The Express.
London, England, 1847-06-26 00:00:00

HIGHWAYS BILL.

On the motion thTsitlTitto;isS go into committee on this
bill—

W. JOLLIFFE wished to express his objections to the
bill, which he thought deuterons, mischievous, and almost
unconstitutional. Two of the commissioners of highways
were to have the management of all the highways in Eng-
land and Wales, and it was impossible they could attend to
their duty. Then there was to be a rate of 2s. 6d., which
was going a great deal too far ; besides which the power of
rating was vested in the commissioners. Another objection '
to the bill, was that it had no reference to turnpike
trusts, the state of which was disgraceful and required le-
gislation.
Mr. HENLEY thought there could not be a stronger
example of the absurd mode of legislating in that house than
the present course they were pursuing. This bill bad been
referred to a select committee, and was sent back to the
house for the purpose of going through the farce of a com-
mittee of the whole house ; and what a committee had
they nowot together! If the government persisted in
pressing this bill this session, he should not permit it to go
through such a small eommittee se they had got now. The
bill gave power to mortgage the highway-rates without any
limit whatever. Another objection to the bill was, that the
parishioners bad no power of checking the expenditure, as
they could only appeal to the auditor against the accounts,
after the expenditure had taken place. If the bill was to go
through this year, he thought it the duty of the house to
stop it; but if it was intended only to consider its provisions
in committee, and postpone it to a new parliament, that
would he the wisest course that could be pursued, but be
protested against forcing this bill down the throats of the
c°Ur tig.. GREY said he had no desire to force this bill down
the throats of the country, as the hon. gentleman had ex-
pressed it. The subject wee set ler use int time before
parliament, but its prise** bed bean eseidered last year,
and *damn been thesilloseteipaillemsemy consideration.'
In order to give the tie let emidirstioa, it had
been referred to e edict suandeles, which had paid great at-
tention to it. His only (Nest now was to per the bill
through the committee, so that they might consider whether
the clauses met with their mipselisiams, sad ashes they did
so, he bad no desire to fore. tie MU derawA tins besse, al-
though, be believed, it would be at grant bees* to do MS-
management of highways.
On clause 3,
Mr. MILES moved an amendment, by which the form-
ation of the highway unions would be placed more imme-
diately under the control of the quarter sessions.
After some discussion, in which several hon. members ob-
jected to the central commissioaera as taking the whole
power out of the hands of the local authorities, tie amend-
ment was withdrawn as leapplicable to the Muse, but on
the understanding that the principle it involved would be
introduced into a subsequent part elf the bill. The clause
was then agreed to.
On clause 4,
Mr. MILES moved the coded* of do words by which
mull poi*. ware absorbed kite lap ion, he the pur-
poses of repeematallen at the gifted bleed, We amend-
ment limbo tbe dint et shi*esmat evarypii the right of
suck repremestedis, so as
warden in melt ilionitilingte
lobes boath*e
oiler'sparishes. way.el* of
The misdoing medeptei.
Mr. SUCK mewed *MIMEO the words "justices of the
pesos" foe " esimmissisams." .
Sir G. GREY would not appalls the mmahseet, as he
thoeght the duties imposed bg this clam Maid be sally
well &seged by thelutiess_ ; bat as sins has
objected alogetber to tbi belid, wisp it smell
if the MIS, lit the connielegissld he taboos that mint
=teed ot takingi in aims that
view he bed sigma* lege to a d=satiot tbe gel*
eiple, althingt net mrining to give it v. ittellereass te
this clause.

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