The Express.
London, England, 1853-12-21 00:00:00

APPEAL AGAINST THE BATE.

..... _
Mr. LAW, one of the parochial authorities of West Hark-
aey, attended to urge objections against the rate, and, if it
were persisted in, to take the necessary stops to appeal
aping it.
The CRAIRMAN—Bat you are toe late. You should
have attended at the proper time, and stated your ohjtc-
tiena in writing. The act is now done, and several of the
commissioners have left the mut. We cannot ando it.
blr. LAM said he should have attended earlier, but he
had been detained onoarish business.

Mr. WOOLUTCII-1 cm can appeal against the whole of
the rate within the neat month, upon giving the notices re-
quired by the aet.
Mr. LAW said it was his intention to do so.

The Court then adjourned.

SHOCKING ACCIDENT THROUGH TILE FROST.—Yes-
terday a frightful accident happened to a young man named
Charles Jones whilst engaged Gleaning the windows of the
Ship T , at the corner of Marylebone anal Charlton-
streets. Owing to the state of the pavement caused by the
severe frost, the ladder on which he was standing slipped
from cadet him, and he fell on the iron spikes surrounding
the area. Sme persons immediately hastened to the poor
fellow's assistance, but not being aware that the spikes had
entered his leg, they occasioned, it is feared, additional
laceration to the wound, in their anxiety to disengage him
from his frightful position. He was conveyed with all
speed to Middlesex Hospital, but he is still in a dangerous
condition.

SUPPOSED MURDER.—EarIy on Monday morning,
a laboursr en bit way to work down Irvin's. place-lane,
East Acton, discoveted the naked body of a youth about
sixteen years of age, quite dead, and with a number of
bruises and other marks of violence upon it. The body was
immediately removed to the Goldsmith's Anna, where it
awaits an inquest. At present nothing is known respecting
the deemed or the caw of his death.

CITY CORPORATION COMMISSION.

Yesterday the Commissioners renewed the inquiry
at the official residence of the Prime Minister in Downing-
street, Mr. Labouchere in the chair.

Mr. Samuel Hopwood, clerk to the Paving Commissioners
of St. Andrews Holborn, and St. George the Martyr, at-
tendsd at the desire of the commissioners of thaws parishes,
to complain of the tax on carts entering the City. One of the
main inlets to the City passed along these united parishes,
namely, Holhorn, and on their side of the metropolis
the inhabitants paid the expenses for the repair of the
road. A great portion of the trafll: on that road con-
sisted of goods entering the City, on which they levied no
tax, though if they did it would diminish the expense/. It
was a great hardship, therefore, on the inhabitants of these
parishes to pay the tax on their carts when they entered the
City.

Mr. Ambrose Moore said—l have been a silk manufac-
turer in the City of London for forty years. I have ceased
to carry on bu•iuess there since 1846, but lam still con-
nected with the City as a freeman, and as director of some
companies. My object in coming here is not to give evi-
dence as to details, but of a general character respecting
the Corporation of the City. lam of opinion that it would
be wrong to abolish that corporation or to unite it with
metropolitan corporations. I would abolish whatever abuses
existed, but I would not abolish the corporation itself.
I think that a federation of corporations for the
whole metropolis would be inexpedient and unwise.
So large a population as 2i millions united toge-
ther might be an embarrassment to the government.
" • • . _

I think the corporation should have the control of its own
police. That police is well manag, d, and I therefore do
not see why the City should be deprived of that or any
other ancient privilege which has nut been abused. The
City has hitherto elected its own magistrates, and they
have given great satisfaction. I would appoint the alder-
men for life. I would have the aldermen elected for life,
whether they are to continue magistrates or not. I think
there is great advantage in having an independent body
like the aldermen of lemdin, and their independence would
not he so great if they were periodically elected. I sea
no objection in having the aldermen elected by the wards,
the constituency of those wards being altered. I think the
municipal constituency ought to be assimilated to the par-
liamentary. With respect to the trading privileges of the
citiz-ns of London I do not see any advantage to be derived
from their continuance. I would, therefore, abolish those
trading privileges. I have drawn up memoranda of
alterations which might be effected for improving the cor-
poration without abolishing or destroying its ancient and
useful functions. I would unite some of the small wards,
and divide the large ones. This would assimilate the size
of the wards to a considerable extent whilst it would
preserve their boundaries, and leave to each
the administration of its charities. I would not
.

