The Express.
London, England, 1865-04-25 00:00:00

MILEAGE DUTY OE STAGE GAERIAGES.

Yesterday afternoon a deputation waited on the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, al his aloe in Downing.
street., with a view to =We the abolition of this duty.
The dovetail= was into:Oared by Mr. Arters.ll.P., sad
amuse those peewit were Mr. Bramley-Moore, M.P., Mr.
George Buckley, M.P., Colonel Grey, M.P., Messrs. Busby,
Lloyd, Gates (Liverpool), Mr. B. Holders. of Meschester
Mr. J. Brooks, of Birmingham • M.
Layers and Mr.
Church, of the London Gaged bmeibus Company ; Mr.
Hudson and Mr. A. Richards, of the Waterloo and Atha
Amociatioe, and various other gentlemen connected with
the *moths, mid coaching interests from the metropolis
sod the various Jorge tows, of the kingdom.
Mr. Arrrox, io introduciog the deputation, stated that
Mr. Bradfield, havioy bees in tommunicatioo with all the
members, would, with the pernikeioa of the right hom
geetleteas, state their views.
Mr. BRADFIXLD, after stating that the deputation repro-
seated the interests of the coaching sod omnibus proprietary
of Leedom, Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol,
and ether important places, said that they oom
that the mamas duty on the travelling of ocaveyanoss is
anomalous and exesptiossl in character, sad unjust end
oppressive to hue ; that it is not imposed on eoavey-
awes to 1 and only on stage combos and omoihoses
in England, Wass, and Soothed; that it is levied with-
out Menem to the number of bans employed, or
the number of presagers actually =timed, or of
the fares charged, or the cost of working, or the
receipts of the vehicle, or the profit' of the proprietors •
that to the case of ounmetitioa =tweed the =ell end thii
large vehicle, the mileage being levied oa construction
and not on actual priest.ia carried, such mileage is
unfair as =sleet the larger vehicle, which has a larger
=Dual license end a larger mileage charged on it,
sod involves a larger outlay to work, and that
the midways is Looks, the steamboats, and the oeinibeeee
ell compete with each other for the metropolitan trafflo et
separate fares, and the number of new passenger stations
as, being multiplied rapidly by the constant opening of new
lines. Them is sot s road out of Loedon (off the stones) in
which the omnibuses have not to compete with one, in some
oases with two, lines of railway, and in others with two
lines of tail way and steamboats in addition. In the ogee
of the Ifetropoliten line, the omnibuses sad the trains run,
the one under the other upon the surface of the same
read. The working expanse of that railway are under
30 per cent. of its receipts, while those of the omnibuses
on the same route exceed 90 per cent. • sad whilst coma-
derauons of equity would Paleyall competitorsbeing
taxed equally and on one footing, the .sesemboet is sow not
taxed at all, the railway only .on certain classes of pee-
image= making the per mintage considerably under ave
percent., whilst the omnibus is taxed in the roost favour-
able cams at 9 per mat., end is others 11
per cent on receipts, and this taxation is so
oppressive that se high an amorist of duty se
SW. per annum is imposed on each London omnibus.
He proceeded to enforce them statements by showing that
the duty charged upon the total receipts of the London Ge-
neral Omnibus Company last year was 543041., being at the
rate of 9 per cent., and that the duty upon various other
omnibus companies in town sod couuti y ramrod betties' 10
and 13 per cent., which operated very injuriously to the in.
tenets both of omnibus proprietors and the public, and
tended to cripple trade by p Hog the establishment of
routes of omnibuses is the country to railway stations,
thereby greatly inoooveniencing the public.
The CH...NC/LLCM of the Excantions admitted that the
question was one deserving of fair consideration, and be was
sure the government would be most he to consider It
whoa they had an opportunity of doing so, but he was not
able to give them an assurance that it should stand in a
higher position than all other questions. There would,
however, be a disposition on the part of the government to
look at the question of conveyance duties with a very liberal
' eye, whenever they were able to do so, but at the same
time he reminded the deputation that the same mime
might be followed as had been adopted with great nooses
lie reference to another duty, namely, that the Howe of
I Comma= might be induced to take ths question out of the
hands of the government.
Mr. BBARLIT-1100ILI reminded the Chancellor of the
Exchequer that the course punned by the house with ref.-
renew to the hoorahs' duty was eery exceptional.
The CHAIICILLOB of the EICHEQUZI quite admitted that,
nor did he for a moment intend to impute that the Home
of Commons had not a perfect right to deal with the gum-
boil in the way in which it had doe*. Oa the contrary be
had not a word to my against it.
Mr. B. Moots pointed out the exceptional character of the
prom= impost, and the very injurious manner in which it
operated in preventing the extension of omnibus and stage.
coach traffic. _ . . .

Toe Catticemon of the EECHLQUER inquired whether,
in the event of parliament .suctioning • reduction of the
impost, the owoen of omnibuses would be willing to enter
into a stipulatiou with reform* to the amount of fare to
be charged, or whether they would prefer to carry on busi-
ness merely on the system of competition.
Mr. ATRTON replied that the omnibus interest were all in
favour of fair competition, and that the evidence which
they had obtained went to the effect that the fares had been
already reduced to the lowest posaible point.
Mr. BRADFIELD said that the omnibus proprietors were
quite prepared to consider any proposition that might be
made relative W the amount of fares consistent with the
proper working of the traffic, but be did not think it war
pcesible to make any further reduction of fares io Loudon.

