NEWS OF THE WEEK.
HE Crimes Bill has advanced far this week. The most im- portant amendment in the Report stage was one moved by Mr. Morley on Monday, limiting the duration of the Act to three years. This was strongly supported by Mr. Gladstone, chiefly on the ground that such exceptional powers as the Bill grants to the Government should be restricted in point of time; but the debate excited little interest, and the amendment wag rejected by only 180 to 119. Time was then occupied, and on Tuesday and Wednesday also, by a string of irrelevant amendments, generally moved by Mr. Chance or Mr. M. Healy, and palpably intended to prevent useful discussion, and compel the House to pass the Bill undebated. On Thursday, according to promise, Mr. Smith moved that the Report stage should end at latest by 7 o'clock next Monday, and the motion was carried by 220 to 120. The Irish and the Radicals then quitted the House, most of the amendments dropped in the absence of their proposers, some amendments proposed by Mr. Balfour were carried without divisions, and at 8 o'clock the Bill was reported, and the third reading ordered for Tuesday. It is believed that Mr. Gladstone will make a great speech on that evening; but it is hoped that the Bill will pass the Commons within next week. It has occu- pied the whole Session, and it is rumoured that nothing else will be attempted except the passage of the Irish Land Bill; and that will be reduced to a much simpler measure by the omission of the bankruptcy clauses.
