The Express.
London, England, 1864-06-14 00:00:00

oozazirris.

AtCIiBISHOP. WILL BISHOP. LORDS.
York. Grey Odor& Inchiquin
DIMS. Bareweed LAID/. Leigh
Manchester Laren
Begot Moore
Salton
Richmond Ilabiambary
Rutland. MN* BiltVier Mostyn
nanuctiMe. Morton Bolton Polwarth
Bath Nelson Cantlemains Barensworth
Normanby Fowls Chariton Itedesdale
Salisbury Romney Clinton Birchen'''.
RAM& Rosalyn Colchester SonserliW
Amherst Sandwich Colville of Cul- Sondes
Bandon Shrewsbury roes Stewart of Oar
Bantry Stanhope Crews lies
Carnarvon Teatime*Us De Manley Templemon
Candor was= De Ras Marlow
Chesterfield Dattand. De Seamans Tyrone
De La Warr Digby Wenlock
Derby VIMOODTS. Dunaway Wensleydale
Doncaster De Teed Egerton Wharocilffe
=nib= Hardimp )Branham (teller)
Erns Bawarden Beytosbnry Wyelord.
tritrerlWarn Melville Boughton
Graham Sideaocth. (Wu)

NOT-CONTENTS.
LD. CHIIIC7.LLOIt RAILS. LORDS. LORDS.
Westbury. Batmen Caoys (teller) Overstone
ARCILIISHOP. SSW Germans Chesham Poosonby
Armagh. Shaftesbury Clandeboye Portman
DORIS. Spencer. Conyers Basal,
St. Albans al:tom:ma Cranworth Seymour
Somervet. Leteiner Dame Stanley of Al-
MARQUIS. titratiOrd (140 Destroy doyley
ABeeleary. Radcliffe Ds Table, &Meld
EARLS. Sydney. 11bary &tudridge
Chichester auntOrlt Foley (teller) Talbot de Ma-
Clarendon Cott. de. • Hawn Wilde
De Grey Down, de. Netherton Taunton
Dude London. littliS4oll Wentworth
Granville LORDS. LWOOTO Wodehoose
liarrovrby Belper Llanover Wrottealey.
Lichfield Brougham and Methuen
Kuno Vans

REPORT OE THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON
POOR RELISP.-(THIS DAY.)

This morning was issued, in a parliamentary
return of 143 pages, the report of the above committee,
with the proceedings and appendix. The report itself occu-
pies 45 pages, and is dated the 31st ult. The first inquiry
of the committee was directed to the metropolitan distress
of 1860 and 1861, with a view of ascertaining how far
the law, in its ordinary mode of operation, was
able to bear the strain of such an emergency.
The result of their Inquiry was that such distress
"could here been relieved by the poor-law authorities,
inasmuch an the legal maehieery of administration was suffi-
cient, and the guardian. possessed the requisite powers
for raising the necessary funds for the purpose ; but the
legal charge would have pressed very heavily on some
parishes within the metropolis. The regular action, how-
ever, of the poor law was, to a considerable adept. rendered
unnecessary by voluntary contributions ; and however de-
sirable it is that in great emergencies destitution should be
relieved by spontaneous charity, your committee find that
on the occasion in question evils resulted from the want of
• sufficient organisation for the investigation of the cases of
the persons relieved."
We subjoin resolutions on various branches of the in-
quiry :
" That the continuance of a central authority is essential
for securing the due and uniform administration of the laws
for the relief of the poor ; and your committee are of opinion
that it would contribute to its efficiency if .it were placed
upon • permanent footing.
" That the power of issuing general orders now possessed
by the Poor-law Hoards salutary and useful, and should be
continued.

" That in order to secure the due discharge of their duties
by the principal officers of unions and parishes, it is, in the
opinion of your committee, essential that their tenure of
office should not be terminable without the concurrence of
the central authority ; and it is not expedient, therefore,
that the power which the guardians already Kees@ of die.
missing the subordinate of seta should be further extended.
" That it was shown to your committee that inconvo•
nieces resulted from the continuance in office of persons,
who, by reason of infirmity of body or mind, had become
incapable of efficiently discharging their ditties, but whose
removal had been postponed from personal considerations;
and your committee therefore recommend that a power
should be conferred upon boards of guardians to provide
at their discretion for the superannuation of certain union
offices, the exercise of such power to be subject to the
control of the *sutra authority.

