The Press has circulated a confident rumour that the measure
which is to be brought in to strengthen the Administration in Ireland will empower the Crown, in certain cases, to summon special jurors, and when necessary, to change the venue in -cases of conspiracy against the law. It would also, it is said, confer on Magistrates power to deal summarily with inciting to conspiracy, intimidation, and boycotting, the punishment being limited to imprisonment not exceeding three months. It was at first given out that this measure would apply to the whole United Kingdom ; but it has since been asserted that this pro- posal would be given up, as too offensive to the Trades-Unions, who think that their practice of picketting men who do not obey the signal to strike, might be punished under it. We heartily hope that whatever is done will be so conceived as to be extended to England without danger to English liberty. Exceptional laws, though sometimes necessary, are always invidious, and it is not easy to enact them without fixing a period at which they shall expire, and so opening up a very irri- tating question anew. The right to examine witnesses on oath -concerning a crime even where there is no individual accused, would be invaluable in England as well as Ireland.
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