The Press.
London, England, 1855-11-03 00:00:00

Ditttings.

CORPORATION REFORM.
AT the Court of Common Council held on Monday
last, the adjourned debate of Thursday week was
proceeded with upon the question :

That it is desirable to co-operate with her Majesty's
Government in passing through Parliament a bill for the
reform of the corporation, founded upon the resolutions
agreed to by this court on the 24th of February, 1854 ; that
the Ilemembrancer be directed to prepare the draught of a
bill in conformity with the above resolution to be submitted
for the approval of this court ; and that a conference be
held thereon with her Majesty's Government,

Mr. THOMAS HENRY Fax in an introductory speech
observed that it was clearly for the advancement
of the institution itself all parties concerned
should endeavour conscientiously to reform the
corporation, and that it would be a disgrace to
them if some concession and some reform were not
speedily adopted. Mr. Fry then briefly touched upon
the various propositions for reform, objecting to a
property qualification as a necessary test of fitness of
election to the Common Council, agreeing to the en-
largement of the constituency by admitting JOl.
householders, proposing that aldermen should be
elected for life, and concluded by saying :

He had it from good authority that the Government
were anxious to co-operate with the City on the question,
so that they might be able to bring in a bill which would
be equally honourable to the corporation and favorable to
the Government. He asked them whether they would
throw away an opportunity such as that which it then
offered, and allow the Government to bring in a bill the
provisions of which would have the effect, he ventured to
say, of raising up an opposition in the city of London anta-
gonistic to the Government of the day. If they adopted
the course he had pointed out, he believed they would be
able to succeed. He (Mr. Fry) called upon the Lord
Mayor, the aldermen, and the Common Council, to assist
him upon that occasion. He believed, if they agreed, there
was hope for them that they would be able to accomplish
the purpose they had in view, while he believed it would
have the effect of so far reforming the corporation, so far
invigorating it, that it would exist amongst them through
coming generations. (Loud applause.) Mr. Fry then
thanked the Court for the patience with which they had
heard him, and then submitted the following resolution
" That it is desirable to co-operate with her Majesty's
Government in passing through Parliament a bill for the
reform of the corporation, founded upon the resolutions
agreed to at this court on the 24th of February, 1a54.
That Mr. Remembrancer be directed to prepare the
draught of a bill in conformity with the above resolution for
the approval of this court ; and that a conference be held
thereon with her Majesty's Government."
To this motion of Mr. Fry's an amendment was
moved by Mr. Cox, who could not see what benefit
could be derived from " swallowing down" all these re-
solutions, which had already been submitted to the
commissioners, and laid aside as inadequate and
useless suggestions, and he therefore moved as an
amendment :
That the various resolutions of the court of the 24th of
Febi nary, ISM, be taken into consideration seriatim.
After some further debate, the amendment was with-
drawn and a further amendment moved by Mr. Bentley,
" That no further discussion take place until the
Court had the Government bill before them," which
was followed by another amendment from Mr. W.
Jones, who moved :
That it is desirable to confer with her Majesty's Go-
vernment on passing through Parliament a bill for the
reform of this corporation, and that a committee of three
aldermen and twelve commoners be appointed for that
purptse, and to report to this court.
After a few remarks between Alderman Wire and
Mr. Taylor, Mr. Bentley's amendment was put up
sad carried by a snejority of eight, there being