The Express.
London, England, 1866-01-01 00:00:00

[STAMPED, Id. ADDITIONAL.]

THE ROUSELESS POOR ACT.

The meeting convened by the metropolitan poor
law inspector, Mr. Parnell, to take steps for ascertaining
the °poems of the various metropolitan guardims upon the
provisions of the above set relating to to dietary and la-
bour test, Molt place on Saturday, at St. Martin'. Hall,
Long-acre, at which there was a very full attendance,
although each parish or union was limited to the sending of
some two or three delegates. Mr. Fantail was, on the mo-
tive of Major Lyon, unanimously called to the chair.
The Peon-Law INSPKTOR opened the proceedings by ex-
planing the object for which the meeting bad been con-
vened. An impressing had goon abroad that the Homeless
Poor Act had broken down and was a failure • but it was
not so, if the act were carried out properly. There was no
doubt that there was one thing required to give it that
practicalre effect that was intended, and that was that then
should
be uniform practice both with regard to the
dietary and the labour, so that the parties who came
under the denomination of casual poor should not go to one
place one eight and another the succeeding night, and find
one place better than the other, for the natural consequence
of such • proceeding was that where they found the best
dietary and the least labour, there they would be
an,, to congregate. (Hear, hear.) It would appear
from some statements which had appeared in the public
papers during the last few days that the Homeless Poor
Act had broken down, and that it had tended largely to in-
teem the evils of vagrancy is the metropolis. (Heer.) This
he was prepared to deny. Those returns bad been obtained
from the masters of workhouses, who were no doubt hostile
10 the act, became it entailed as them somewhat more
labour. It bad not increased vagennoy, but it had done
this, it had caused those people who were previously in the
habit of sleeping ander dark arches, in cellars, and in door-
ways and other places nightly, to go to the workhouse
casual wards and there claim relief in the shape of lodging
and food. Since the Houselees Poor Act bad been in
operation he believed it could be proved there bad been
less vagrancy in the streets than there was before. Before
the passing of the act the aggregate amount of acoommoda.
tion for the homeless poor was, in all the metropolitan
parishes and :Mifflin, only 997 nightly ; and while some
parishes had casual wards others had none ; the effect being
that whilst the poorer pariahs' had to bear the burden, the
richer parishes largely and in some instances entirely escaped
from it. The object', therefore, of the act were to dis-
tribute end spread the relief required by this class over the
entire metropolis, as well as to make the burden upon the
different wishes equal. (Hear.) The result was that the
accommodation in the casual wards for the homeless poor
now amounted in round numbers to 2,000 nightly, and the
average number nightly receiving relief was 1,238. Taking
these numbers in comparison with an aggregate population
of three millions of people, he thought it moat be admitted
es
not showing a very large amount of this class
of pauperism. (Hear.) Indeed, the whole statistics of
pauperism, so far as the metropolis was concerned, only
showed 34 per cent. from the youngest child to the oldest
man or woman of the population. The great questions, as
he had before observed, were the two points of the uai-
formity of dietary and labour test to be applied to the
bowline poor. He proposed to deal is the Grit instance
with the question of dietary, and having disposed of that,
then to proceed to that of the labour test. The subject had
been under the consideration of the Poor-law Board, but
they were desirous of consulting the opinions of the gut-
diens of the metropolis. He bad also oonsidered the subject,
and as a general principle he thought that six maces of
breed sad one ounce of cheese would be an ample meal for
each drat for ewer, and six ounoss of bread and s pint of
porridge for breakfast. However, he should now be glad to
gather the opinions of the meeting upon the subject. (Hear.)
Mr. HAIM/ILS (St. George the Martyr) said be had paid
very great attention to this "abject, and had prepared some
statistics he was desirous of laying before the westing.
The kinds and quantities of food given to vagrants in the
metropolitan workhouses were diverse. In 14 workhouses
bread only was given, in 17 bread and gruel, in one bread,
gruel, or milk and water, in one bread and gruel or soup, in
me Wad, gruel, and cheese, in two bread and tea, in one
bread and cheese, and is one bread end tea or cocoa and
gruel. In the workhouses which only allowed bread the
average quantity was 104 ounces. In those where bread and
liquid food were given the average quantity of the former
was 114 trances, and of the latter 14 pint. Able-bodied men,
not vagrants, got on an average 6 ounces of bread, and 14 pint
of gruel or porridge at breakfast, and the same quantity et
bread with 14 pint of broth or 2 ounces of cheese at supper.
With reference to the treatment of prisoners, he (111r.Harries)
had a copy of the amended dietary recently adopted by the
Secretary of State, and be found that • man committed to
prison for one week or less was allowed six onuses of bread
for his breakfast and the same for supper. There was
nothing, In his opinion, to justify different dietaries being
used in the metropolitan workhouses for vagrant'. In-
deed he thought, in justice to all parties concerned, that
there should be but one uniform dietary. (Hear, hear.)
There was one dietary for adults and children above nine
years of age and one for those under nine years.
Looking, therefore, at all the circumstances of the case,
be thought the following scale would be fitting for the
class in question :—For adults and children above nine
years of age, 6 °more of bread and 1 ounce of cheese ; and
for &Unto under nine, 4 ounces of bread and 4 of an ounce
of butter for supper ; and for breakfast, adults and children
above nine years, 6 ounces of breed and 1 pint of porridge ;
and for children below nine years, 4 ounces of bread and 4 a
pint of milk. (Hear, bear.)
Mr. Alderman ABBI6B, chairman of the City of London
Union, proposed the following resolution :—"That it is the
opinion of this meeting the guardians of unions and
parishes in the metropolitan district should adopt the fol-
lowing scale of dietaries for the homeless poor and wan-
derers who are relieved in the metropolitan workhouses,
yin :—Supper : For adults and children above nine years of
age, 6 ounces of bread and 1 ounce of cheese ; for children
under nine years of age, 4 ounces of bread and butter. For
breakfast : Adults and children above nine years, 6 ounces
of breed end 1 pint of porridge ; and children under nine
years, 4 ounces of bread and 4 a pint of milk." He observed
that there was no doubt a large mass of idle vagrants who
did not deserve this consideration, but it was exceedingly
difficult to discriminate between the really deserving and
the vicious until the test was made.
Mr. TAVINIZ seconded the resolution, although he con-
tested be preferred giving graal instead of cheese, as being
more natetions.

