§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
THE LORD CHANCELLOR, in moving that the Bill be now read the second time, said, that as the noble Marquess (the Marquess of Salisbury) had given Notice of a Motion that the Bill be read a second time that day six months, it was necessary that he should describe the authority on which the measure rested. It was not, strictly speaking, a Government Bill; but it had been brought in as the result of the unanimous recommendation of a Committee of the House of Commons, composed of men not likely to recommend anything revolutionary.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a"—(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYsaid, that the noble and learned Lord was out of Order in referring to an inquiry and Report of which their Lordships had no cognizance.
THE LORD CHANCELLORsaid, he had no alternative, if the objection was pressed, but to postpone the Bill, and have the Report of the Committee communicated to this House. He was ready to take any blame for the Bill having been delayed; but he had not expected it would be seriously opposed.
§ LORD CHELMSFORDmoved the adjournment of the debate, thinking that this was the best course, unless the Order was postponed.
§ Moved, "That the further debate be adjourned to Tuesday next."—(The Lord Chelmsford.)
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYdeprecated the revival of the Bill ten days hence, when the attendance would be very small, and urged its postponement till next Session.
§ EARL GRANVILLEsupported the Motion for adjournment. He thought the course proposed by the noble and learned Lord on the Woolsack was a reasonable one, and he believed that the objections of the noble Marquess (the Marquess of Salisbury) would be removed if he read the Report of the Committee. It would be an act of great discourtesy towards the House of Commons if they rejected a Bill relating to the other House, and introduced on the unanimous recommendation of a Select Committee of the House, composed of Members whose names carried much authority.
§ EARL BEAUCHAMProse to Order. The noble Earl had no right to refer to a Committee and a Report of which their Lordships knew nothing.
§ EARL GRANVILLEsaid, he was surprised at a Ministerial explanation being pronounced out of Order. It was absurd to suppose that he could not refer to the unanimous decision of the Committee. If their Lordships did not wish, to proceed with the Bill, he hoped the adjournment would be as short a one as possible—say for ten days.
§ THE DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLANDobjected to the Bill being brought on again still later in the Session, and urged its abandonment for this Session.
§ EARL BEAUCHAMPsaid, it could hardly be argued that any urgency attached to this question, because the Bill had been lying on the Table for two months before it was proposed to be read a second time. If there was any 763 discourtesy to complain of in regard to the other House it had been shown by those who had charge of the Bill.
§ EARL GRANVILLEreplied that the actual delay, which had been doubled by the last speaker, rested with two men in both Houses, who were very hard worked. Their Lordships should not therefore make this a reason for rejecting the Bill.
§ EARL FORTESCUEexpressed a doubt whether, if the debate were adjourned, any noble Lords who had now spoken could again take part in it.
§ On Question? their Lordships divided:—Contents 48; Not-Contents 32: Majority 16. Resolved in the Affirmative; and debate adjourned accordingly to Tuesday next.