The Express.
London, England, 1860-07-19 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES.

THE MSTROPOLD3. 9AB MIL.

The committee =bred yesterday, Mr.
liotboroa-Fatoortrt in the chair. The other members
Beat was wore Lord R. Cecil, Mr. Yanks, Mr. North, and Yr.
Turner.

Mr. Wyatt said the partite whom he represented were
lay imp rued with the anxiety which the committee had
esineed 1e settle the question which had been so long be-
fore them, sad he felt it respectful to them to assist them
to the last seeinent. Bat he wished it to be distinctly
understood that the promoters of the bill by no means
pledged tblllllllBlllllll to to the bill if the whole of the
amendments by the gas companies should be
adopted by lie siamdlies. The points of the greatest im-
porters to hi aisle more these. He proposed that the
testing skew (411 awl_ IWO should be restored to the bill ;
that the est slams amid he so altered as to mars the
ormsost of the likantry of State accessary to say istressa
the osslitio precedent, laird of allow-
*Ohs to mare as her aura sad then
giving the a Nide power lo ristermise whither
ths imaramsd_ pies shoal be psis
or sot. Be pro-
paned also OA the lase slotail he Axed at Is. 6d. instead
of be. Ild., ea tied less essested as the previous day.
The Carsinms—Yott propene tha histeed at the mar&
to
the
the
Secretary a mode saislas the pries should be
011ie ?
-r6---r yellt—Tos ; soda Islas gists to the parties inte-
rmit is lblootaismee. With rasped to the illuminating
power sad peaty at the he proposed to omit the words
et a dittoes mat eia• tbousual yards."
The Oskar m—The offset of that will be that at say
pit
hr 66 the Illomistigamiss. power shall be tonal to the stipulated
logs

Mr. Wyatt—Yea He also proposed that the hill should
be so amid es to prennt the tompanise from charging
far thew el men= In any distils& wisely no charge was
ea mg& Theme were the sing which be
aaa to maklzmiliff the sempanles were to meet his
ells is in a ens an amicable
ea neenemen& miglingeteda, the Mears of the corn-
millers would wet le therm swig.
Mr. Baxter mil the Mr. Wyatt appeared to be trying
hew much he maid gat tram the committee before deciding
vow the course be midi resomunend his clients to take.
With regent S. the qnselden ef meten, there was no law
obliging 000.1afah forsuppkr meters without charge.
Thee lainesa inquired if there was tun objection to di-
palate that the meter sent should not be charged until a
revision of piles took place.
Mr. Baxter submitted that there might be nn revision. If
the meter was sot charged more might be charged for the
price of the pa. He could not consent to the omission at
the 12n.1 and 43rd clansea With regard to the iftssiaatiair
power, the lion of Mt. Wyatt amounted to this, that
the light of tiro more candles would be given in the outer
districts. One-sixth had already been added without any
addition to the price, and now it was proposed to make
another addition of the same kind. He decidedly objected
to the mowed for rendering en application to the Secretary
of State necessary bdore an increase could be made in the
price of ga., and submitted that it would be quite ruflicient
to give power to the Secretary of State to disallow the in-
creased charge if it ahould be an improper one. The com-
panies were quite willing to give a ten-ainille light for
five feet of gas over the whole district, and he thought that
would meet all the requirements of the case.
Mr. Wyatt said that as the companies appeared un-
=to make sty *occasion, he totaled the committee
take upon themselves the responsibility of adopting
the suggestions which he had thrown out.
The room was then cleared, and after the committee bad
debated about half an hour the parties were readmitted, and
the clewss were gone through seriatim.
A Kovnoo was introduced to the effect that any com-
pany not charging for meters on the Ist January, 1860,
should not he allowed to do an until after the let February,
Irifd. The contra ittee also decided that the price per 1,M1,1
cubic feet of common gas should be an sum the company
think fit not exceeding fie. ; and that the price of
cannel gee should be any sum not exceeding lc 6d. per
I,lNsl feet.

Mr. Wyatt intimated that after these decision, of the
committee he should no longer detain the committee by ap-
pearing in his professional capacity.
The remaining clauses were then passed with amend-
ments.

Mr. Baxter proposed a clause authorising the gas com-
nies to raise additional capital for the extension of their
works, and to treat such sums as an extension of capital.
The committee refused to insert the clause, and then
agreed to report the bill to the house.
The Chairman said the committee had agreed to make a
special report to the brume, stating that it is their opinion in
case no legislation shall take place dining the present ses-
sion on the subject of the metropolitan gas supply, it is
highly desirable that the whole subject should be brought
under the considemtiou of the government, aod that the
government ought to he prepared to introduce a measure
for the settlement of the question at the commencement of
the ensuing session of parliament., with a view to regulate
the *militia, under which the rpcs c.ompeuicis shall supply
gas in their several diatricta, with a due regard to the inter-
ests of the public.
The proceedings then terminated.