Feb. 2.]

HOUSE OF COMMONS: TUESDAY, 2ND FEBRUARY, 1904.

The House met at Two of the Clock.

Message to attend His Majesty.

The House went, and, being returned-

NEW WRITS.

Mr. SPEAKER informed the House that he had issued Warrants for New Writs dur

during the recess.

For St. Andrew's District Burghs, in the room of Henry Torrens Anstruther,

esquire, who hath accepted the Office of a Representative in the Conseil

d'Administration of the Suez Canal Company; City of Rochester, James

Hubert Gascoyne Cecil, commonly called Viscount Cranborne, called to the

House of Peers; County of Meath (South Division), James Laurence Carew,

esquire, deceased, County of Leitrim (Northern Division), Patrick Aloysius

McHugh, esquire, an adjudicated bankrupt; Borough of Belfast (West

Division), Hugh Oakley Arnold-Forster, esquire, who hath accepted the

Office of Secretary of State for War; Borough of Warwick and Leamington, the

honourable Alfred Lyttelton, K.C., who hath accepted the Office of Secretary

of State for the Colonies; South-East Lancashire (Westhoughton Division),

George Villiers Stanley, C.B., commonly called Lord Stanley, who hath ac-

cepted the Office of Postmaster General; County of Southampton (Southern

or Fareham Division), Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Hamilton Lee, who hath

accepted the Office of Civil Lord of the Admiralty; City of Londonderry,

James Albert Edward Hamilton, commonly called Marquess of Hamilton,

who hath accepted the Office of Treasurer of His Majesty's Household;

North Lancashire (Chorley Division), David Alexander Edward Lindsay,

commonly called Lord Balcarres, who hath accepted the Office of Junior

Lord of the Treasury; Borough of Camberwell (Dulwich Division), Sir

John Blundell Maple, baronet, deceased; Borough of Lewisham, John Penn,

esquire, deceased; County of Devon (Mid or Ashburton Division), the Right

Honourable Charles Seale-Hayne, deceased; County of Salop (Ludlow

Division), Robert Jasper More, esquire, deceased; City of Norwich, Sir Harry

Bullard, knight, deceased; Borough of Gateshead, Sir William Allan, knight,

deceased; Ayr Boroughs, Charles Lindsay Orr-Ewing, esquire, deceased.

Mr. SPEAKER also informed the House that he had received the following letters :-

"15, Bishopsgate Street, Within, E.C.,

:-

"1st February, 1904.

"I have the honour to inform you that the firm of Antony Gibbs & Sons,

of which I and my brother Vicary Gibbs are members, accepted a contract with

the Admiralty on the 2nd December last.

"I am, Sir,

"Your obedient servant.

"ALBAN GIBBS."

Feb. 2.1

Page

"Mr. Speaker,

"1st February, 1904.

"St. Dunstan's,

"Regent's Park,

"I have the honour to inform you that at the latter end of last year, I

(as a partner in the firm of Antony Gibbs and Sons) entered into a contract

with the Admiralty, and am advised that by so doing I have, under an Act

of George III. vacated my seat in Parliament.

Motion made, and Question, "That the Debate be now adjourned,”—

(Mr. Swift MacNeill,)-put, and agreed to.

Debate to be resumed to-morrow.

COUNTY OF HERTFORD (MID OR ST. ALBANS DIVISION (WRIT).

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That Mr. Speaker do issue his

Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown to make out a new Writ for the

election of a Member to serve in this present Parliament, for the

County of Hertford (St. Albans Division) in the room of Vicary Gibbs,

esquire, who has accepted a contract with the Admiralty." (Sir A.

Acland-Hood).

Debate adjourned till to-morrow

NEW MEMBERS SWORN.

Right hon. Alfred Lyttelton, for Borough of Warwick and Leamington.

Right hon. Hugh Oakley Arnold-Forster, City of Belfast (West Belfast

Division).

Right hon. Edward George Villiers Stanley, C.B. (commonly called Lord

Stanley), South-East Lancashire (Westhoughton Division).

David Alexander Edward Lindsay (commonly called Lord Balcarres),

North Lancashire (Chorley Division).

Arthur Hamilton Lee, esquire, County of Hants (Southern or Fareham

Division).

