DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17754#0005
fiitrahutian.
VOLUME LXXXIV.—JANUARY TO JUNE, 1883.
THE GLADSTONE CABINET.—1883.
First Lord of the Treasury .
Chancellor of the Exchequer .
Lord President of the Council
Lord Privy Seal .....
Home Office .....
Foreign Office .
Colonial Office .....
War Secretary .....
Indian Secretary ....
Admiralty ......
Chief Secretary for Ireland .
President of the Board of Trade
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster .
President of the Local Government Board
Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone.
Right Hon. Sir H. C. E. Childers.
Earl Spencer, K.G.
Lord Carlingford.
Sir William Vernon Harcourt.
Earl Granville, K.G.
Earl of Derby.
Marquis of Hartington.
Earl of Kimberley.
Earl of Northbrook.
Right Hon. G. 0. Trevelyan.
Right Hon. J. Chamberlain.
Right Hon. J. G. Dodson.
Right Hon. Sir C. W. Dilke, Bart.
POLITICAL
WHEN the House assembled on the loth February, the
Premier, whose health had suffered from the strain
of the Autumn session of the preceding year, was still
absent from the Country, at Cannes. It was hoped that,
armed with the “New Rules,” the result of that extra
Session, and aided by the comparative pacification of
Ireland, the Government would be able to make satisfac-
tory progress with practical legislation of a non-party
character, with regard to which large arrears were acknow-
ledged, and many and long-standing pledges called for
early fulfilment. A considerable legislative programme
was placed before Parliament, which addressed itself to its
consideration with hopeful energy.
Included in this programme were a Criminal Code Bill,
a Criminal Appeal Bill, a Banknrptcy Bill, a Patents Bill,
a Corrupt Practices Bill, a Ballot Perpetuation Bill, a
Rivers Conservancy and Floods Prevention Bill, Bills for
securing Tenants compensation for their improvements, in
England and Scotland, Scotch University and Police Bills,
and a Welsh Education Bill. Ireland, it was thought, after
almost monopolizing legislative attention for so long might
wait for a while. A London Municipality Bill was also
among the most important of the measures foreshadowed,
and it was hoped that “if time should permit” other
reforms in local government might be dealt with.
Time did not permit, of this or of many others of the
promised measures, and the Session was again doomed to
witness the disappointment of many hopes, the indefinite
postponement of many much-needed reforms. The weari-
some Bradlaugh business again occupied much time and
led to much confused proceeding and discreditable contest.
On the first day of the Session a letter from Mr. Brad-
laugh, intimating his intention to present himself with
SUMMARY.
the object of taking the oath, was read by the Speaker.
The announcement by Lord Hartington that the Attorney-
General would at once bring in an Affirmation Bill led Mr.
Bradlaugh, for the time, to abandon this intention.
The Bill, empowering any member objecting to the oath to
make a simple affirmation instead, was duly introduced,
bitterly opposed by the Conservatives, but feebly and half-
heartedly supported by'the Liberals, and ultimately defeated
on the second reading by a majority of 292 against 289.
This was on the 3rd May. On the following day Mr.
Bradlaugh claimed his right to take the oath, and to be
heard at the bar of the House. Sir Stafford Northcote
moved that “ Mr. Bradlaugh be not permitted to go
through the form of repeating the words of the oath,” and
although the “previous question” was moved by Mr.
Labouchere and supported by the Government, it was
negatived by 271 to 165, and Sir Stafford Northcote’s
resolution agreed to. There the matter, for the present,
remains, but more trouble may be anticipated before it is
settled.
The debate on the Address, in the Commons, was long
and angry, the occupation of Egypt, the management of
the War, agricultural distress, the Kilmainham transaction,
the Irish grievances, &c., furnished abundant matter for
loose controversy and profitless recrimination, and the
Address was not voted until the 1st March.
Mr. Gladstone returned to the House on the 5th March,
and on the 5th April Mr. Childers introduced his Budget.
The most interesting portion of his speech perhaps, was
that dealing with the question of the National Debt. The
Bankruptcy Bill was introduced by Mr. Chamberlain, was
conducted by him with ability and tact, and before Easter
had been read a second time and referred to the Grand
VOLUME LXXXIV.—JANUARY TO JUNE, 1883.
