§ House in Committee (according to order).
LORD DENMANIn the Standing Orders to which I referred your Lordships on Friday last it was declared that no Bill should pass without due consideration, and that the fact of a Bill being brought forward near the end of the Session should form no ground for forcing it on. That Standing Order was passed as long ago as the 5th May, 1668. I think this is the most extraordinarily extravagant Bill I ever read, and I have read every part of it. The powers given to the County Council show that this is, in fact, a supplement to the Local Government Bill of last year. Really the Bill for giving money powers to the County Council is most extraordinary. The additions are, in fact, enormous, and for the County Council to have the power of doling out such sums as these seems to me very extraordinary. I would specially point out to your Lordships the power contained in the 18th clause to raise money on bills up to half-a-million of money. This power is to be exercised solely at the discretion of the Local Government Board and the County Council, with the sanction of the Lords of the Treasury. But there is no limit to the rate of interest which those bills may carry, and it may be heavy, as it is possible they may be very ill-received in the Market. I have read this Bill most carefully, and I consider it a most dangerous measure. I am sure that no amendment could make it a good Bill. From the very first I have depreciated the transfer of powers from Bodies which understand their business to Bodies which are inexperienced, and have great ambition and very large views with regard to the expenditure of money. Under those circumstances, I will not move any Amendment to the Bill, though it is perfectly competent to me to do so, and to another place to accept any Amendment. The Bill did not pass in the House of Commons until 2 o'clock in the morning, and a letter appeared in the Times strongly protesting against 464 the hurry with which it was passed Mr. W. H. Lucy, in his description of the House of Lords, wrote that I was the only Peer who thought it a serious part of his duty to attend in the House of Lords. I do not wish to be praised at the expense of others, but I really have attended at great inconvenience, and if I am able to throw light upon any Bill I will do so, notwithstanding all opposition. I must say that though, in several instances, I have been alone in my views, this House and the whole country have come round to them. I am not exaggerating in saying this, and I could specify one thing, though it seems to be rather going out of the record, with regard to the duty of an Assessment Committee. A deputation from Chesterfield met at the Bakewell Union all the Guardians. It was said that rent was to be the basis for every rating. With a clergyman, of Brampton, near Chesterfield, I was the only one who resisted the view that that was the law, and it turned out that it was not. What the land would reasonably let at was the true construction of the Act.
§ THE PRIME MINISTER AND SECRETARY OF STATE FOE FOREIGN AFFAIRS (The Marquess of SALISBURY)I am not prepared to justify, on abstract grounds, all the provisions of this Bill; but it has been the practice for many years for Government to accept Bills from the Metropolitan Board of Works, and to pass them on their responsibility through Parliament; and, in accordance with that precedent, the Government has done so now with regard to this Bill of the London County Council. I am bound to admit, however, that there are inconveniences in the practice; and in future years I think it would be better that the London County Council should bear the responsibility of its own proposals.
§ House in Committee (according to order); Bill reported without Amendment; and to be read 3a to-morrow.