The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-06-07 00:00:00

to £3OO would do everything requisite. The motion
made by Mr. Aspinall was that an amount not exceeding
£l,OOO should be placed in the hands of the committee
for the purpose ; and he had expressed very temperately
and in a proper spirit why he had not made the amount
less than £l,OOO, and he had taken' a wise course in
taking from it the appearance of a compromise. Believ-
ing the town expected this building would be opened in
a proper manner, and the Council would not allow it to
pass out of their hands, he did not see how they could
refuse a proper sum of money to carry it out in sufficient
style.

Mr. BECKWITH said upon the last occasion he had
voted against the 0-anti and solely on the ground that
the chairman of the finance Coniniittee said they had
no ftinds; and likewise it was 'stated by the town-clerk
upon that occasion that it would be illegal to vote any
sum of money for the purpose, there not being a surplus
on hand. If it could be done now, he should be proud
to vote for the grant proposed.
The MAYOR—I think you misunderstood the Town-
clerk. He suggested an addition to Mr. Jeffery's
motion, which made it quite allowable for the Council
to pass the resolution.
The TOWN.-CLERK said, what he said was that the
Council having no evidence of any surplus at that time,
they could ,not pass a vote payable only by surplus.
That fact could not be ascertained till the 31st of
August; and he had suggested the addition of these
words : "if such sum is available out of the surplus of
the present financial year."
Mr. PreroN thought a little explanation was duo to
the Council, because it would remove from the public
mind what might appear somewhat ungracious' on the
part of the Council. Mr. Tobin had referred to the
appointment of a committee for arranging the opening.
Now, he believed when the committee was appointed
for laying the first stone, their very appointment gave
them the power to draw a cheque upon the Council for
the expenditure ; and on the present occasion the matter
would have gone on in the same way—it would have
been taken for granted that the necessary expenses
would be defrayed, by the very terms of the appoint-
ment ; but something had occurred to change it. Some
of the members of the committee had a very exalted
notion of the extent to which they should go in creating
public iuterest, and the amount of money that would be
required for that purpose. This, he was aware, had
alarmed several members of the Finance Conitnittee, who'
were members of that general committee, and led them
to feel that the zeal of the committee was carrying them
further than the funds of the Council would warrant.
A deputation waited upon the Finance Committee, with
the idea of going much further than was now proposed ;
and the Finance Committee, in the spirit of natural
reaction, determined that no money whatever should be
voted. Perhaps there was as much indiscretion in the
reaction as in the original claim. However, the matter
*as'now better understood, and the Council would see
the extent to which the corporate funds would be drawn,
upon would be of moderate amount. He thought, now
they understood it,' that the grant would be unanimous.
Mr. Jon suggested to the mover oft the resolution the
propriety of leaving out the latter part of it. As the
Council seemed unanimous, there-should be no condition
in granting the money, as "if such sum shall be
available out of the surplus."
Mr. PrexoN—That is merely technical.
The, MATOR—The Town-clerk has stated that we
cannot do it without that. He hoped the Council
would be unanimous in passing the resolution, for he
was sure it would be most agreeable to the public.
The motion was then put, and carried without a
dissentient voice

THE WATCH COMMITTEE-INCREASE 01' SALARIES, &C.
-The proceedings of the Watch, Lighting, Fire Police
Fire Prevention, Hackney Carriage, Licensing, and Gas
COmmittees, comprised a recommendation to appoint
Inspector Kehoe as superintendent -of the detective
department, in place of the late Superintendent Clough,
deceased, at the salary of £2OO
,per annum, with resi-
dence, coals, gas, water, and taxes allowed in addition;
2, Recommendation to increase the salary of the head
constable from £650 to £750 per annum ; of Divisional
Superintendents Thomas Quick and Benjamin Ride
from £250 per annum each, by a progressive addition
of £lO per annum until the salary reaches £3OO per
annum ; of Mr. John Brennan, chief clerk, from £175
to. -£2OO per annum ; and of Mr. F. B. Caldwell,
accountant clerk, from £95 to £l2O per annum ; the
consideration of which several matters was postponed at
the monthly Council, held on the 4th of April last; 3,
Bye-laws for the regulation of omnibuses plying within
the borough, and the owners, drivers? and conductors
thereof. laid an the table, pursuant to standing orders.