James Albert Edward Hamilton (commonly called Marquess of Hamilton),

City of Londonderry.

Charles Tuff, esquire, City of Rochester.

Edward Feetham Coates, esquire, Borough of Lewisham.

Frederick Rutherfood Harris, esquire, Borough of Camberwell (Dulwich

Division).

Rowland Hunt, esquire, County of Salop (Southern or Ludlow Division).

77

Feb. 2.]

Captain Edward Charles Ellice, St. Andrews District of Burghs.

Harry Trelawney Eve, esquire, County of Devon (Mid or Ashburton Divi-

sion).

Louis John Tillett, esquire, City of Norwich.

Patrick Aloysius McHugh, esquire, County of Leitrim (North Leitrim Divi-

sion).

David Sheehy, esquire, County of Meath (South Meath Division). .

ELECTIONS.-Ordered, That all Members who are returned for two or more

places in any part of the United Kingdom do make their Election for

which of the places they will serve, within one week after it shall appear

that there is no question upon the Return for that place; and if anything

shall come in question touching the Return or Election of any Member,

he is to withdraw during the time the matter is in debate; and that all

Members returned upon double Returns do withdraw till their Returns

are determined.

Resolved, That no Peer of the Realm, except such Peers of Ireland as

shall for the time being be actually elected, and shall not have declined to

serve, for any county, city, or borough of Great Britain, hath any right to

give his vote in the Election of any Member to serve in Parliament.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That it is a

"That it is a high infringement of

the liberties and privileges of the Commons of the United Kingdom

for any Lord of Parliament, or other Peer or Prelate, not being a Peer of

Ireland at the time elected, and not having declined to serve for any

county, city, or borough of Great Britain, to concern himself in the

election of Members to serve for the Commons in Parliament, except

only any Peer of Ireland, at such Elections in Great Britain respec-

tively where such Peer shall appear as a candidate' or by himself, or

any others, be proposed to be elected; or for any Lord Lieutenant or

Governor of any county to avail himself of any authority derived

from his Commission, to influence the Election of any Member to serve

for the Commons in Parliament" (Sir A. Acland-Hood)

Mr. James Lowther

Page

77

78

Mr. Gibson Bowles

Amendment proposed-

"To leave out from the word 'Kingdom' in line 2, to the word

'for' in line 8"-(Mr. James Lowther.)

The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Akers Douglas,

Kent, St. Augustines)

Question, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Ques-

tion," put, and agreed to.

Main Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved, That it is a high infringement of the liberties and privileges

of the Commons of the United Kingdom for any Lord of Parliament, or

other Peer or Prelate, not being a Peer of Ireland at the time elected, and

not having declined to serve for any county, city, or borough of Great

79

Feb. 2.]

Britain, to concern himself in the election of Members to serve for the

Commons in Parliament, except only any Peer of Ireland, at such Elec-

tions in Great Britain respectively where such Peer shall appear as a can-

didate, or by himself, or any others, be proposed to be elected; or for any

Lord Lieutenant or Governor of any county to avail himself of any authority

derived from his Commission, to influence the Election of any Member

to serve for the Commons in Parliament.

Resolved, That if it shall appear that any person hath been elected or

returned a member of this House, or endeavoured so to be, by bribery, or

any other corrupt practices, this House will proceed with the utmost sever-

ity against all such persons as shall have been wilfuly concerned in such

bribery or other corrupt practices.

WITNESSES.-Resolved, That if it shall appear that any person hath been tamper-

ing with any witness, in respect of his evidence to be given to this House,

or any Committee thereof, or directly or indirectly hath endeavoured to

deter or hinder any person from appearing or giving evidence, the same

is declared to be a high crime or misdemeanour; and this House will pro-

ceed with the utmost severity against such offender.

Resolved, That if it shall appear that any person hath given false

evidence in any case before this House, or any Committee thereof, this

House will proceed with the utmost severity against such offender.

