The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-17
m. rlrIIrRs DElD.
No IVES '.Eathsr OF the Hsuss ef Commons"
IN whieh NE served Nearly &c Wears.
spectal onbl. pt,rarch 70 Tnr sus.

N Shlen ne borveo Nearly % heAfs
Special Gable Despafch TO THE SUE.
LONDON. Jan. 16.-The Right Hon. Charles
Pelham Villiors. Father Of the House Of Com
MONS" and Liberal member Of Parliament for
South wolverhampton, died in this city this
evening. He had been Ill for some time, and
was in q comatose condition from yesterday
until the time of his death. He represented
Wolverhampton in the House OF Commons for
nearly sixty.three years, a period OF service
that is without parallel In the history OF Parlia-
mont. lie led the first free trade party in tho
House, with John Bright and Richard Golden
as his supporters.
M .Villiers was born on Jan. 3. 1902, and was
therefore twelve days over 90 years OF age. lie
and uncle OF the present Earl. For nearly sixty
three years he, continuously represented VOL
SSerhamptop; the metropolis Of the o mb, arst
Country in Parliament, having been nIsJ
elected In 1885. whom George ~. was on the
throne and when Mr.. Gladstone was at Eton.
airy service was, his connection With politics
y Sasdi SinI AZ fp HsiI in ssSs.. h. R nssie essuc Sted
at ST. Johns College, Cambridge, and was called
to the bar in 1927. He was one OF the examiners
OF witnesses In the Court Of Chancery from lsS3
from the last date until March. 1858, and Prosl;;
dent of the Poor Law Board from 1859 until
In the early Fart Of his Parliamentary career
his special p subject was the promotion OF the re.
peal OI Cne corn. laws. In 1855 ne mhuo uls hrsb
annual motion in favor of free trade. and per
sistently continued to do SO until 1t was estab-
lished: The story Of Mr.. villiers's. life for tho
next few years Is tho history OF the Corn law
agitation. After the struggle against protec..
ton was ended the next question associated
with Mr.. Villiers'3 name was the licensing
question t1s53-4), and he was elected Chairman
Of the Select mmit on Public Houses. In
1861: after the report OF the select TO
inquire into tho laws regarding the irremovable
poor. he introduced q bill on tho subject, with a
view to improve their condition. This was the
first OF n series of measures that Mr.. Vllliers
successfully carried through Parliament, all
bearing the marks of q clear appreciation OF the
economic doctrines Of Adam Smith and NAL
thus. He had tho rare fortune Of witnessing tho
realization Of all those great measures that COM
prised his political programme Mt the com
mencemept of his political career. Among those
measures. besides free trade, were municipal re-
form. extension of the franchise, the ballot. Irish
disestablishment and q system of national edu-
cation.
Mr.. Villiers was q warm supporter OF Mr..
Gladstone, and stood by him during the Liberal
movement in favor OF Irish home rule.
In 1879 a statue Of Mr.. Villiers was unveiled
at Wolyerhampton. and in 1855 the town cole
brated his Jubilee as its Parliamentary repro
sentative. He was u Privy Councillor, and a
peerage had boon offered to him. which he re-
fused. saying that he found his greatest honor
in being member for Wolverhampton and
Father of the House."