A third conflict, not yet settled, has arisen over the
electoral term in County Councils. The Government propose in the Bill that the county elections shall be triennial ; but on Tuesday Mr. Shaw-Lefevre proposed that one-third of the Councillors should retire every year. Mr. W. H. Smith thereupon suggested that it might be possible to have elections for six years, one- third retiring at the end of every two. Mr. Chamberlain pressed the acceptance of this proposal as a fair compromise ; but neither the Government decision nor that of the Opposi- tion will be known when we go to press. We prefer triennial elections greatly, as adding to popular interest in voting, the election of only a portion of the Members having a less decisive effect. Another question of grave im- portance was also settled. The Radicals did not venture to propose that all Councillors should be paid ; but they said they wishedit, and asked on Thursday, through Mr. A. Acland, that travelling expenses should be granted. This would lead, as in America, to endless jobbery, and is absurd unless the expenses of residing in the county town are also granted, while another effect would be that residents in those towns would secure votes by the plea of economy. Mr. Ritchie resisted, and the motion was defeated by 243 to 199; but it is not done with yet.
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