Mr. Cuba said that the first matter referred to the
appointment of Inspector Kehoe as superintendent of
the detective department, in place of the late Mr.
Superintendent Clough. He mentioned that Mr.,
Kehoe had been performing the duties of the office
during the last twelve months. He had joined the
police in 1824, and worked his way up until, in 1856,
he was promoted to the position he now occupied at a
salary of £lO5. The committee considered that Mr. Kehoe
might commence his duties at £2OO a-year, and they
thought that in appointing him to an office of consider-
able importance, they had fixed upon a suitable person.
He could not help, before sitting down, paying a tribute
to the memory of the late Mr. Clough, who had served
on the police force so. long and so well, and who had
obtained the good opinion, not only of the stipendiary
magistrate, but of the borough magistrates generally.
The Council also were fully cognisant.of.the. manna• in•
which he performed the duties of his office, and it was,
only t fitting tribute to his memOry.in making that
public recognition of his services. Mr. Clough was, of
course, now dead to the voice of flattery—the voice of
flattery could, not pierce the cold ear of death—but still.
he had left three daughters behind, to whom lie was.:
certain it • would be gratifying to know that in that'
room the chairman of the Watch Committee had
endeavoured, however feebly, to recognise the services
rendered to the town by the late Mr. Clough. (Hear,'
hear.)

Alderman TURNER endorsed the sentiments of Mr.
Clint with reference to the late Mr. "Clone), and,
seconded the motion recommending Mr. Kehoe as his
successor:

The minutes wore confirmed.
Mr. CLINT then moved that portion of the minutes
recommending that the salary of the chief constable be
increased from £650 to £750 per annum. He quoted.
figures to sioW that in former times the salary of the;
chief constable was much more .than that paid to the
gentleman who now held the office. Ho also mentioned
that Mr. Daniel Whittle Harvey, of London, received a
salary of £1,500; and the chief constable of Dublin;.
£l,OOO per annum, with a deputy at a salary of £7OO.
He. would also remind them that the duties of the super-
intendence of extinguishing' fires were vested 'in ..the'
chief constable, and his total duties were thereby very
considerably augmented. When a fire occurred he was
first on the spot, and many members of the Council
admired his conduct at the recent fire in the Sailors'
Home. Mr. Woodward, the Government Inspector,
gave highly satisfactory accounts of the Liverpool
police, the result of which was that they received from
Government one-fourth of the entire expense, amount-.
ing to £15,000. The nett extra expense which would.
be incurred by the Corporation of the proposed increase
of salaries would amount to only about £9O, seeing that
they receive one-fourth from Government and one-third
from the Dock Board. After paying a high compli-
ment to the head constable, Mr. Clint concluded by
moving that his salary be raised by £lOO per annum.
Mr. JomisoN seconded the motion.
Mr. VERNON supported the motion. In doing so he
said that they had either paid the former chief constable
too much, .or they paid the present one too little.

Mr. SHEIL—We are obliged to the gentleman who
has just spoken because he has given us the very
pleasing intelligence that he is worth more now.than he
was twenty years ago. (Laughter.)
The motion was agreed to.
R
Mr. CLINT then moved the advance of salaries to
Thomas
mQuri.ckjoilannd
Brennan,Benjami chiefid clerk, and
Ride,
divisional
Benjamin
The motions were severally seconded by Mr. Johnson,
l‘Miers.sFrs..
B.
superintendents,
Caldwell, accountant clerk.

and carried.
The'code of bye-laws for omnibus traffic was ordered
to lie on the table till next meeting.

SMOKING BY CABMEN WHEN ON DUTY.
A memorial signed by 5,190 persons was then read
by the Town-clerk, praying that the Council would see
fit to rescind the bye-law
prohibiting cabmen from,
smoking when on a stand waiting for hire. Among the
reasons urged was one which stated that parties some-
times smoked under medical advice.
Mr. ROBERTSON moved that the memorial be remitted
to the Watch Committee.
Mr. JOHNSON seconded the motion.
Mr. STITT then moved the following resolution
"That it be an instruction to the Hackney Carriage
Committee to prepare and submit to the Council a bye-
law repealing bye-law No. 12, for the Regulation of
Hackney Carriages, and the Drivers thereof, now in
force, and by such new bye-law limiting a penalty on
the driver of any hackney carriage for smoking, to cases
only when such driver shall be actually engaged with a
fare, or when sitting in or upon any carriage when
plying for hire on, a stand ; and for the purpose of such
motion, to move to rescind or vary. the resolution of
the Council of the 14th October, 1857, whereby the
present bye-law, No. 12, was made 'and approved."
He said that the Council had been informed of the step.
which he had felt it his duty to 'take in the Watch
Committee in relation to the bye-law which formed, the
subject of that memorial. And in submitting hiS
motion to the Council, he would in the first place dis-
claim the' 'smallest feeling of disrespect towards the
Hackney Carriage Committee. No person was more
ready than he was to acknowledge the great value of
the services of that committee to the public, and the
peculiar difficulties which it had to contend with in the
discharge of the duties imposed uponit by the Council:
But while he was giving them this praise, he was by no
means bound to admit that they were infallible. No
doubt he would be reminded by the chairman of that
committee, that when the bye-law was passed by the