The CHLEICILLOR of the EXCHEQUER having stated that
the matter would receive the serious attention of the
government. the deputation thanked the right hon. gentle-
man and witted ew.

R.ZPRZRZNTATION or MONHOUTIPBH/Rl.—The re-
presentation of Monmouthshire is at preeeet entirely in the
bands of the two great aristocratic families, viz., the Beau-
fort and Tredezar families. The sitting members are Mr.
Octevius Morgan, M.P., a brother of Lord Tredesm, and
Colonel Somerset, • relative of the Duke of Beaufort, so
that the two houses have each a representative. It need hardly
be added that both the members are toriee of the old school,
or that their votes are alwa)■ recorded with the retrograde
party. In the face of this fact, it is a singular circum-
stance to record that the great majority of the inhabitants
of the county are dissenters ; and, therefore, it is clear that
the political principles of the two great houses are repre-
sented and not those of the electors. There is every mobe
bitty that ao attempt will be made at the coming dissolu-
tion to effect • change in this state of things by the election
of at least one liberal member ; and one of three gentlemen
enjoying considerable influeoce in the county is likely to be
the man. If the liberals are thoroughly united, there is no
doubt that they will be able to return one member ; but it
is °velem to deny the fact that the party has for years been
divided, and the unpopularity of Lord Llanover, the lord-
lieutenant, has much to do with this unfortunate division.
Let us hops that more unity will prevail in future, and that
the county will be rescued from the nomination of two
great families, whose political opinions are entirely opposed
to those of the great majority of the electors.—Birmingham
Daily Post.
RIPRKSINTATION OP THZ FALKIRK BUROHR.—We
can now state, on the most reliable authority, that there
will be a keen contest for the representation of the Falkirk
burghs.—Falkirk Journal. _ _ _

---
RIPRIMENTATION or BERWICK. —We (Kelso Mail)
understand, on good authority, that et the approaching
general election two conservative candidates will contest
the representation of the town of Berwick against the two
liberals wboare expected to enter the lista. One of the
former will of ooarse be the present conservative member,
Mr. Cargill, and the other, Mr. Joseph Hubback, of Liver-
Pool-

- -
SLAVERY AND EMANCIPATION IN AMERICA.—In
the year 1860 the slave population of the United States
numbered about four millions. Then were also five hun-
dred thousand free people of colour. During the military
movements of the conflict waged for the purpose of perpe-
tuating slavery by the one party and for prevention woes-
sloe by the other, two millions of the slaves had become
fres prior to Mr. Lincoln's re-election as President. But
immense numbers have poised into freedom since the fall of
Savannah, Charleston, Wilmington, Petersburg, and Rich-
mond. The transition has been sudden and characterised
by the exigencies of war. Myriads have fled from the
borne of slavery without "bathing, provision, or
the implements of industry, or even of household
economy ; and are dependent on benevolence for mustangs*e
and means of improving their condition. The able-bodied
have either been *bombed in the Northern armies or re-
tained by their Southern meager'. The wanes, the chil-
dren, the aged, and the infirm, constitute a large dependant
population, among whom are so be found much privation
and wretchedness. Benevolent efforts to provide assist-
ance, in money and clothing, have been made by Freed
Mee 's Aid Commissions in Bootee, Washington, Philadol.
phis,Cineinnati, Chicago, and New York. Many philanthropic
persona have gone down into the South as teachers
and helper., and have formed asylums, heepitals,
schools, eolonire, camps, and industrial communi-
ties. Auxiliary associations have been organised
in Great Britain, the principal of which have been
composed of members of the Society of Friends, Si,
Thomas Powell Buxton Bart., is president. and Samoa
Gurney, Esq., M.P., in:sourer of the London Freed Men'.
AM Society, whose chief aim is to collect and tratercit
funds to the American organisation.. During the past
week a movement for co-operation has been commenced in
Paris, and private social meetinp have been held by the
ievitatioo of M. Laboulare. in his chambers, Rue Taltbout ;
Pasteur G. Mooed, at his own hones, and the Rev. T. Bares
Hart, is the Eyelet geogregatioial chapel, Rue Royale. A
deputation from America and Leedom agenda ; Levi
I Cotil it, a `Friend" from Cincinnati, Meows. Hayose from New
York, and the Rev. Dr. Mamie, acting secretary of the Lon-
don committee, have by their presence sod statement. cootri-
bitted informatics and interest. la the chambers of M.
_

Labonlays, the Wiese de Broglie, Omni de Moats!ember%
H. Cushmee, 11. H. Martin. Dr. de Preseense, 6. Mooed,
and others, repissentiog the sympathise and desires of
many absent phrlamthropmta ; sad a committee was formed
to prepare an address and take missores far Nolicißeg co-
operatis. ?demure, will also be matured by the fds
who serunbled at IL Moiscid'a, and is the Bee Royale.
The Americas residents is Paris. desiring to uphold the re.
potation of their country, will dochliem prove that though
the muse of the isesanmpated is otemopolilea and Was.
Duo*. they hays as especial duty whit* they will
promptly discharge moot themselves. The edam of
Jessica, of every political hoe will nerve the eines by
trausferring to their colonies whatever istlcesmaion they
may demo valuable.—Gehriani.