Mr. Chamberlain made a mistake on Tuesday in trying to
get the Thames River Bill through as a private Bill. Unquestionably it was a bill which raised important principles, and principles which it was desirable that Parliament should discuss ; and though such a bill as this is just one of those which we wish we could see carried as a new Education Code is carried, by dis- cussion of the more important points challenged in Parliament, .and by acquiring the tacit sanction of Parliament for all points not so challenged, yetbefore this can be clone, the subject of Parlia- mentary procedure must be fairly considered and deliberately altered. It does not do to burke public discussion by a stratagem, and the attempt to treat the Thames River Bill as a private bill certainly was very like a Parliamentary stratagem for saving time. As it was, time was lost, for besides the long discussion on Tuesday, whether or not the bill should be with- drawn as a private, and brought forward again as a public bill, there will now be all the ordinary stages of procedure with the bill as a public bill. Mr. Chamberlain made a masterly flank movement, but really out-geuerallecl himself.
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