The Corrupt Practices' Bill seems, after all, really likely to
go -through Committee. Clauses 2, 3, and 4 were agreed to ou Thursday night, and a clause proposed by Mr. J. S. Mill referring not only election petitions, but all elections at which the existence of extensive corruption had been alleged, to the new tribunal, was 'negatived. Mr. Mill wants to get too much at a time. If the new tribunal works well in the case of petitions, it will soon enough be -charged with the duty of investigating the accusations of general corruption. We hope some Member means to move the addition of the old provision,—suggested by Mr. Disraeli himself,—that in case bribery is proved against the victorious candidate, the next on the poll shall at once succeed him, unless there be proof of similar :practices on his part. We believe this would do almost as much as the proposed judicial investigation itself both to prevent bribery and to punish it effectually.
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