PRIVATE BILLS.—RESOLUTION. (Hansard, 27 June 1865)

LORD BROUGHAM

did not rise to oppose, but to second, Lord Redesdale's proposal for expediting the business, and hasten the dissolution so necessary for preserving the peace and for relieving all parties from the anxieties, labours, and enormous expense under which so many were now suffering. But he never could see measures taken to expedite the Private Business of Parliament without rendering the tribute of justice to the memory of the illustrious man whose loss we daily have to deplore on all questions, whether of peace or war, of foreign or domestic policy, his illustrious friend, the Great Duke, never to be replaced. When in conjunction with him he (Lord Brougham) had referred the new Standing Order to a Committee of this House, the Duke said, "Why not propose our great plan?" Lord Brougham answered that the Committee was certain to reject it. "Never mind," said the Duke, "we can but be defeated, and then we retreat upon the lesser one." Accordingly, we were defeated, and the present Standing Orders were adopted, first by the Committee, and then by the House, and effected a great improvement in our Private Business, and were afterwards, though with great reluctance, adopted by the other House. It was, however, a far inferior measure, as the Duke justly said, to that which they had worked out together. That was the true remedy for saving both time, labour, and expense. It consisted in having a Joint Committee of the two Houses, seven Commoners and five Peers, the Duke at first was for six of each, but with his wonted sagacity he soon perceived the necessity of giving a majority to the Commons, and with his 853 never-failing candour he assented to this change. The whole matter of each Bill, both law and fact, were to be referred to this Committee, with a professional Judge to assist and inform it on questions of law and evidence, but in no way to guide or control. The Report made to each House was to be conclusive only on the facts, leaving the whole question of the Bill to the entire and free decision of each House. Such an improvement in our course of legislation would effectually prevent the enormous labours, delay, and expense of a double inquiry in each case, and although the pains taken by an able and experienced Member of the other House had effected considerable improvements of late, yet he (Lord Brougham) was convinced that this plan thus sanctioned by his illustrious Friend must sooner or later be adopted, as the real and effectual remedy for evils at present so severely felt by all but those interested in the continuance of the evil.