HC Deb 08 July 1856 vol 143 cc509-10

On the Motion that the House at its rising do adjourn till to-morrow, at Three o'clock,

LORD JOHN RUSSELL

said, he observed in the Orders of the Day the following:—"Appellate Jurisdiction (House of Lords).—Salaries and Retiring Pensions.—Committee thereupon." It was with great surprise that he had seen that notice placed on the Orders of the Day, after the discussion which had taken place on the subject the previous night, which had shown that a great portion of the House were opposed to the measure. He trusted that, although his right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer had placed the Order on the paper, it was not his intention to proceed with a measure of which no notice had been given, and which it was impossible to discuss fairly under the circumstances.

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

said, his noble Friend was aware that it was impossible to introduce a clause into a Bill coming from the Lords, to authorise the payment of salaries, unless there was a previous Resolution in Committee. That Resolution would not fix the amount of the salary, but merely give power to introduce a clause which would afterwards be discussed in a Committee of the House. He hoped, therefore, that no opposition would be offered to the Resolution.

MR. MONTAGU CHAMBERS

said, he hoped that the House would not agree to the proposed Resolution, and was proceeding to discuss the question, when

MR. SPEAKER

intimated hat the hon. and learned Member could not make any observations upon the subject until the Order was before the House.

MR. DISRAELI

said, he understood the Committee was to be taken on Thursday.

SIR GEORGE GREY

Precisely so; and it is to enable the House to go into Committee that we propose to take the Resolution to-night.

MR. CARDWELL

said, he was apprehensive that if they went into Committee that night, they would bind themselves to the maximum salary to be paid.

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

said, he must beg to explain that the Resolution would only be a general one, and would not fix any specific amount.