The House of Commons is getting through its work fast
by the easy process of leaving it undone. The redistribution clauses in the Irish Reform Bill involved some little trouble, and conse- quently Mr. Disraeli on Thursday withdrew them all, leaving places like Portarlington to send up a member. His ostensible reason was that it was useless to make changes which satisfied neither party ; his real reason that, like most English Members, he despairs of making Irish representation either better or worse. The real fight took place on a motion made by Colonel French to reduce the county franchise from 12/. to 81., which was supported by Mr. Gladstone, as introducing a franchise about equal to the English one. It was rejected by 225 to 126. Several minor amendments were also rejected, and the Bill passed Committee with this final result ;—there is no reform for Ireland, and, short of universal suffrage and equal electoral districts, it is hard to see how there is to be an effective one. The present arrangement might, however, have been improved by suppressing six or seven electoral villages, and giving their seats to Dublin, Belfast, Cork, and Cork County, and the House in refusing to secure this improvement, out of pure laziness and hurry, has neglected its duty.
