The Express.
London, England, 1847-02-24 00:00:00

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urged that this was a reasonable request which ought to be
granted.
The consideration of the second reading of the bill was
then postponed until that day fortnight.
TILE PRIVATE BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.
Mr. HUME then rose to move the appointment of a select
committee, " to continue the inquiry into the private busi-
ness of the house, the expenses attending the obtaining of all
private bills, including all the expenses of the opponents, as
well es the promoters of bills, and the taxing of expenses
thereof." The house would recollect that during the
last session of Parliament a con-millets had been sp-
poin cd upon this subject, which had extended its in-
quiries to many importsnt departments of private business,
and had made a report, in accordance with which
certein resolutions were proposed nod adopted. One of the
measures to adopted had relation to the printing of priest°
bills, and he was glad to say had saved great trouble and ex-
pense. Another referred to the appointment by the speaker
of examiners of bills, in order to ace if the standing orders
were eompliid with. Ile was glad to state that this arranges
meet had proved very beneficial, and that at the beginning
of February in the present year they were as forward with
respect to standing orders as they ordinarily were at the end
of March. It was also a fact that no individual had had to
wait for examination more than 0110 day this year, whilst
last year witnesses were detained 12, 11, and sometimes
20 tl3ys, before they could be examine], of course to the
great cost and inconvenience of the parties. (Hear, hear.)
The third measure carried out last year was, to secure a
local examination, and ho was glad to state that this
arrangement bad given perfect satisfaction to all parties,
an] had been attended by great reduction of expense.
There were, however, two or three points in the committee's
last report which still remained to be dealt with. It bad
been particularly recommended that the practice of parlia-
ment, in respect of fees, should be assimilated to that of
' every ether tribunal, and that a specific table should be es-
tablished, and bills be subjected to the same examination.
In looking at this queetion, however, many difficulties bad
been found to attend it : and it IV.III therefore considered
desirable to reassemble the committee of last year, with a
view to a further report upon this subject Ile, therefore,
moved the appointment of the committee, to consist of Mr.
Hume, Lord Granville Somerset, Sir 0. Grey, Sir J. Gra-
ham, Mr. Strutt, Mr. Cardwell, Mr. Greene, Mr. G. Craig,
Sir W. Clay, Sir W. Heatheote, Mr. Eatcourt, Mr. Loch,
Mr. H. Drummond, Captain James, and Lord Courtenay.
Dr. BO WRING seconded the motion, and the committee
was appointed.
RAILWAY BILLS.
Mr. ELLICE moved that all railway bills, &c., in the
present session be referred to the railway commissioners for
their report to this house upon the following points previ-
ously to such bills being considered in committees of this
house.—That any report en to be made upon each bill shall
state the amount of the capital proposed to be raised, and of
the loans proposed to be authonsed by the bill; and if under
the mutinous of such bill any powers are to be given to any
company already incorporated, of raising further capital or
Icons, or of making alterations, branches, or extensions of
their existing lines, or of purchasing or leasing any other
lines made or to be made, or of subscribing to the capital, or
guaranteeing the capital of, or amalgamating with other
companies; such report shall also state the powers
.granted
by any former act or acts to such companies already nicorpo-
rated for any of the above purposes, and the manner in
which, and extent to which, such powers have been exercised;
and the report shall further state the opinion of the commis-
sioners thereon, and also their opinion as to any special pro.
visions with which it may in any cue be expedient to accom-
pany the grant of any powers for any of the above- I
mentioned purposes. That every such report be
referred to the committee of this house appointed
to ceneider the bill to which the same may relate.
The right hon. member gave some details of the enormous
engagements of several of the existing companies, and alter
reciting various new railways before parliament, the engage-
ments of which ins great degree were to be added to those
companies in operation, contended that before these or any
similar measures were sanctioned by parliament, there
should be some inquiry as to the mode in which such vast
engagements were to be met. Some definite principle, some
distinct system u to the treatment of railway projects by
that house ought to be instituted. The right hon. gentle-
man observed that he thought it would be most desirable if
without loss of time the railway committee board would give
their opinion on the subject of the gauges.
Mr. HUDSON did not object to the motion of the right
hon. gentleman, but he differed from him as to the details
on which his motion was founded. The right hon. gentle-
man bad fixed tho capital of the Midland Company at thirty
millions, whereas in fact, and including all its leases, it
did not exceed fourteen millions. There was no occasion for
alarm as to the paviaent of the calls, as in the whole of his
experience they hid never been more readily answered. He
had himself called in three millions within the last two
months, and had not had the slightest difficulty in getting
the money. He cautioned the house against discouraging
the public from railway investments.
Sir R. INGLIS supported the motion.
Lord J. RUSSELL slid not see any objection to the
proposition. The information sought for might be useful to
the house and the committee, while the latter would not be
at all bound by the report. He trusted that the motion
would not interfere with the progress of railway bills already
before the house.
TOBAGO. .