committee in 18'67, he (itr. Stitt) was a member of it.
• He did not wish to shrink from the responsibility of
having passed the bye-law, but he now tried to make
amends for what he had done, by endeavouring to rectify
the mistake then committed, as soon as possible. He
was not an advocate or defender of the particular habit
of smoking—he was not a smoker himself, and he there-
fore considered that he was qualified to_take an impartial
view of 'the subject. Some thought that smoking was a
delightful recreation—with cabmen especially, it had
become a second nature, and somo of them appreciated their
pipe as much as they appreciated their dinner. The
bye-laws stated that any cabman who was found smoking
when waiting for hire, was liable to a fine of 205., or :
he could be suspended by the committee. No doubt
smoking by cabmen .might at times become a great
nuisance to the public, and, of course, the public ought
to be protected. Put it seemed to him that the terms
of the bye-law over-reached the Mark, and were
entirely out of the question. He fiot Tar but there
were cases in which the Council could interfere with the
rights of labour ; but whenever they did so they should ,
do it with little disturbance, and it ought to be as free •
as possible from the shadow of coercion. Now, the
simple question of a cabman smoking was a very trivial
one ; lidt it defiVed an iniportanco and significance
which almost reathed the saltine, from its connection
with the rights of labour and the liberty of the subject
—both of which, he maintained, were infringed
by the bye-laws. The practice in London was, that
no driver should smoke if the party he was driving
objected to it, so that there was no necessity apparently
in the metropolis for those regulations. Smoking by a,
cabman when driving, or even if sitting in his cab at a
stand, might be a nuisance, but, surely, they could not
refuse the luxury to a poor fellow standing on the street
in all weathers at the head of his horse ? His resolu-
tion had not for its object the expunging of the bye-
law ;it was merely a modification of it. Under these
circumstances he had great pleasure in moving the reso-
Intion, with the exception of the words "on a stand,"
It having been suggested to him by several members
that it would be better if those words were left out.
Mr. Earle and Alderman Parker rose at the same
time, but the latter gentleman gave way.
Mr. EARLE said that he was not a smoker himself,

but if anyone chose to smoke he was at liberty to do so.
He considered the bye-law a ridicul MIS one. Parties might
object to cabmen sitting in their vehicles and smoking, bilt
if a gentleman should come into his carriage and want to
smoke he would make no objection to it. He protested
against those poor knots being subjected to the opera-
tions of an invidious and absutd law, and he would
accordingly second the adoption of the resolution.
Alderman PARKER remarked that personally he
detested smoking, but still he could not help thinking
that it was the only delight of the cabmen, who were
out at all hours and in all weathers. He considered
that the cabman was just as entitled to his smoke as
the apprentice boy going along the street.
Mr. EARLE—I did not observe in Mr. Stitt's motion
that it prohibited them smoking in their carriages : I
am for allowing them to sit and have their smoke com-

fortably.
Mr. VERNON considered it would simplify matters
very much if both motion and memorial were sent to the
Hackney Carriages Committee.
The Mioteß said that if this suggestion was carried
out there would be no necessity for discussion.
Mr. VERNON thought it would be well if members of

the Council eipressed their opinions. For his own'part,
he believed that if there was a class of men who derived
advantages from smoking, that class was the cabinen.
They were out in all weathers, dry or stormy, all the
day long, and he believed that smoking was quite neces-
sary for their comfort. Personally, he did not know of
a more gratifying and amusing enjoyment than smoking
a cigar. (Laughter.) He never heard of two men quar-
relling while they were sitting quietly smoking ; and he
would tell Alderman Parker that if he did smoke,
.he
woulk talk less and think more—(loud laughter),--for
the man who smoked could think like a philosopher
and act like a Samaritan. (Renewed laughter.)
Alderman COOPER was in favour of the motion. He
said that he was a great advocate of a voluntary rate.
(A. laugh.) He did not use tobacco himself, but yet he
was aware that a very considerable revenue was brought
to the country from it. He had once gone to Rivington
with a party of fellow town councillors, and when corn-
ing home he tried to frx upon a carriage where there
would be no smoking. He thought he had succeeded,
but shortly afterwards he found that everyone in the
compartment, except himself, was smoking. They
were smoking in a railway carriage against law, gospel,
and everything else. (Laughter.)
Mr. CLINT observed that there seemed a little incon-
sislency perhaps in referring the memorial to the Watch
Committee when the Council was considering the neces-
sity for repealing the bye-law. But he was certain that if
the memorial was sent to the committee, due attention
would be given to it, and also to the sentiments of the
various speakers. (Hear, hear.) There was a great
clamour 'out of doors owing to some cabmen having
been suspended for smoking, but he did not think it was
generally known that these men's names had been in the
black book, and they were accordingly judged in con•
nection with their previous character. He wished the'
Council to notice that fact particularly, because it had
considerable bearing on the question. He looked
beyond any cheap popularity which: might be ob-
tained out of doors by listening to one-sided represen
tations, and considered that if they allowed their bye-
laws to bo treated lightly, and had tobacconists going
about getting up a memorial under the pretext that they
are the cabmen's friends, it would bo a case of Diana
and the Ephesians, and the Council ought to be
careful as to what it did in the matter. He advised
the Council not to be led away by the clamour out of
doors, but to proceed with calm reflection, disregard-
ing the opinions of those who were but imper-
fectly acquainted with the circumstances of the case.
He thought it would be advisable that Mr. Stitt should
withdraw his motion, and allow the memorial to go to
the Watch Committee, which, he was certain, would
give attention not only to the memorial itself, but, as he
had said before, to the expressions of opinion delivered
in the Council. If they remitted the memorial to the
Watch Committee, and at the same time passed Mr.
Stitt's resolution, they would completely stultify them-
selves. (Hear, hear.)

