MR. GOSCHEN said, it might be there were individual cases of hardship, and he agreed with the Chancellor of the Exchequer that the discretion of the Public Works Loans Commissioners should be interfered with as little as possible, and that Parliament should discourage any pressure being put upon them. He was not sure that submitting to the House any scheme for their judgment might not have the effect of raising constant discussions on the rival merits of rival applications, and thereby Parliamentary pressure instead of Treasury pressure might be put upon the Commissioners, which would be equally bad. He reminded those who thought they had acted too stringently that the amount of money at their disposal was not unlimited and that it was erroneous to suppose that public money could be advanced for local purposes, no matter how beneficial they were, without the credit of the Government being to some degree affected. Schedule agreed to.

but as regarded the present Bill, he | sioners advanced money might very hoped the independence of the Commis- properly be revised. sioners would remain unimpaired. GENERAL SIR GEORGE BALFOUR said, the practical result of the Harbour Transfer Act was to leave to the Public Loan Commissioners the power of refusing to lend money for harbour works, except to such places as actually possessed revenues which could be pledged in payment of the interest on the money advanced, whereas the real intent of that Act was to create harbours along the coast, which when formed would yield a revenue. It also left to the Commissioners the power of charging some harbours as much as 5 per cent, and others only 3 per cent, and in some instances it appeared as if uniformity of treatment did not exist. The change now proposed to be made appeared to make it incumbent on the Commissioners to charge high rates of interest, such as would defeat all plans for harbour works, except such as really did not need to apply for loans, seeing that the money could be borrowed in the market. The real fact was that the great want of the country-especially Scotlandwas, harbours; and, as yet, there was no proper Board to advise the Government to encourage their construction. It was to be hoped that this defect in the Act might be supplied by some improved administrative machinery to consider harbour projects. If the Bill reduced the rate of interest from 5 per cent to 3 per cent for all harbour projects; then the change would be such as to benefit many good projects for these muchneeded places for our fisheries in Scotland.

SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL said, he agreed to the Bill, on the understanding that it only confirmed existing grants, and not in the belief that they were properly considering the question.

MR. J. G. HUBBARD said, the object of the Commissioners was to take an independent course, according to their discretion, so as not to make grants that would give an undue advantage to one locality over another district where the works had to be constructed with money obtained in the public market. In doing so, he maintained they had always acted strictly in accordance with their powers. If the intervention of the Treasury was to be abolished, however, he thought the conditions under which the Commis

Remaining Schedules agreed to.
House resumed.

Bill reported; as amended, to be considered To-morrow.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES LOANS

-

(re-committed) BILL. [BILL 197.] (Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. William Henry Smith.)

COMMITTEE.

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, in moving "That Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair," said, that as first introduced the Bill made borrowing by local authorities compulsory to a considerable extent, and it also contained provisions with regard to audit and other matters which were objected to by several important municipalities. As the result of an interview with the representatives of these municipalities, he had so far modified the Bill as to meet their views. The hon. Member for Hackney (Mr. Fawcett) had put on the Paper an Amendment which, though it had little to do with the principle of the Bill, was so far cognate to it that it could, he supposed, be discussed on the Motion to go into Committee. Owing, however, to the late period of the Session, he had appealed to the hon. Gentleman to withdraw his Amendment and allow the measure to

go forward.
had courteously declined to do, and it
therefore became necessary to push the
measure forward as rapidly as possible.
The hon. Member for Hackney not being
present, he would only on the present
occasion ask the House to proceed so far
as to commit the Bill, leaving it for the
hon. Member, if he thought fit, to move
his Amendment on the Motion to post-
pone the Preamble. The same remark
would also apply to an Amendment placed
on the Paper by the hon. Member for
Hythe (Sir Edward Watkin).

This the hon. Gentleman | any appointment to such office for any period
not later than the first day of January, one
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven, and
may, if it be necessary, make provision in such
manner as he thinks fit for the temporary dis-
charge, in the meantime, of the duties of such
office."

MR. GOSCHEN said, the suggestion was a reasonable one, provided that the Amendments should be taken at an hour when they could be properly and fairly discussed. This, with the changes that had been made in it, was still an important Bill, as it involved the question of the investment of public money.

Motion agreed to,

Bill considered in Committee.
House resumed.

(Amendment of principal Act, s. 79, as to chamber clerks.)

"Be it enacted, That any person who, at the time of the commencement of this Act, shall hold the office of chamber clerk shall be eligible at any time thereafter for appointment to the contrary notwithstanding; and that, if any such like office, anything in the principal Act to the person shall be so appointed after the commencement of this Act, he shall, if the salary assigned to such office by or under the principal Act be less than the salary received by him at the time to receive a salary not less than that so formerly of the commencement of this Act, be entitled received by him so long as he shall retain such office, but shall not be entitled to receive or claim any pension in respect of his service."