Mr. HUME begged, in;;;;;;Cto notice, to ask whether
any and what measures had been adopted to put an end to
the dispute between the house of assembly, and the Judge
of the Island of Tobago, by which all public business by
that assembly had been interrupted for a year ?
Mr. HAWES said, that the governor of the Windward
Islands had visited Tobago, and had put the dispute in pro-

ass of arrainment.
YORKHOUSES (IRELAND).
Mr. P. SCROPE had heard that the workhouses in
Ireland were all crowded to excess. Now on referring to
the act, he found that the guardians had unlimited power to
take additional premises, and to pay for them by increased
rates, or they were empowered to raise a loan for the purpose.
This heing the case he did not understandhow the workhouses
could be crowded to excels. He wished to know whether
the right hon. the Secretary for the Home Department in-
tended to lay on the table papers in continuation of those
which had been furnished early in the session respecting the
condition of the workhouses in Ireland, and whether the
house might expect any explanation on the subject.
Sir G. GREY said that an additional series of the papers
alluded to would be ready in a few days, as also a statement
of the steps which had been taken by the poor-law commis-
sioners with reference to the workhouses, and with a view of
urging the guardians to increased exertion.
DRAINAGE ACT.
Mr. BAILLIE mid that the Scotch applicants for loans
under the Drainage Act had been greatly encouraged to
make application by seeing a letter from, Mr. Blamire,
the drainage commissioner, to the effect that the provisions of
the Act would he so extended as to include fencing and the
clearing of waste land. He wished to know whether go-
vernment intended to introduce any bill on the subject i
Sir G. GREY said that a bill was in preparation, extend-
ing the powers of the original bill be and drainage. lie did
not know, however, whether it would go as far as the clear-
img of waste land.
Mr. HUME wished to know whether there was any In-
tention of bringing in a bill to enable landowners to sell •
portion of their property when entailed, to pay for the raga-
mation of the rest? (Ear, hear.)
Sir G. GREY said, that the subject alluded to by his bon. '1
friend was under the consideration of the Lord Advocate.
DISTRESS IN SCOTLAND. I
Mr. BOUTERIE asked when the house was likely to haw '
the correspond race relative to the distrait in Scotland ?
Sir G. GREY would make inquiry and answer the Ina.
member on a future day.
NRW BISHOPRICS.
Mr. J. COLLETT wished to asks question respecting the
apprehended appointment of new bishops. (A laugh.) He
wished to know when the house would have positive infor-
mation on the subject
Lord J. RUSSELL said that the beet way of obtaining
information on the subject alluded to by the hon. member,
would be to refer to the report of the commission which had
been laid on the table a week since. The hon. member
would there see that it was ropmed to maintain the sees
of St. Asaph and Bangor—(cheers)—and to found a new
bishopric in Manchester. t was also intended to found
three new bishoprics, to be endowed from the present
revenues of the church, but it was not intended to summon
the new bishops to parliament, except as vacancies in the
bench of bishops occurred.
Mr. ROEBUCK wished to know whether the arrange-
meat could be effected without an net of parliament ?
Lord J. RUSSELL said it would be impossible to effect it
without an act. As soon as the commission should have
come to a decision, he would move for leave to bring in a
bill relative to the see of Manchester.
REGISTRATION IN BOROUGHS.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE said that be was in some slight
difficulty as to the motion which stood in his name for that
evening. He understood that it was wished he should post-
pone it. Now,
while they to the principle, be had no objeciiheejostponement was asked by hon. mem-
bers objection,
but if it was ask merely that an opportunity might be at:
amid at a future period for strangling the bill, he certainly
slosil not secede to the request.
lad J. RUSSELL had merely intimated that he did not
dINII to the introduction of the bill; but if, as his hon.
,fiat said, the bill only repeated the provision of the Re-
tie= DID, without proposing any other provision in lien
thereof, he would state at once that to the principle of it he
was
SirigrILAVANS was prepored to seerel his boo. friend's
motion; but suggested that ha amnia tat ndy confine him-
self to that motion now, in ender art so option might
be offered to the bill in its tart alp. Mar, h . 1
Mr. T. BUNCOMBE the Gat as the object of the
bill am well haws it wee blew that the question shoal&
he deeided al ones. Its'ke* ebeoellsee proceed to a dote-
ant of He germ kg eileing to irkoduce it. It wadi
mom aft dile suoalog lisle wen the reform bill—set a
1= big a pietism hail* meeplained of by the wheb
be; In dip
_sad bareogba. He maintained VW
ills Wm albs Aar= 818, Meting the right to mete.
Maidliamil al OW prat of poor-rates and. somata
teem, wee in principle, and most veadlene
la its openalse. soble lord had stated in 1832,
miminscra
the propos eta Bill, tact no man should b=
who lei ad earolod to the imposition of web lama
That wee a eniollyilenal 'proposition; but the peouislen In
tisimberßiamaamilmsoialits ail:olio
ith...7 at
thritaathese
nitatirth it.
alio bask.
segidered ifra ebene, Finsbury, the Tower
Lambeth, sad Greenwich, tore • great dbl's's:eel= Mate
smentser of beams rated above lot. bib* noggin
Greenwich, Gen was he illy a house la Sage
which was not so rated; while the whale sanest al=
was only 45,000, Mamma of 90,000, as gonuiri by OW
noble lord. As for Westminster, it wee la a vas Balers.
than before the Reform Bill pawed, for in 1907, whin IMP.
Burdett was dint returned, there were 18,000 votian, Wide