THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. AKERSDOUGLAS, Kent, St. Augustine's): The right hon. Gentleman has now raised this question in several sessions, and on each occasion the House by its vote has shown its desire by considerable majori ties to maintain this Order. I am not aware of any fresh argument or new circumstances to justify a departure from the practice the House has followed for so many years. In individual instances, no doubt, the Order may not have been observed in the past, and it may be true that the House has no power to enforce it, but I think there are objections which outweigh even these considerations. I believe the Order has a salutary effect, and that it keeps alive a very useful tradition which has worked well in the past. I am sure that the House would not desire that Peers should interfere in elections, neither do I believe that they themselves desire to do so, but I believe that if this Order were deliberately abrogated it would be a direct invitation to them to do so. Under these circumstances I venture to suggest that the House should leave well alone. This is not a matter in which the Government feel great interest, but they do hold that a Sessional Order which has obtained for so many years ought not thus to be changed unless by general consensus of opinion and with the general support of the House. Under these circumstances, I ask the House to reject the Amendment and to pass the Order as usual. Question, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Question," 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 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 respectively appear as a where such Peer shall 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. 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 severity against all such persons as shall have been wilfully concerned in such bribery or other corupt practices. WITNESSES. Resolved, That if it shall appear that any person hath been tampering 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 proceed 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 passages 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 Sergeant at Arms attending this House do communicate this Order to the Commissioners aforesaid. VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS. shall be licensed by Mr. Speaker, and that no other person do presume to print the same. 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 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 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 Ex Ordered, That the Votes and Proceed-plosives, to the Secretary of State for the ings of this House be printed, being first perused by Mr. Speaker; and that he do appoint 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 Outlawries," 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 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 inquire and Disposing of Sewage may properly and report what methods of Treating 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, Northamptonshire, 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 | Output and Value of the Minerals Drumlanrig Castle, Vol. II. raised in the United Kingdom, the amount and value of the metals produced, and the exports and imports of Minerals. 6. Arsenical Poisoning (Royal Commission). Copy of Final Report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the subject of Arsenical Poisoning 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 or 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 Poisoning arising from the consumption of Beer and other articles of Food or Drink. Part II. Vol. II. of Minutes of Evidence and Appendices. 14. Prisons (England and Wales).— Copy of Report of the Commissioners of Prisons and the Directors of Convict Prisons, with Appendices, for the year ended 31st March, 1903. 15. Factories and Workshops.-Copy of Report of the Chief Inspector of Factories and Workshops for 1902. Part II. Tables. 16. Reformatory and Industrial Schools (Great Britain).—Copy of Fortysixth Report of His Majesty's Inspector of Reformatory and Industrial Schools for 1902. Part II. General Report and Appendices III. to XI. 17. Police (Metropolis).-Copy of Report of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis for the year 1902. 18. Inebriates Acts (Inspector's Report). Copy of Report of the Inspector under the Inebriates Acts, 1879 to 1900, for the year 1902. 19. Light Railways Act, 1896.-Copy of Order made by the Light Railway Commissioners, and confirmed by the Board of Trade, authorising the con 9. Electricity in Mines. Copy of Report of the Departmental Committee appointed by the Secretary of State for the Home Department to inquire into the use of Electricity in Mines, with Minutes of Evidence and Appendices. 10. War in South Africa (Roval Com-struction of Light Railways in the mission).-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 Ankylostomiasis in Westphalian Collieries. 12. Mines and Quarries.-Copy of General Report and Statistics for the year 1902; Part II., Labour; General Report and Statistics relating to persons employed and Accidents at Mines and Quarries in the United Kingdom, and to the enforcement of the Mines and Quarries Acts. 13. Mines and Quarries.-Copy of General Report and Statistics for the year 1902, Part III., Output; General Report and Statistics relating to the City of Bath, in the county of Somerset (being extensions and deviations of the existing and authorised undertaking of Bath Electric Tramways, Limited), and the abandonment of the construction of certain other Light Railways already authorised in the same city (Bath Electric Tramways (Light Railways Extensions) Order, 1903). of Order made by the Light Railway 20. Light Railways Act, 1896.-Copy Commissioners, and modified and confirmed by the Board of Trade, amending the Llandudno and Colwyn Bay Light Railway Order, 1898 (Llandudno and Colwyn Bay Light Railway (Deviation and Amendment) Order, 1903). of Order made by the Light Railway 21. Light Railways Act, 1896.-Copy Commissioners, and modified and confirmed by the Board of Trade, authorising the construction of Light Railways in the county of Kent, from the River Thames near Greenhithe to Dart ford and Eynsford, with Branches to Swanley Junction and to Stansted (Dartford District Light Railways Order, 1903). 22. Light Railways Act, 1896.-Copy of Order made by the Light Railway Commissioners, and modified and confirmed by the Board of Trade, amending The Lastingham and Rosedale Light Railway Order, 1900 (Lastingham and Rosedale Light Railway (Extension of Time) Order, 1903). 27. Light Railways Act, 1896.