_ .
diminish the number of aldermen. I would divide
For:intim-without into three wards; and Cripple-
gate and Bishopagate into two wards. I would on the
other hand unite Bassisshaw and Coleman-street wards,
and in the same way some of the other smaller wards,
one alderman and four common councilmen to be elected
by each ward. But this proportion might be varied in
the proportion of .5 to 3, according to the size of the wards
where they were not nearly equal. This would give 100
Common Councilmen instead of 206, the present number,
which is much too large for an executive body. I would
have the aldermen elected for life, but removable for a
proper cause. I would have the Lord Msyor elected in
Common Hell by the aldermen who served the office of
sheriff. 1 think it would be objectionable to elect the
Lora Mayor from the general body of the citizens. It would
take away a motive for seeking the inferior offices. Besides
a porton tilling the office of first magistrate of the City
ought to have some previous acquaintance with corporate
business. I would give the crown the right of confirming
the election of the Lord Mayor. The Sheriff of London
should be appointed by the Common Hall, but the Sheriff
of Middlesex should be appointed by the crown. I would
retain the power of fining for not serving the office of
Sheriff, because otherwise you might not get
proper persons. But I would draw up regulations
which would prevent the abuse which now exists,
namely, that of electing persons who it is known would not
serve for the purpose of getting the fine. In order to take
away this motive for fining, the fine after being imposed
might be taken away from the corporation. I think the
aldermen should name the gentlemen who should serve the
office of sheriff three months before their appointment,
and give notice thereof three months beforehand the
election to be made by the Common Hall. But, then, 1
would assimilate the Common Hall constituency to the
parliamentary one. I would have the wardmote elections
made by the same constituency, and confined to one day.
The Chamberlain might, I think, be elected by the Com-
mon Council. The Lord Mayor and sheriffs should alone
he elected by the whole constituency. I would abolish all
such offices as were not suited to the times we live in. The
Court of Aldermen has, I think, given satisfaction to every
one, and I would, therefore, retain it. I would have the
office of Recorder confirmed by the crown. I think the
aldermen should delegate to one or two of their body to act
as police magistrate or magistrates, to be paid by the
Common Council, with a power of confirmation in the
hands of the Secretary of State. I would empower some
to act as magistrates,hut would not restrain aoy from acting.
The duties of magistrate now devolve by rotation on the
aldermen. I would retain the Lord Mayor and sidemen
on the commission of the Old Bailey. It is an old privi-
lege and I would not deprive them of it. I believe the
Recorder or Common Serjeant does sometimes ask the alder-
men as to the amount of punishment to be inflicted on a
criminal. _
_