THE GLADSTONE CABINET.—1883.
First Lord of the Treasury .
Chancellor of the Exchequer .
Lord President of the Council
Lord Privy Seal .....
Home Office .....
Foreign Office .
Colonial Office .....
War Secretary .....
Indian Secretary ....
Admiralty ......
Chief Secretary for Ireland .
President of the Board of Trade
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster .
President of the Local Government Board
Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone.
Right Hon. Sir H. C. E. Childers.
Earl Spencer, K.G.
Lord Carlingford.
Sir William Vernon Harcourt.
Earl Granville, K.G.
Earl of Derby.
Marquis of Hartington.
Earl of Kimberley.
Earl of Northbrook.
Right Hon. G. 0. Trevelyan.
Right Hon. J. Chamberlain.
Right Hon. J. G. Dodson.
Right Hon. Sir C. W. Dilke, Bart.
POLITICAL
WHEN the House assembled on the loth February, the
Premier, whose health had suffered from the strain
of the Autumn session of the preceding year, was still
absent from the Country, at Cannes. It was hoped that,
armed with the “New Rules,” the result of that extra
Session, and aided by the comparative pacification of
Ireland, the Government would be able to make satisfac-
tory progress with practical legislation of a non-party
character, with regard to which large arrears were acknow-
ledged, and many and long-standing pledges called for
early fulfilment. A considerable legislative programme
was placed before Parliament, which addressed itself to its
consideration with hopeful energy.
Included in this programme were a Criminal Code Bill,
a Criminal Appeal Bill, a Banknrptcy Bill, a Patents Bill,
a Corrupt Practices Bill, a Ballot Perpetuation Bill, a
Rivers Conservancy and Floods Prevention Bill, Bills for
securing Tenants compensation for their improvements, in
England and Scotland, Scotch University and Police Bills,
and a Welsh Education Bill. Ireland, it was thought, after
almost monopolizing legislative attention for so long might
wait for a while. A London Municipality Bill was also
among the most important of the measures foreshadowed,
and it was hoped that “if time should permit” other
reforms in local government might be dealt with.
Time did not permit, of this or of many others of the
promised measures, and the Session was again doomed to
witness the disappointment of many hopes, the indefinite
postponement of many much-needed reforms. The weari-
some Bradlaugh business again occupied much time and
led to much confused proceeding and discreditable contest.
On the first day of the Session a letter from Mr. Brad-
laugh, intimating his intention to present himself with
SUMMARY.
the object of taking the oath, was read by the Speaker.
The announcement by Lord Hartington that the Attorney-
General would at once bring in an Affirmation Bill led Mr.
Bradlaugh, for the time, to abandon this intention.
The Bill, empowering any member objecting to the oath to
make a simple affirmation instead, was duly introduced,
bitterly opposed by the Conservatives, but feebly and half-
heartedly supported by'the Liberals, and ultimately defeated
on the second reading by a majority of 292 against 289.
This was on the 3rd May. On the following day Mr.
Bradlaugh claimed his right to take the oath, and to be
heard at the bar of the House. Sir Stafford Northcote
moved that “ Mr. Bradlaugh be not permitted to go
through the form of repeating the words of the oath,” and
although the “previous question” was moved by Mr.
Labouchere and supported by the Government, it was
negatived by 271 to 165, and Sir Stafford Northcote’s
resolution agreed to. There the matter, for the present,
remains, but more trouble may be anticipated before it is
settled.
The debate on the Address, in the Commons, was long
and angry, the occupation of Egypt, the management of
the War, agricultural distress, the Kilmainham transaction,
the Irish grievances, &c., furnished abundant matter for
loose controversy and profitless recrimination, and the
Address was not voted until the 1st March.
Mr. Gladstone returned to the House on the 5th March,
and on the 5th April Mr. Childers introduced his Budget.
The most interesting portion of his speech perhaps, was
that dealing with the question of the National Debt. The
Bankruptcy Bill was introduced by Mr. Chamberlain, was
conducted by him with ability and tact, and before Easter
had been read a second time and referred to the Grand