30 APRIL 1892, Page 18

The House, when it reassembled on Monday, took up the

consideration in Committee of the Indian Councils Bill. Mr. Schwan was anxious to force a hard-and-fast form of election into the Bill ; but to this the Government would not agree, and ultimately his amendment was negatived without a division. Mr. Sohwann next tried to increase the maximum of the additional Members of Council from sixteen to forty, but was defeated by 93 votes to 48. A number of amend- ments of a more or less unreal kind were then negatived, the

Opposition showing a decidedly obstructive spirit. Dr. Tanner,

indeed, drafted an amendment of such fatuity and irrelevance, that the Chairman declined to receive it. Dr. Tanner ap- parently desired to travesty the clause in the Irish Local Government Bill which allows an appeal to the Courts of Law in case of the misbehaviour of local bodies, and so proposed a similarly worded amendment to the Indian Councils Bill. The Chairman was quite right to disallow a joke so poor, and so wanting in respect to the Houae. The refusal to put an amendment is, however, a very strong measure, and shows to what a length the opposition to the Bill had gone. Sir William Harcourt and Mr. Morley should really keep their followers in better order. At 12 o'clock the debate stood adjourned, very little progress having been made.