THOROUGH LEGISLATIVE REFORM.
Sui—The recent exposure of bribery and corruption in the elections of Members of Parliament imperatively demands a thorough reform of the con- stitution of the House of Commons.
I propose that each county be divided into Municipal Districts, rural as well as urban, with power of self-government similar to that now exercised and enjoyed by corporate cities, but that the ratepayers or electors should vote by ballot ; and it is possible that the present divisions of counties into Poor-law Unions might serve, in many cases, as the boundaries of the pro- posed municipal districts. I further propose, that each Municipal Council should elect by ballot one or more representatives, according to the population of the district ; who conjointly with those elected by the other Municipal Councils in the county should form a County Parliament, with power to leg,islato upon all affairs relating exclusively to the county, including the construction of common roads and the organization and control of its general police, &c. ; and that the population of the smallest municipal district in each county should form the basis upon which should be regulated the number of representatives that should be elected by each Municipal Council respectively within the same county.
Lastly, I propose that each County Parliament should elect by ballot one or more repreisentatives, according to the population of the county ; who con- jointly with those elected by the other County Parliaments in Great Britain and Ireland should form the Commons House of the Imperial Parliament ; and that the population of the smallest county in the United Kingdom should form the basis upon which should be regulated the number of representatives that should be elected by each County Parliament respectively. By this process of treble election, the wheat would be separated from the chaff, and the apes-roe of the empire would henceforth become our Imperial legislators. I may add, that the ballot, and nothing but the ballot, can effectually grapple with the monster evil now existing of political corruption ; and that, at the same time, the ballot would act as a protection to the honest patriotic voter against the abuse of the influence of wealth, as well as against the gross intimidation and tyranny of the mob.
I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient humble servant, W. B. Comm.
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