The Government sustained a rather severe defeat on Tuesday. The
Lords had sent down Lord Carlingford's- Bill enabling the Privy Council to forbid the import of cattle from any country infected with foot-and-month dis- ease, with an amendment depriving the Department of all discretion. The Lord President under this new clause must prohibit import unless satisfied that no such infec- tion exists—an excessively difficult condition to prove. Mr.. Dodson, therefore, in the Commons moved an amendment re- storing the discretion of the Council. Though twelve Tory' Members for boroughs supported Mr. Dodson, the Tories, as a. party, resisted, and on the division were joined by the Irish, and by many Liberal county Members quaking for their seats, and Mr. Dodson was defeated by 185 to 161. The Government,. therefore, asked for time, and it was understood would on Friday —too late for oar impression—offer a compromise. We doubt their success with the Lords if their compromise leaves their hands free, and without that condition should prefer to see the- Bill dropped on the Peers' responsibility.
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