SIR HENRY JAMES moved, as an Amendment, to add to the 1st Schedule, after Rule 55, a Proviso to the effect that where any action or issue was tried by a jury, the costs should follow the event, in the manner heretofore existing

Committee report Progress; to sit in the Superior Courts of Common Law, again To-morrow.

SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE ACT
(1873) AMENDMENT (No. 2) BILL. [Lords.]
(Mr. Attorney General.)
[BILL 162.] COMMITTEE.
[Progress 13th July.]

Bill considered in Committee.

(In the Committee.)

On Motion of Mr. ATTORNEY GENERAL, the following new clauses were agreed to, and added to the Bill:

(As to vacancies in any office within section 77 of principal Act.)

"Whereas, by the seventy-seventh section of the principal Act, it is provided that, upon the occurrence of a vacancy in the office of any officer coming within the provisions of the said section, the Lord Chancellor, with the concurrence of the Treasury, may, in the event of such office being considered unnecessary, abolish the same, or may reduce the salary, or alter the designation or duties thereof, notwithstanding that the patronage thereof may be vested in an existing Judge; but that nothing in the said Act contained shall interfere with the office of

Marshal attending any Commissioner of Assize. And whereas it is expedient to add to the said section: Be it enacted, That, upon the occurrence of any vacancy coming within the provisions of the said section, an appointment shall not be made thereto for the period of one month without the assent of the Lord Chancellor, given with the concurrence of the Treasury; and, further, the Lord Chancellor may, with the concurrence of the Treasury, suspend the making

The Chancellor of the Exchequer

unless upon special application, and for such action or issue was tried, or the cause shown, the Judge before whom Court, should otherwise order.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL objected to the proposed Amendment.

MR. CHARLES LEWIS supported it. The Schedule in its then form would make the law more uncertain than at present.

SIR HENRY JAMES said, that as it was impossible at that time of the day to obtain an adequate discussion of an important question, he would withdraw his Proviso for the present, and bring it up again on the Report.

Amendment negatived.
House resumed.

Committee report Progress; to sit again To-morrow.

RESTRICTION ON PENAL ACTIONS AND
REMISSION OF PENALTIES BILL.

(Sir Henry Selwin-Ibbetson, Mr. Secretary Cross.)
[BILL 267.] SECOND READING.
Order for Second Reading read.

SIR HENRY SELWIN-IBBETSON, in moving that the Bill be now read the second time, said, he understood the Bill was unopposed, his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the

Clause agreed to, and added to the Bill.
Further Amendments made; Bill

Second Reading deferred till To- passed, and sent to the Commons.

Bill read 3a (according to order), with the Amendments.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR moved to insert, after Clause 11, the following clause, which had been proposed by the House adjourned at five minutes noble Earl (the Earl of Rosebery):

officers of the Militia would receive with | for which experience in those duties and confidence and respect. He would add a knowledge of the locality were essenthat he had perfect and absolute confi- tial. They had to attend Central Boards dence in the Assistant Adjutant Gene- of Examination, do the work of brigade rals; but he would suggest that there majors, and several other things. A ought to be an additional Assistant Ad- young officer from a Line regiment jutant General of Militia. He had viewed would find himself like a fish out of with pleasure the adoption of a system water during the first two years of his by which Army officers now joined the adjutancy of Militia, and the office was Militia; but he had not observed any to be held for only five years. The obsigns as yet of the Militia officers join-ject of the Warrant seemed to be to get ing the Regular Army, and he hoped shortly to see the prospect of a successful arrangement between the two branches of the service.

House in Committee.

Clauses 1 to 20, inclusive, agreed to. Clause 21 (Appointments and commissions of officers).

EARL CADOGAN, in reply to the noble Lord's (Lord Waveney's) criticism, reminded him that the Bill was, in reality, merely a consolidation Bill, and that it did not preclude the future consideration of the reforms which he advocated.

rid of the present adjutants, because it gave them a higher rate of retirement if they resigned at once, but informed them that if they insisted on remaining in for a year or years longer they would receive only the old rate of retirement. Under the present system the regiments were improving in efficiency every year.

THE EARL OF SANDWICH was also of opinion that it would be a great mistake to make any change in the class of officers who now discharged the duties of Militia adjutants. He would remind their Lordships that all officers of the Line, with the exception of the colonel, were under the regimental control of some other officer or officers. The adjutant of a Militia regiment was his own master for the greater part of the year, and they were going to put young officers of Line regiments into that position.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR begged to suggest to their Lordships that the question on which the noble Duke and the noble Earl had just addressed their Lordships was in no way touched by the clause now before the Committee.