Mr. MOZLEY considered. that Mr. Stitt would act
wisely in withdrawing his motion. He strenuously sup-
ported the memorial laid upon the table, because he con-
sidered that the privileges of the subject were being
infringed, and seeing that the chairman of the Watch
Committee had promised that they would review the
whole subject in a most dispassionate manner, he
thought that an expression of opinion on the part
of the Council would guide them very much in
coming to a satisfactory and equitable decision. It had
been said that they should not submit to pressure from
out of doors, and he was quite of that opinion; but
when they, had an expression of opinion from 5,000,
enforcing what they considered a grievance, the fact
could not be overlooked.
Mr. LIVINGSTON said he was one of those who did
not think that Mr. Stitt's motion went the length it
ought to do. He agreed with Mr. Earle in thinking
that the cabmen should have perfect liberty to Smoke in
or on their vehicles when waiting for hire. If Mr. Stitt,
however, was inclined to press his motion, he should
certainly vote for it.
Alderman WOODRUFF rose, amidst cries of " With-
draw," and said that so far as he was concerned he
was disinclined to enforce the penalties for sttioking,
but he wished the •Council to recollect that they had
.passed the bye-law themselves, at a meeting when forty-
three members were present. In fact, the law had been
in existence from 1851 up to the present period, and no
representation had ever come from the cabmen objecting
to the law.
Mr. LIVINGSTON—There was no case of one being
fined.
Alderman WOODRUFF—Mr. Livingston should not
speak on subjects he knows nothing of. He objected to
the one-sided statements which were being mado out of
doors, both by the public and a portion of the press.
The fact was that since 1851, seventeen cab-drivers were
brought up for smoking. Eleven of these were cautioned,
because they were all decent men ; but the other si*
were men of very bad character, and it was found that
all remonstrances were wasted upon them. They had,,
time after time, set the law at defiance ; and he had no
hesitation in saying that the parties who had subscribed
for those men were only assisting them to violate the
law. No man had been fined if his character was a
good one.. During the same period thirteen men were
brought before the Police Court charged with smokilig.
Of these, ten were fined, two were acquitted, and
upon the remaining one the summons was not
served. What, then, became of the useless statement
made by Mr. Livingston, which tended to mislead the
Council and the public? The Council could just take
that statement for what it was worth. He found, also,
that of the three men who had been suspended, and for
whom the public had subscribed, one had been no fewer
than twenty-five times before the magistrates, and• three
times before the committee, for violations of the bye-
laws; another was seven times before the magistrates,
and four times suspended ; whilst the third was twenty_
nine times before the magistrates, and three times
suspended. These were the parties for whom the public
sympathised so deeply. He maintained, therefore, that

. _
if such a principle were recognised by the Council, they
were only offering a premium for the violation of the
law; and he thought it was a very strange thing that
the public should get up a clamour about a law which
the cab-drivers themselves had never found to be a
grievance. The committee were willing to make any
relaxation that might be considered advisable, but they
would never submit to an outside clamour.
Mr. SHEIt said the remarks of Mr. Woodruff betrayed
a strange inconsistency, because a penalty was inflicted,
for one thing, and other things were brought up to prove
the case against the poor cabdriver. Let him be punished
for the offence with which he was charged, without fall-
ing back upon other offences. (Hear, hear.) With
regard to smoking, there was. no member of the Council
who morathoroughly detested it than he did ; but that
was no reason why he should be -. party to inflicting a