president. and Justices Day and Smith the
other members Of the commission.
Mr.. Parnell said it was evident that the
case as regards the forged letters was gcing
10 break down. He demanded that the gov
emrnment m limit the scope Of the commission TO
tne charges against himself and other Irish
members II would be proved that every
one OF those letters was barefaced forgery.
Inc allegations against him were the most
cruel and Infamous ever made against pub
lic man. lie did not suppose the Times
by an ex-CommOner unless they had been
against public man. He could demonstrate
his convictions within a week that the let
tiers were forgeries. To make the inquiry
judicial, the government ought definitely tO
the documents upon which the charges were
based. It was OF vital importance 10 the
Irish members to see these documents before
the commission began to sit.
dere was an expectant pause, during
which calls were raised for the Attorney
General. No member Of the government res
bonding. Mr.. Gladstone expressed surprise
that the government did not answer Mr.. Par
nell. lie declared that he must be answered.
ne would vote Tor second reading Of the
WUI uaA - a
at a later stage before the commission was
approved. He was not prepared 10 have
that unqualified confidence In the commits
sion. 1t was In the power Of the government
10 make better selection Of commissioners,
a selection which would command warm ac-
clamation from everybody. The govern
ment might make definite charges against
definite persons. There ought 10 be no
skulking Letters were really the only new
charges, everything else else has passed the or
letters absolutely constituted the main
charges. Mr.. Parnell demanded an oppOrtu-
nifty TO examine them and must have IL 10
lace the accusation. The government doubt
less had a right to decline TO reveal its com
munications with Attorney General Webster,
the council for the Times, but a more deplor-
able error was never committed than when
the Attorney General undertook 10 conduct
the case OF the Times. Unless Mr.. Parnelps
conditions were conceded the country would
be driven to the conclusion that the propos-
ais were made to be refused
Mr.. Matthews, Home Secretary, depreca-
ted speaking with warmth on the subject.
Whatever Attorney General Webster had
said was only In his capacity as counsel for
the Times. He repudiated the idea that the
government had In any sense made them
selves party TO these charges. The com
mlssioners surely could be trusted TO deal
impartially
After speeches by Mr.. Matthews, Sir
Charles Russell, the Solicitor General and
Il. p. OC0nQOr, the debate, on motion OF
Mr.. Labouchere. adjourned.
An urgent whip has been sent TO both Con-
seryatiyes and dissideRt Liberals for the di-
vision tomorrow night.
The Daily News, through 1t has nothing to
say against the judges chosen, thinks the
case required stronger tribunal.
DUBLIN, July 23.In the Vaudeville in
quest today evidence was given In behalf Of
the prison board rebutting the charges Of
cruelty.
CAIRO, July pa despatch from Wady
Halfa says that three boats loaded with
native fugitiyes, who left that place during
the attack Of the Dervishes on the 10th inst,
sank In the river and that 150 persons were
drowned.
LONDON, July 23-The Inman line steamer
City Of New York started from the Clyde
Saturday, on her trial trip around the Irish
coast. She arrived at Liverpool today, hay-
ing made the rate Of IS knots an hour while
working at three-quarters speed. She will
reduce the Atlantic voyage to little over six
days, The rate Of speed Is tremendous for
her size. She Is the biggest passenger ship
In the world, and can sail % miles an hour.
She sails Aug. LIST on her first voyage to
America, and win take Mr.. Blaine and his
family.
WASHINGTON, July 23.-The Department
OF State Is Informed by the minister at
Stockholm that disastrous fires In the lum-
Der regions Of Northern Sweden are DESTROY
ing the town Of SundesVall and the neighbOr-
ing villages. The loss Is estimated at nine
million dollars. As the majority Of the In
habitants are very poor great suffering pre-
walls, A relief fund has been organized at
Stockholm.