The Indian Government Bills dealing with explosives and newspapers were
introduced and passed in the Legislative Council on Monday. The Explosives Bill is almost identical with the English Act, while the Newspaper Bill gives power to confiscate presses on which criminal incitements are printed and to stop the issue of offending papers. It is provided that no action shall be taken save on an application from the local Government, and that the final order of the Magistrate directing the forfeiture of the press may be
appealed against to the High Court within fifteen days. The three native Members present having heartily sup. ported the Explosives Bill, while pleading for a month's delay in which to discuss the Newspaper Bill, Lord Minto addressed the Council in a powerful speech. After expressing the deepest sympathy with Mr. Kennedy— whose wife and daughter were assassinated at Muzaffarpur- in his terrible bereavement, and denying the false charges made against Mr. Kingsford of inflicting the punishment of flogging for political offences, the Viceroy declared that the great mass of the Indian people had expressed abhorrence for the recent crimes.
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