-..—.--..
Sir J. Pattern—The Court of Old Bailey cannot be con-
stituted without the presence of one of the aldermen, end it
does sometimes happen that the court is kept waiting be-
cause they do not attend.
Mr. Meore-1 should say that out of 25 aldermen it ought
to be easy to get one to attend. The aldermen superintend
the management of the City gaols, and as they perform that
business well, I think it should be continued to them. The
Court of Aldermen should, I think, regulate the manage-
ment of the Stock Exchange. The City takes a bond of
security for good behaviour, and I have no doubt they en-
force it when they can. The parties who act fraudulently
generally run away. I think the Court of Aldermen would be
the very best body for directing the regulations of the Stock
Exchange. The higher class of merchants do not take part
in the corporation simply because, I believe, it is tee, num'.
roue a body, too antiquated in its forms, and too political
in its conduct. I think these merchants would serve in
, the corporation if they were sent there to do business, and
not to talk, as is too much the care now. I would not
abolish the Lord Mayor's show, but I would have it exe-
cuted in a different way. It cannot please the citizens of
Loudon to see men in armour riding before the Lord
Mayor, but if men of a better taste were elected these
things would be remedied, and a better arrangement made.
I think that a decent and liberal hospitality should be
maintained by the Lord Mayor, but I would not wish to
see that hospitality exercised in the extravagant way that
sometimes takes place. The municipality of Paris gives
entertainments of a very elegant kind. I have heard
any complaints made of them, and I don't see why the
same should not be the case with respect to the entertain-
ments of the City of London. I believe that a certain sum
is appropriated out of the City funds for dinner' to com-
mittees, in order to induce the members to attend. Iby
so means approve of that system. I don't think that
municipal institutions would be of any advantage to the
metropolitan boroughs.
Mr. Lewis—Whet advantage then do you think the cor-
poration of London has conferred on the citizens ?
Mr. Moore—l think the police and the administration of
justice in the city are well managed, and I would retain
the corporation because it exists.
Mr. Lewis—You would retain the corporation, then, be-
cause it exists, not because it is beneficial?
Mr. Moore—On both grounds.
Mr. Lewis—You said you would appoint two stipendiary
magistrates for the two city police courts ?
Mr. Moore—Yes; but these might be members of the
Court of Aldermen themselves. Tee privileges of the City
of London are very ancient, and the citizens are accustomed
to them. _ _ _

Mr. Lewis—Tie police of the City of London is not a
very old institution.
Mr. Moore—The police were substituted for another
.system, over which the corporation had, I believe, control.
II see no reason for • separate police or sewers commission
for the city, except that they exist, and that the duties are
well performed.
Mr. Lewin—According to your view, the City, with its
present boundaries, would be the only municipal body in
the metropolis.
Mr. Moore—Yes.
Mr. Lewis—Bat would not the corporation, under such
circumstances, remain as the only representatives of the
metropolis?
Mr. Moore—They might be thougbt to do so abroad, but
here we all know that they do not represent the whole
metropolis. The Lord Mayor presiding at a meeting of
the citizens might be supposed to represent the metropolis,
and it is useful that that should he so, but beyond that he
has nothing to do with the metropolis.
Mr. Lewis—Does the corporation at present represent the
general commercial interests of London ?
Mr. Moore—Not at present, because the corporation does
not consist of the right sort of men There are merchants
who would not associate with some of the members of the
present corporation, because they were not their equals, but
I think it probable these merchants would take part in the
business of the corporation if it was modifted. With
respect to the fourpenny coal tax, I don't think the City
should have the administration of affairs beyond its own
boundaries, or that • tax should be imposed on a general
district to be applied to a particular locality.
Mr. E. Wilson said—l was • silk manufacturer is
London in 1832. I was • member of the Common Council
during that time for some years, and a very active one. I
went in as a reformer of the abuses of the corporation. I
was a member of the committee moved for by Mr. Wil-1
llama, the member for Lambeth. In our report we said
that the salary of the Lord Mayor amounted to near
2.5,0001., but there was • fallacy in the calculation in this
respect, that we reckoned the costs of the origigal building
of the Mansion House and the ground on which it is built,
and calculated 7 per cent. on the outlay, debiting that ex-
pense to the mayoralty during that year of office. That
is an enor, and having signed the report in