METROPOLITAN POLICE.-Ordered, That the Commissioners of the Police of the

Metropolis do take care that, during the session of Parliament, the pas-

sages through the streets leading to this House be kept free and open, and

that no obstruction be permitted to hinder the passage of Members to and

from this House, and that no disorder be allowed in Westminster Hall, or

in the passages leading to this House, during the Sitting of Parliament,

and that there be no annoyance therein or thereabouts; and that the Ser-

geant at Arms attending this House do communicate this Order to the

Commissioners aforesaid

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS.-Ordered, That the Votes and Proceedings of this

House be printed, being first perused by Mr. Speaker; and that he do ap-

point the printing thereof; and that no person but such as he shall appoint

do presume to print the same

PRIVILEGES.-Ordered, That a Committee of Privileges be appointed

OUTLAWRIES BILL." For the more effectual preventing of Clandestine Out-

lawries," read the first time; to be read a second time

JOURNAL.-Ordered, That the Journal of this House, from the end of the last

session to the end of the present session, with an Index thereto, be printed.

Ordered, That 500 Copies of the said Journal and Index be printed by

the appointment and under the direction of Sir Courtenay Peregrine Ilbert,

K.C.S.I., C.I.E., the Clerk of this House.

Ordered, That the said Journal and Index be printed by such person

as shall be licensed by Mr. Speaker, and that no other person do presume to

Feb. 2]

PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS (RECESS).-The following Papers, presented by His

Majesty's Command during the Recess, were delivered to the Librarian

of the House of Commons during the Recess, pursuant to the Standing

Order of the 14th August, 1896-

1. Explosions (Cotton Powder Company's Factory at Faversham).—

Copy of Report by Major A. Cooper-Key, His Majesty's Inspector of Ex-

plosives, to the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on the cir-

cumstances attending an Explosion of nitro-glycerine which occurred in the

Final Washing House of the Factory of the Cotton Powder Company,

Limited, at Uplees Marshes, Faversham, Kent, on the 23rd August, 1903.

2. Explosions (Cotton Powder Company's Factory at Faversham.-

Copy of Report by Captain J. H. Thomson, His Majesty's Chief Inspector

of Explosives, to the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on the

circumstances attending an Explosion of nitro-glycerine which occurred in

the Final Washing House of the Factory of the Cotton Powder Company.

Limited, at Uplees Marshes, Faversham, Kent, on the 9th November,

1903.

3. Sewage Disposal (Royal Commission)-Copy of Fourth Report

of the Commissioners appointed to enquire and report what methods of

Treating and Disposing of Sewage may properly be adopted, together

with Vol. II., Minutes of Evidence, Vol. III., Reports on Bacteriological

Investigations, and Vol. IV., Reports on the Land Treatment of Sewage

and Methods of Chemical Analysis of Sewage Effluents.

4. Historical Manuscripts (Royal Commission).-Copy of Report on

the manuscripts of Mrs. Stopford-Sackville of Drayton House, Northamp-
tonshire, Vol. I.

5. Historical Manuscripts (Royal Commission).-Copy of Report
on the Manuscripts of the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, K.G.,
K.T., preserved at Drumlanrig Castle, Vol. II.

6. Arsenical Poisoning (Royal Commission).-Copy of Final Report of

the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the subject of Arsenical Poison-

ing arising from the Consumption of Beer and other articles of Food or Drink.

Part I. Report.

7. Arsenical Poisoning (Royal Commission).-Copy of Report of the

Commissioners appointed to inquire into the subject of Arsenical Poisoning

arising from the consumption of Beer and other articles of Food and Drink.

Part II. Vol. I. of Minutes of Evidence and Appendices.

8. Arsenical Poisoning (Royal Commission).-Copy of Final Report of

the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the subject of Arsenical Poison-

ing arising from the consumption of Beer and other articles of Food or Drink.

Part II. Vol. II. of Minutes of Evidence and Appendices.

9. Electricity in Mines.-Copy of Report of the Departmental Com-

mittee appointed by the Secretary of State for the Home Department to

inquire into the use of Electricty in Mines, with Minutes of Evidence and

Appendices.

10. War in South Africa (Royal Commission).-Copy of Report of the

Commissioners appointed to inquire into the military preparations and other

matters connected with the War in South Africa, with Minutes of Evidence

(Vols. I. and II.) and Appendices.

11. Ankylostomiasis.-Copy of Report to the Secretary of State for the

Home Department, by J. S. Haldane, esquire, M.D., F.R.S., on Ankylos-

tomiasis in Westphalian Collieries.