" That there are no sufficient grounds for materially
interfering with the present system of medical relief, which
was made the subject of special and lengthened inquiries by
select committees of this house in the years 1844 and 18:4.
The recommendations of those committees were for the
most part carried out by the orders of the Poor-law Beard,
and the system of medical relief appears to be administered
with general advantage. Your committee, however, recom-
mend that in future cod-liver oil, quinine, and other ex-
pensive medicines, shall be provided at the expense of the
guardians, subject to the orders and regulations of the
Poor-kw Board.

" That the committee, having regard to the recommen-
dation contained in the reports of the select com-
mittee of this house an the Poor Law Amendment
Act in 1838, and of the committee of inquiry appointed by
the Tresaury in 1852, and also to the anomaly now existing
of the appointment of the auditors being vested in the
chairmen and vice-chairmen of boards of guardians, consider
that the power of appointing district auditors should is
future be meted in the central authority. The committee
are further of opinion that the time of those officers when
appointed should be wholly. devoted to the public service,
and that with this view their numbers should be reduced as
mamma occur, and the vacant districts isoorporated with
others.

" net the Poor•law Board should be Jousted with power
to defioe the incidental expenses Mauled by guardian'
which should be charged on the rates,
" Your committee are of opinion that it is seesaws to
the toiform action of the poor-law, that the central autho.
rity should hare the same powers In unions and pariahs'
sow acting under local statutes, or under the Gilbert Act,
as in unions or perishes constituted under the Poor-law
Amendment Act."

There are also • series of resolutions respecting the
religious right• of inmates of workhouses and district
schools who are not members of the Church of England,
aid four new regulations are proposed to be substituted for
those now in force. The effect of the new regulations is to
secure to every child religious instruction in accordance
with the persuasion of the father, if known, or of the mother
where that of the father is unknown. The religion of
illegitimate children to be considered that of the mother.
They recommend that where there are • numerous body of
paupers, not belonging to the established church, sours
remuneration should be provided for the minister attending
them. The committee condemn the proposal of the Educa-
tion COCaraiiiioooll to rumpsl guardians to insist on the
education of the child aa a condition of out-door relief
to the parents. Thapprove of district schools, distinct from
the workhouse, and that children ought to be sent to
such schools from • greater distance than 20 miler. In
masy cases they think that greater power should be gives
to the central board to require guardians to make adequate
arrangements for • proper classificatioe of the inmates.
The following are the resolutions adopted by the com-
mittee respecting the casual and houselera poor of the
metropolis and the eqoslissition of the poor rate:
That, io order to secure sufficient and convenient MACS
for the relief of the casual sad bounders poor within the
metropolis, as defined by the Metropolitan Local Manage-
ment Act, it is expedient that the charges incurred for the
support of inch poor should be paid out of a rate assessed on
the annual rateable value of the whole of the said metro-
P°.l!"' - -

"That, in the opinion of this committee, the machinery
adopted under the Metropolitan Loral Management Act
might he made available for raising the amount of such
charge, and your committee recommend that authority be
given to the Metropolitan Board of Works for such •par.

" That the Poor-law Board be empowered to prescribe and
enforce all necessary arrangements for providing the regal-
rite accommodation in the several unions sad parishes, and
otherwise carrying the foregoing resolutions into effect.
" That, with the view of suppressing vagrancy, as far as
practicable, the committee are of opinion that the mistral
authority, when invested with adequate power for that
purpose, should direct boards of guardians to provide suit-
able and sufficieat wards for the reception of the wayfaring
and wandering poor, and that the regulations for their
management and relief should be ou a uniform system
throughout the country. The committee approve of the
employment of Folios constables as assistant relieving
Offieerf for vagrants, and think it desirable that the arrange-
ment should be generally adopted.
"That much evidence wee adduced, showing the unequal
pressure of the charge for the relief of the poor in different
parts of the metropolitan district; and various plans were
submitted to your committee for the equalisation of the
poor rate, and your committee reccenmead the general
quotation of extending the area of rating to the farther COO-
sidaration of the house ; but the circumstances of the me-
tropolis are so peculiar, that in any legislation to extend the
area of charge or management, it would be necessary to have
regard to those circumstances.

"That any meeaure for extendlog the area of rating
should. in the opinion of the committee, embrace proviatoss
for making the whole cost for the poor in each union charge-
able to the common fund of the uoion."

LATEST INTELLIGFINOZ.