-Copy of Order made by the Light Railway Commissioners, and modified and confirmed by the Board of Trade, authorising the construction of a Light Railway in the county of Southampton, from Totton to Fawley (Totton, Hythe, and Fawley Light Railway Order, 1903). 28. Light Railways Act, 1896.-Copy of Order made by the Light Railway Commissioners, and confirmed by the Board of Trade, authorising the construction of a Light Railway in the rural district of Dartford, in the county of Kent (Dartford Light Railway (Extension) Order, 1903). 23. Light Railways Act, 1896.-Copy of Order made by the Light Railway Commissioners, and modified and confirmed by the Board of Trade, reviving the powers granted and extending the 29. Light Railways Act, 1896.-Copy period limited by The Bankfoot Light of Order made by the Light Railway Railway Order, 1898, for the compulsory purchase of lands, and extending the period limited by that Order for the completion of the Railway and works by that Order authorised (Bankfoot Light Railway (Extension of Time) Order, 1903). 24. Light Railways Act, 1896.-Copy of Order made by the Light Railway Commissioners, and modified and confirmed by the Board of Trade, authorising the construction of Light Railways in the borough of Burton-upon-Trent, the urban districts of Swadlincote and of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, and the rural districts of Repton and of Hartshorne and Seales and of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, in the counties of Stafford, Derby, and Leicester (Burton and Ashby Light Railway Order, 1903). 25. Light Railways Act, 1896.-Copy of Order made by the Light Railway Commissioners, and modified and confirmed by the Board of Trade, authorising the construction of a Light Railway in the borough and rural district of Dover and parish of River, in the county of Kent (Dover and River Light Railway Order, 1903). Commissioners, and modified and confirmed by the Board of Trade, transferring to the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses of the borough of Nelson the powers conferred upon the Barrowford Urban District Council by the Barrowford Light Railway Order, 1901, and amending that Order and the Nelson Light Railways Order, 1901 (Barrowford Light Railway Order, 1901 (Transfer, &c.) Order, 1903). 30. Light Railways Act, 1896.-Copy of Order made by the Light Railway Commissioners, and modified and confirmed by the Board of Trade, authorising the construction of a Light Railway in the county of Gloucester, in the parishes of Henbury and Shirehampton (Avonmouth Light Railway Order, 1903). 31. Railways (Continuous Brakes).— Copy of Return by Railway Companies of the United Kingdom on the use of Continuous Brakes for the six months ending the 30th June, 1903. 32. Statistical Abstracts (Foreign Countries).-Copy of Statistical Abstract for the principal and other Foreign Countries in each year from 1891 to 19001901 (Twenty-ninth Number). 26. Light Railways Act, 1896.-Copy of Order made by the Light Railway 33. Commercial Mission to South Commissioners, and confirmed by the Africa.-Copy of Report received from Board of Trade, amending the Bere Mr. Henry Birchenough, the Special ComAlston and Calstock Light Railway missioner appointed by the Board of Order, 1900 (Bere Alston and Calstock Trade to inquire into and report upon Light Railway (Extension of Time) the present position and future prosOrder, 1903). pects of British Trade in South Africa. 34. Colonial Import Duties,-Copy of 47. Queen's College (Galway).—Copy Return relating to the Rates of Import of Report of the President for the Session Duties levied upon the principal and other 1902-3. Articles Imported into the Colonial and other Possessions of the United King dom. 35. Conciliation Act, 1896 (Trade Disputes). Copy of Fourth Report by the Board of Trade of Proceedings under the Conciliation Act, 1896. 36. East India (Sanitary Measures). Copy of Report on Sanitary Measures in India in 1901-2 (Vol. XXXV.). Copy of Tables showing the extent in 48. Agricultural Statistics (Ireland). statute acres and the produce of the Crops for the year 1903. 49. Agricultural Statistics (Ireland) (Migratory Labourers).-Copy of Report and Tables relating to Irish Migratory Agricultural and other Labourers for the year 1903. 50. Agricultural Statistics (Ireland). Com--Copy of Abstracts showing the Acreage under Crops and the number of Live Part Stock in each county and province of Ireland for the year 1902-3. 37. East India (Irrigation).-Copy of Report of the Indian Irrigation mission, 1901-3. Part I. General. Part II. Provincial. Part III. Maps. IV. Appendix. 38. East India (Railways).Copy of Report on the administration and working of Indian Railways, by Thomas Robertson, C.V.O., Special Commissioner for Indian Railways. 39. East India (Statistical Abstract). -Copy of Statistical Abstract relating to British India from 1892-3 to 1901-2. (Thirty-seventh Number). 40. East India (Trade).-Copy of Review of Trade of India for 1902-3. 41. East India (Trade).-Copy of Tables relating to the Trade of British India with British Possessions and Foreign Countries for the five years 1898-9 to 1902–3. 42. Imperial Institute (Indian Section). Copy of Annual Report of the Imperial Institute (Indian Section) for the year 1902-3. 43. Irish Land Commission (Proceed. ings). Copy of Return of Proceedings during the months of May, June, July, August, September, and October, 1903. 44. National Education (Ireland). Copy of Appendix to the Sixty-ninth Report of the Commissioners, being for the year 1902. Section I. 45. National Education (Ireland).Copy of Appendix to the Sixty-ninth Report of the Commissioners, being for the year 1902. Section II. 46. National Education (Ireland).Copy of Appendix to the Sixty-ninth . Report of the Commissioners, being for the year 1902. Section III. 51. Agrarian Outrages (Ireland).— Copy of Return for the quarter ended 30th September, 1903. 52. Agrarian Outrages (Ireland).— Copy of Return for the quarter ended 31st December, 1903. 53. Evictions (Ireland).-Copy of Return of Evictions in Ireland for the quarter ended 30th September, 1903. 54. Evictions (Ireland).—Copy of Return of Evictions in Ireland for the quarter ended 31st December, 1903. 55. Land Law (Ireland) Act, 1887 Eviction Notices filed during (Eviction Notices).-Copy of Return of quarter ended 30th September, 1903. the 56. Land Law (Ireland) Act, 1887 (Eviction Notices).-Copy of Return of Eviction Notices filed during the quarter ended 31st December, 1903. 57. Banking, Railway, and Canal Statistics (Ireland).-Copy of Report on the Banking, Railway, and Canal Sta30th June, 1903. tistics of Ireland for the half-year ended 58. Reformatory and Industrial Schools (Ireland). Copy of Forty-first Report of the Inspector for the year 1902. |