The Express.
London, England, 1853-07-28 00:00:00

THE STRIKE OF TUE CAD PROPRIETORS.

Sir R. INULlS—Seeing my hon. friend the Under Se-
evetary of the Home Department in his place, and my hon.
friend being aware that following the passing of his bill for
the regulation of the hackney carriages there is not to-day
• single cab on any of the cab stands in the metropolis, and
Geeing also that my hon. friend's bill is the only one within
sty recollection in which arbitrarily, and wittmnt investiga-
tion, a give. scale of prices has been given by the legisla-
ture to any class of goods, and believing that to tiz a scale
of prices far any description of goods is contrary to all
principles of political economy ; and believing that if under
any circumstances it were right for the legislature

to to interfere there should first be a committee
of the bone appointed to consider the circums.ances under
which it was proposed to fix • given scale of prices to •
particular class of goods, I wish to ask my hon. friend
whether he is now prepared to adopt the suggestion which
was made to him when his bill was before the house, to ap-
point • committee to consider the state of the hackney car-
riage trade ?
Mr. WALPOLE—I understand that the great ground of
complaint on the pert of the proprietors of the hackney
carriages is that they are exposed to great hardship in not
being allowed to charge back fares. (Hear, hear.) I re-
collect that my hon. friend, when the bill was before the
house, making the suggestion which he has referred to; but
I apprehend the question he wishes to ask now is, whether
my hon. friend the Under Secretary for the Home Depart-
ment is prepared to introduce any measure for amending his
bill ? (Hear, hear.)
Mr. FITZROY—As tar as I understand, the arbitrary
by parliament of a sum per mile for the hire of •
hackney carriage (which is what my hon. friend complains
of) is not new, and, on venoms considerations, in the shape
of compensations made to the proprietors of such carriages
in a reduced charge for licenses and the town cost of ma-
terials of late years, it did appear to me, on the calculation
I made, and also upon the representations made to me by
members of the trade themselves, that 6d. a mile would
be amply remunerative within the limits of the me-
tropolis—(bear, hear),—nor do I see now any occasion
to change that opinion. I have taken every opportunity of
obtaining information from the drivers and proprietors of
hackney carriages as to the probability of the change work-
ing well, and almost without exception they tell me that.
In the crowded parts of London, 641. a mile would be amply
remunerative. (Hear, hear.) The only cemplaiat—the
only tangible complaint that I have heard from the trade
is that which has been pointed out by my right hon.
friend opposite (Mr. Walpole)—and with regard to that
part of the bill 1 will state what has taken place. On
Monday last two persons waited upon me as a deputation
commis/domed by the committee of the cab proprietors—one

