§ LORD BEAUMONT moved the Second Reading of this Bill, which affects two officers of the Court of Common Pleas—the senior master of that court as Registrar of Judgments, and the officer appointed for registering the acknowledgments of married women under the Act for the Abolition of Fines and Recoveries. The Bill would give a proper remuneration to those officers for the fees which they now received, and the surplus of those fees would be paid into the Treasury. It would also give compensation to the officers for any loss which they might sustain.
§ LORD REDESDALEentertained considerable objections to the Bill, which was at present in a crude state, and suggested the propriety of postponing the second reading, to afford an opportunity for considering its provisions.
§ After a few observations from Lord MONTEAGLE, who also entertained considerable objections to the Bill,
§ LORD LANGDALEexpressed himself in favour of the abolition of all fees in courts of justice. Justice ought to be administered without any expense to the suitors; and all persons engaged in its administration ought to be paid by salaries, and not by fees. This Bill left the fees as they now were, and made no mention of any salaries.
LORD STANLEYthought that such Bills as the present ought to be introduced under the responsibility of Government. Individual Members ought not to be allowed to introduce Bills regulating offices, some on one principle, and another on another.
§ EARL GREYunderstood that this Bill originated with a Committee of the other House, appointed to examine into the whole question of fees and salaries. The chair-man of that Committee had introduced the Bill, and after its introduction it had been supported by the Solicitor General as a desirable measure.
§ Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the whole House on Thursday next.
§ House adjourned to Thursday next.