The Express.
London, England, 1858-04-02 00:00:00

POLICE COMMISSIONER.

Mr. T. 11. FRY, chairman of a special committee appointed
to consider the subject of the refusel of the Commissioner of
Police to occupy the premises allotted him in the Old Jos ry
for a residence, brought up a report. The report states that
the committee were of opinion that the terms of the resolu-
tion of the court of Octobff, 1839, and March, 1841, re-
quiring the Commissioner to be resident within the City,
should be complied with. The report proceede—'. Your corn-
mitteo have annexed hereto the case submitted under their
d6ections to the Recorder and Common Berjeant and the
other law officers of the corporation, together with their
opinions thereon. That your committee have been attended
by the Police Commissioner, whom they have heard relative
to the accommodation afforded by the residence provided for
him in the Old Jewry, and that officer having stated that he
had found It necessary to make use of several of the principal
rooms in such residence for the due conduct of official bud-

arse in consequence of the extended demand fur the services
of the police force, we recommend that a reference should be
made to the Police Committee of this honourable court
further to inquire into the subject, with authority to seek for
other premises within the City suitable for a residence for the
Police Commissioner, should tho circumatanoes appear to
them to render such a course desirable."

Annexed to the report is a case which had been submitted
to the law officers of the corporation, and in which the fol-
low'ng questions were asked
"Whether the Commissioner is entitled to require the
allowance of 2001. per annum, in lien of a residence, from
the year 1847, as recommended in the report of the Police
Committee, not affirmed by the court P
"And whether the Commissioner is legally justified by the
prolugs of the Police Committee in vacating his e
n tLedCity. in opposition to the resolution or the Court of
Common Council of the 4th day of October, 1839."
The opinion of the law officers is:
"Ist. We are of opinion that the Commissioner has not
acquired any right to the allowance of 2001. a year, in lieu of
a residence, from the year 1847.
" 2nd. We ere of opinion that the Commissioner is not
legally justified in vacating his official mildew°, in opposi-
tion to the resolution of the 4th October, 1839.
" Russell Gurney, Thomas Chambers, Ferdinand Brand,
E. Tyrrell, Charles l'earson."
Mr. T. 11. FRY, in moving ttotitlyerimrt be agreed to,
said it was well known that for a period a great
difference of opinion had existed among the police commit-
tee, the commissioner, and the members of the court. The
question was whether it was desirable that the Commissioner
should reside within the City, and whether the premises
in the Old Jewry were to be considered a suitable
residence for that gentleman. The police committee had
on several occasions brought up reports to the court recom-
mending that the commissioner should be allowed to reside
without the City, but to every such recommendation the
court had given a decided negative, still adhering to their
original omen, that it was very desirable that the commis-
Wooer should reside within the City. (Hear, hear.) It was
• remarkable fact that the very thing that the police com-
mittee came and asked the sanction of the court to do, and
which had been refused, the commissioner did himself.
(" Hear, hear," and a laugh.) Another extraordinary fact
was, that when the commissioner did this the committee
shortly afterwards brought up a report recommending that,
to consequence of that gentleman having vacated his resi-
dence, he should be allowed a sum of 2001. for so doing.
(Hear, hear.) The court had invariably entertained a strong
objection to the principle that the police commissioner should
not amide within the City, but when it was known that the
ommissioner had taken upon himself the responsibility and
the daring act of vacating his official residence when he
knew that the court had on two or three occasions

re;ided, and decided unanimously, that that should
not be done, he (Mr. Fry) and many members of the court
thought it a most extraordinary proceeding. The Court of
Aldermen were then. asked to request the commissioner to

occupy the residence provided for him. They entered upon
the question, and brought up a report, in which they stated
that they did not feel themselves justified in taking upon
themselves the responsibility of requesting the commissioner
to reside within the premises in the Old leery, because they
considered them unsuitable, and they fortified that opinion
by the opinion of the City architect and the surgeon of the
police force; end these gentlemen did not object to the
premises on sanitary grounds, but simply because of the want
of ingrees and egress. The committee said that it was still
desirable that the commissioner should reside within the City.
(Hear, hear.) That was a doctrine which that cone/ had
always entertained, and he trusted it was one that worlever
continue. (Hear, hear.)
The report was weed to, end ordered to be printed.
Mr. SCAUZLL brought up reports from the coal and corn
end finance committee, recommending grants of 621. 10s. to
the Fsrriogdon General Dispensary end Lying-in Charity,
and 26/. 6s. to the City of London Ragged •cols, Long-
alley, Hishopagate.— Agreed to.
Mr. CotexeLt. moved—That William Fernley Allen,
Heel., end alderman, be appointed upon the following com-
mittees, via. :—City Leads, Coal and Corn and Fenno),
Purposes, Library, City of London School, Officers
and Clerks, Improvement, Markets Improvement, and
OrgyutiSchool.—Agreed to,
Deputy HOLT moved—That Benjamin Samuel Phillips,
and alderman, be appointed an additional commissioner
of the Property and Income-tax Commission in the room of
Charles Farebrotber, Eq., deowed.—Agreed to.