of them being the secretary to the committee and the other a
cab proprietor himself. They desired to wait upon me to
lay before me their grievances, and I stated I should be
very happy to receive them, and to attend to any repre-
sentation they might has. to make. They waited upon me
accordingly, and after asking what their grievances were,
the only grievance they were able to point out was that
which has been now referred to by my right hon. friend
I stated to the deputation then, that I was
aware that the license given by the bill for per-
sons so to use hackney carriages ►ad been abused—
that it lied been worked to its greatest extent, and that
cabs had frequently been taken beyond a distance of six
miles from the metropolis, and then discharged without
any payment for the return fare, and I said I would do
what I could to indues the house to give them a remedy.
But at the same time I told them that it would be impos-
sible
again to revert to the principle of bask fares, inss-
much as the payment of back faros was a hardship
upon them persons who lived just without this
limits of the metropolis—that it, outside the rtn
dius beloved which the back farm would be charged.
I told them it would be impossible that I meld propose to
parliament to go back to the termer system is this respect,
and they admitted themselves that it had always been •
fruitful swore. of annoyance to themselves and the public,
and had given rise to endless disputes, and that therefore
they would prefer that a remedy should be found in some
other shape. I told them that I would enthavoar lathe
course of this session to introduce a clause in some
other bill—a bill now on the table—to give them an
increased rate of fate on being hired after a certain
time, and beyond a certain radius, and to give
them as speedy relief as possible; I have been in
communication with my right honourable. friend the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, as to the possibility of intro-
ducing such a clause as I allude to, and failing that I shall
be prepared (as I told the deputation) to introduce a special
bill for the purpose. Bu• it must be obvious that I am
placed in • worse position in my efforts to effect this arrange.
mot, by the foolish step which has been taken this morn.
lag by the cab proprietors. (Hear, hear.) I told the
deputation that waited epos me on Monday, that I was
prepared to introdoce such • clause as I have alluded to,
and they said they were going to attend a meeting
of the trade that teeming, when they would communicate
that halation to tha body t►ey represented. I shall be
prepared to introduce that remedy, and propose a clause
providing for increased remuneration beyoad a certain dis-
taste, sad after • eertai• hour ; for instance, if you hire •
gob, mid discharge it at • distance beyond four miles from
the pines where it was hired, and without that radius,
you shall pay than •a extra sum fer the entire
And I Wok, besides, it might be desirable to
make • ehaap as to the distance the drivers may
be impelled to go, sail that they shall aot
be empellable to go beys•d Ave miles from
the (Metal Poet-office, instead of Az miles, as is provided
tinder the limiest act. Them two perishes. I shall be pre-
pared to submit to the house, •d wit► them arrangements
I understand the trade will be satielled. All I ma my is,
that before the strike was eontemplated I pl•ord these pre-
miters' before the deputation ; sad therefor* I am worry
and annoyed at the position which has been taken by the
trade to-day, bemuse it Warmer my difficulty in asking
the hem to provide • remedy. (Hear, hear.) I stated to
than that I would endeavour—•ad I shall do io in • bill
which my right hon. friend the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer has upon the table—to introduce such clauses as I
have now described, or, failing that, to bring in • short bill
for the purpose ; and I believe that will be sufficient to re-
move every real grimace of which the hackney carriage
proprietors have to somplaia. (Hear, bear.)

M.
r. D. DENISON wished to know if the hon. gentle-
man would put himself in communication with the cowmen
of the labs, as the public were really placed in a position of
considerable inoosvesience by the strike; and what had

now taken plat* is the doses would not be nod out of
doors until to•ntorrow.

Mr. FITZROY—I should be glad to do eo, if possible ;
but I could say ae more than what I haul now stated to
the house, that I will submit a proposition upon the sub-
ject with which the house will, of course, deal as it pleases.
I do not know where I can communicate with the trade
generally, but I am perfectly ready to communicate what
has taken place to the persons who waited upon me, though
I stated to them before what I have now stated to the
house, and they are perfectly aware of my intentions oa
the subject. (Hear, hear.)
COPYHOLD ENFRANCHISEMENT BILL.
The Lords' ameadmente to this bill were considered and
agreed to.
LONACY REGULATION BILL.
Oa the order of the da for the committee on this bill,
Mr. A: PELLATT called for some explanation as to the
objects of this bill. Ile found that it was proposed to mete

under it two new (Aces, with salami of 2,0001. a year each,
and 1,2001. • par retiring allowance, and there was to !
be a surgeon, with 500/. a year, in addition. Ile thought
they ought to have some information as to the reams for
this increase of patronage.
Mr. WALPOLE said this bill was merely introduced
fur the purpose of consolidating the existing acts on the
' subject. It left the various officers in lunacy precisely
where they were, and with the same salaries. The only
change was, that provision was to he made for paying a
clerk, who was now paid by fees, a fixed salary of 1501. a
I year. The bill would be of immense importance in diminish-
ing the expense, and facilitating proceedings in lunacy ;
lead he might add, that the increased facilities would be
' given witb_perret safety to all parties concerned.
Mr. A. PELLATT was quite satisfied with the ex-
planation.
The house then went into committee on the bill, and I
affirmed the clauses.