spatial I wish to correct it now. I was a
very young member when I signed that report
Having made this correction, I beg leave to offer some sug-
gestions for the improvement of the corporation of the City.
I would suggest, in the first place, that the corporation
should consist of the Lord Mayor, from 20 t 3 25 Alder-
men, and not less than 100 Common Councillors. That
the wards should be equalised as to sire, regard beinp had
to ulation, He. That there should he as an wards as'
aldermen. That the Lord Mayor h ld be electedf
shoo
aldermen of the whole constituency. One alderman and
an equal division of councilmen to be elected by each ward '
and by the constituency of each ward. The present as-
sumed veto of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen on the choice
of an alderman should be abolished. The Lord Mayor to be
elected annually, and the aldermen for life; the councillors
and all other officers to be annually elected. I would tut-
gest that there should be no money qualification for Lord
Mayor, Aldermen, or Common Councilmen ; but that there
should be a penalty on any one who having been an in-
solvent, bankrupt, or convicted of . fraud, should vote or
act is either capacity. The chamberlain should be
elected by the electors, and auditors, not being
members of the corporation, should be annually appointed
by the c,rporate body : the electors should consist of the
parliamentary constituency; the aldermen and councillors
in each ward should make and publish annually a list of
voters for each ward, and the poll should be limited to one
day. The Lord Mayor and Aldermen should have the
administration of justice in the City, and ut the prisons,
and should draw on the City's cash tor an agreed sum of
money annually for that purpose; nothing beyond that
sum to be expended without the sanction of the Court of
Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Coancillors. All other acts,
end the control ef the City's cash, should be in the corporate
body. The necessity of being free of the City, or of any
municipal company or companies, for purposes of trade,
should be abolished. A commissioner should be appointed
to appeal to against the decisions of the navigation com-
mittee. The trade upon the river should be as free as the
air; bat in order to prevent accidents, and to preserve
the river, there should be some control exercised over
it. I think the navigation committee has hitherto performed
its duty efficiently. I. am of opinion that the corporate
accounts are extremely clear and easily to he understood.
It was very easy to suggest other modes of keeping those
accounts, but as an abstract I think they are almost per-
fect. There is no doubt as to their being well kept. The
funds of the City Proper are really very small, not ahoy.
150,000/., and so much was appropriated to the administra-
tion of justice, police, and the like, that really very little
remained to be dealt with by the City. With regard to the
coal tax, I don't think a general improvement rate would
be a preferable mode of raising means for gigantic :under-
takings.
. . . _

Mr. Michael Seward, residing in No. 9, Chatham-place,
13Isckfriarr, came forward to state a case of grievance which
arose iron having a divided police jurisdiction in the metro.
polis. It appears that Mr. Seward's bons° is within the ju-
risdiction 01 the City, but is accessible on the water's side.
The Thames police, which is under the Metropolitan Cow.
mission, watch the river. Mr. Seward stated that when
the tide was out the river side was infested with thieves,
and that several houses along the river have been
robbed—his own amongst the number. The robbery on his
house took place in 18i9, and in consequence thereof be had
a corespondence with the Commissioners of the hfetropoli-

tan and of the City Police. The Thames police watched
the from a boat, which they rowed up and down, so
that when be applied for the protection of the police to the
Metropolitan Commissioners, he was told that the house
was within the City, and therefore under the mire of the
City police, whilst the City authorities told him that as he
was robbed on the river side, he must apply to the Metro-
politan C.llllolinioo. This showed the evil of having more
than one police authority for the whole metropolis. It
would be much for the public advantage to have but one
police authority. _ _ _

Mr. Henry Roy came forward to give evidence on the
subject of the Stock Bschange regulations. Ile was of
opinion that those regulations should be under the corpora-
tion, and that their license should be sufficient for a broker,
independent of any regulations made by the members of
toe Stock Exchange, which was in fact a close market. The
regulations of the corporation would afford ample security
to the public, if properly carried out, and no others were
necessary,
There being no other witness in attendance,
The Chairman stated that the Commission proposed to
adjourn till the 11th of January, when they would enter
upon the examination of witnesses connected with the cor-
poration. If they found it necessary to sit fur the exami-
nation of any other witnesses before then, which was not
likely, notice would be given of their intention to do to.