The Express.
London, England, 1867-04-24 00:00:00

REFORM CONFERENCE AT BIRMINGHAM.

Yesterday a conference on this subject was held
at the Royal Hotel, Birmingham ; the MATOR (Mr. George
Dixon) presided, and there were upwards of 150gentlemee
present, including Professor Rogers, and there were dele
pas from London, Belfast, Oxford, Manchester, Wolver
hampton, Rosa, Northampton,. Huntingdon Leamington
Worcester, Derby, Stafford, Banbury, Bewdley, Littl.
Bowden, and other towns. The Birmingham representa-
tives included Mr. T. S. Wright, Mr. Aklerrnan Hawkes,
Mr. W. Harris, Mr. W. H. Deykin, Mr. Radford (chair-
man), and Mr. Bateson, secretary of the Reform League.
The following resolutions were proposed separately, and
discussed at considerable length:—" That this conference,
having in view the present laws of rating, are of opinion
that the rate-paying cleanse of the tory Reform Bill are
framed to exclude from the register the great mass of
householders who by occupation would be otherwise en-
titled to the franchise, and to supply every facility for
electoral corruption, and that the provision requirti of
from two to three years' residence creates an insulting dis-
tinction between the new and the present electors."
" That the government, by proposing a higher county qua-
lification than was proposed by the tory bill of 1a59, and
higher than was accepted by the House of Commons last
session has shown its determination to opposeat every
point the just demands of the people."
Professor ROGERS (Oxford) moved the third resolution—
" That in the opinion of this conference it is impossible to
secure a true representation of the people until all the
necessary charges attending elections are defrayed out of
the borough and county rates, and all other charges are
declared illegal." The professor said that until Mr.
Moffatt had moved for a return to be given in it had been
impossible to obtain anything like positive information as
to the legal charges incurred at the various parliamentary
elections. Accurate information bad, however, now been
supplied. Only twenty-six county seats were contested,
and about seventy were non-contested, and the cost of
each of the contested seats—according to the return—and
there was a great deal which had not been returned—wee
• little below 6,000/. a seat— that was that parties who were
returned to parliament acknowledged to bevies expended
such • sum. He (Prefeseur Roger.) would ask whether
it was not probable that a man who paid 6,000/.
for his seat would also sell his constituency ?
Why did these men pay the money! Not
solely for the glorification of being a member
of the House of Commons, but because it was in-
tended to be an outlay for value to be received after.
(Hear.) It was • very important object that the masses of
the community should be represented by persons of their
own choice, and in order so to be, every facility, should be
given for an increase in the number of candidates. But
the tendency hitherto had been to narrow the field from
which candidates came, and it often happened that many
of the members who were to sit for the county were such
as a junta of landowners and men with money met and
determined upon. He would now call their attention as
to what would be the effect if they threw the whole of the
charges of election upon the constituent'. Let it be
granted that every single sixpence of this 6,000/. is legi-1
timate, supposing all these expenses to be justified by the
necessities of the case, what would be the am, upon the
rateable value where these contests occurred! He had
taken the pains to count up the rateable value, and he
found that if the wholeof thechargesof the election had been
thrown on the county, the countyrate in which the contest
took place would amount told. in the pound. At such a rate
they could secure a free, just, and perfect election, and
send to parliament those persons whom they thought
fittest to represent them. In the counties there was no
chance of getting the best man, because of the enormous
costs incurred by • contest, which deterred candidates
from coming forward. Now, where no contest had taken
place, what would be the rate if the county paid the ex-
penses? Well, the amount of the rate in the non-con-
tested counties would have amounted to a fractional
sum. If they took the whole of the counties, contested
and non-contested, they found the rate to be lid. in the
pound. It was just the same with regard to the boroughs.
The average oast of • contested borough was something
like 3,000/., besides charges unconfessed. But in every
borough which is worthy to have one or two representa-
tives the real legitimate cost might be much less, but if it
amounted to so much, the outlay of such a sum in the
course of three or four years could represent no notable
increase to the burdens of Vie people. Until this prin-
ciple was adopted, the whole of the charges for returning
county or borough members wasborneby the ratepayers,and
every other charge made illegal, he thought they could
not hope to put an end to electoral corruptions Then, as
regarded the commissions in cases of bribery, every penny
of their cost should he kerne by those whom-he was to re-
present, and then instead of a man looking his neighbour
in the face and grinning when he knows he has taken M.
out of his pocket. he would more likely be taken by the
neck, and say, " You scoundrel, you have cost me se. in a
rate." Hie friend (Mr. Fawcett), had notice to move an
amendment in the House of C'eminens of the same tenor
u the resolution he (Professor lingers) had proposed, and
if the conference would endorse it, they would strengthen
the hands of those members in the house who were anxious
to pea it. (Hear, tear, and applause.)
Mr. Gem seconded the motion, and thought it highly'
important that the earnest attention of the country should
be given to the question.
Mr. Ausamter said that these commissions abort the
country to try bribery canes had been very demoralising.
Mr. FuLtewis (Stratford), said the liberal party ought to
unite and have a special fund for the prosecution of
bribery.
Mr. Preerarre hail little doubt but that Professor
Rogers' proposition would easilygain the acceptanceof the
House of Commons. Gentlemen who spent so much money for
the distinction of being made a memberof parliament would be
glad to shift on to the shoulders of their constituents the
unwieldy expense which they had hitherto been called upon
to bear. Looking at it in a cursory manner it appeared to
him further that the constituents would have to bear the
expense incurred by the cropping-up of a large number of
candidates, and that the constituencies would soon heeled
to throw back the expense upon those from whom they
bad withdrawn it. (Hear, hear) Then he thought it
would be inoperative for the purpose which it was ietended!
to serve. Although the legitimate expenses of election
might be defrayed from the money contributed by tbe con-
stituency, It would not prevent, without some attendant
measure to follow it up, that a man who offered himself as,
• candidate should not contribute • large sum of money
out of his own pocket through the agents now employed
under the old system for the purpose of bribing to any ex-
tent. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. MICH/ALBUM (London)said that at present there were
500 men in the House of Common who were there only be-

[TWOPENCE

cause they had large acres and long purses ; but if Pro-
fessor Rogers' proposition were adopted, they could pay
the expenses of able, though not perhaps wealthy men,
and thus be able to send to the House of Commons men
of ability and intellect.
Professor Roceits said that the gentleman who bad ob-
jected to his proposition had apparently lost sight of the
latter clause, which made " all other charges illegal." The
man who was proved guilty of such charges should be
punishable for bribery, and if this were the case be
thought they would rapidly arrive at a more wholesome
Mate.

The resolution was passed unanimously.
The nest resolution passed wee as follows :—"That the
proposal to introduce the system of voting by papers will
have the effect of promoting corruption and intimidation
amongst the constituencies of the country."
At this stage the conference adjourned until the after-
noon, when it " resumed" in the committee room of the
Town-hall.