THE DUKE OF BUCCLEUCH took occasion to observe that the recent Regulations issued by the War Office for the appointment of officers of the Army as adjutants in the Militia were, in his view, of the most objectionable character. Ever since the formation of the force it was of a local character, and had always been looked upon as a local force, ranged in the different districts, and commanded by its own officers; and if they now proceeded to appoint officers in the Army as adjutants, he believed VISCOUNT ENFIELD said, the apthat they would totally destroy the local pointment of adjutants was of great imcharacter of the force, and he was con-portance, and the greatest care ought to fident that if they destroyed its local be taken with reference to it. His 23 character they would destroy it alto-years' experience had taught him that gether, because he believed that Militia the adjutants were the life and soul of recruits would never consent to join a the regiments. Smart men of the Line force that was not commanded by the know nothing of the feeling and temofficers connected with the county, but perament of the men of the Militia. He by those of whom they knew nothing at trusted the Government would re-conall. Under 42 Geo. III., special restric-sider the question discussed by the noble tions were made with regard to the ap- Duke and the noble Earl. pointment of adjutants of Militia. They must possess certain qualifications; but now they were taken out of the Staff of the depot, and he would point out that it was not necessary that because a man was a good soldier, and performed his other duties extremely well, he would be a good adjutant. Another objection to the proposal was that the adjutants of Militia regiments had duties to perform

Lord Waveney

VISCOUNT CARDWELL concurred with his noble and learned Friend (the Lord Chancellor) that this question of the adjutants was in no way raised by this Bill. It was one which had recently been discussed in their Lordships' House, and he thought the explanation given of the Warrant was satisfactory. There were a number of adjutants of Militia regiments who desired a better scale of re

tirement; there were a number of com- | vey a threat that if the adjutants did manding officers of Militia regiments not now retire on a certain amount of who were not satisfied with their ad- pension, they would be placed on worse jutants; and there were a number of terms hereafter both as regarded their officers of the Line who would prefer duties and pensions. becoming adjutants of Militia to going out on half-pay from the Army. If, as he understood, the Warrant was intended to meet those cases, he thought there was much to be said for it; but the question did not arise on this clause, nor was it raised by this Bill.

EARL CADOGAN said, that the case had been correctly stated by the noble Viscount. Various complaints had been made by adjutants, and the Secretary for War had devised this scheme of retirement to meet those complaints, and now it was said that the Government were forcing these adjutants out of the

service. Those officers who did not wish to perform the new duties which would fall to their share would be able to ac

cept the retiring pay, which would be very advantageous, and those who did not retire would remain in the service under the old conditions. The whole subject of the duties and position of the Militia adjutants was under the consideration of a Committee of the War Office, and he hoped that the Report would meet with the approbation of all parties.

THE DUKE OF BUCCLEUCH con

sidered that the clause was an intimation by the Secretary of State to these adjutants that they ought to retire from the service on this increased pension, and that if they did not they would be placed in a disadvantageous position. The noble Duke also complained of the new arrangements in reference to the position in which the adjutants' clerks would be placed.

THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY said, he was sure that the opinions which had been expressed by his noble Friends would be very carefully considered by the Secretary of State for War; and he had authority to state that there was nothing further from his right hon. Friend's intention than either to cast any slur upon those gentlemen or to evince a desire to dispense with their services; still less to show any want of courtesy or confidence to the colonels of Militia.

Clause verbally amended, and ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Remaining clauses agreed to. Amendments made; the Report thereof to be received To-morrow; and Bill to be printed, as amended. (No. 254.)

TURNPIKE ACTS CONTINUANCE BILL. (Earl Jersey.)

(NO. 222.) REPORT. Amendments reported (according to order.)

THE EARL OF CHICHESTER obthe rating of certain hundreds in the jected to Clause 9, which would transfer county of Kent from the local authorities to the county authorities, and moved that it be struck out.

THE DUKE OF RICHMOND supported the clause.

LORD REDESDALE supported the Amendment.

On Question, "That the clause stand part of the Bill?" Their Lordships divided:-Contents 15; Not-Contents 13: Majority 2.

Resolved in the affirmative.

An Amendment made; and Bill to be

LORD DENMAN said, it would be extremely hard on any Judge who might have earned a retiring pension, if he were told that, at the end of 15 years, he must immediately retire, or submit to a smaller reward than those who sud-read 3a To-morrow. denly quitted the Bench, and it was equally unjust to impose any such analogous conditions on adjutants, and he expressed a hope that the Government would endeavour to make provision for the retention of the services of the adju

tants.

THE EARL OF LIMERICK joined those who were of opinion that the scheme of retirement did practically con

LICHFIELD CAPITULAR ESTATES.

QUESTION. OBSERVATIONS. LORD VERNON asked the First Church Estates Commissioner, Whether, the Bishop of Lichfield having refused his consent, as visitor to the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield, to the scheme for commuting their capitular estates, under