—...--.
Dr. BREWIrft, of St. George's, Hanover-square, and Mr.
Bruibiteld, of St. James's, were also understood as approv-
ing of gruel instead of cheese.
Mr. Mottos, sea., Lambeth, maid it was usual to bait •
mousetrap with cbease—(anghter)—and he looked upon
this proposal as • bait to catch the vagrant.. (Renewed
laughter.)
Mr. CHAJITUNGTON, chairman of Stepney Union, did not
Nee the necessity of adding chew and butter. In his
union the class of casuals they had were mostly those who
bad bees getting work during the day at the docks, and
having generally bad • good dinner, they did not, when
they came there at night, care for food, and although they
gave them six minors of good wheaten bread, they kept it
till the next day. AS a whole he was not averse to the
proposal which bed been made, but he thought there should
be some limit as to the time when these rations should be
distributed. He was of opinion that no rations should be
given to canals before 8 or after 10 o'clock at night.
(General expressions of approval.)
Mr. FAILNALL said it could be embodied in the regula-
tions. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Ftienraw (Camberwell) entirely agreed with Mr.
Charrington as to a restriction of time, but wished to add
that the should should also insist on giving them • bath. (Cheers
and Lin ter.)
Mr. lON (Poplar) considered bread alone at night
without anything else quite eufficieat. (Hoar, hear.)
Mr. Rummel.", (Fulham) said be was prepared to move
as an amendment, " That the dietary should be six ounces
of bread night and morning for men and four ounces of
bread and • pint of gruel for women and children." (Loud
cheers, and "Haar, hear.')
Mr. Pleura (Chelsea) seconded the amendment.
Major LTOS (St. George's, Hanover-square), amidst ap-
planes and interruption, denounced what he considered as
the unwarrantable interference of the minister in sending
an emissary from Whitehall to coerce the guardian of the
metropolis into giving the vagrant poor luxuries in the
shape of cheese aed butter. (Laughter, and cries of " Oh,
oh.") He looked upon this as only the thin end of the
wedge, and it shadowed forth that presently they would be
called upon to give them tea. (Hear, hear, and Oh, ob.)
He called upon the guar liens present, whilst they had the
power, to veto such • proposal en the part of the minister
by adopting the amendment.
Mr. PAANaLL begged to set Major Lyon and the meeting
right. Theminister really know nothing at all about the
matter. (Hear, hear.) It was felt that some proposals for
uniformity were necessary, but he was there on the part of
the Poor-law Board to carry out in • uniform manner what-
ever the guardians themselves wished. (Beer, bear.)
Dr. EMMET (Islingteo) differed entirely from the re-
marks of Major Lyon, He wished to see the resolution
carried with one small exception, and that was to give gruel
to children in lieu of butter. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Churchwarden RO/38014 (St. Pancras), and one or
two others having spoken,
Alderman ABBlee replied, and the question was then put
to • show of bands. The number. were :
For the ameadment 33
Against it
Alderman ABIUBB demanded a division, but after it was
announced by the chairman that on the amendment being
put as • substantive motion it would be open to another
amendment, it was snot pressed.
The amendment was thee declared carried, and on being
put as a substantive proposition,
Mr. PRICE (Leliegton) moved a second amendinent,
"That the original proposal be adopted-11•11 a
_pint of
gruel being substituted for butter for the children."
This was .wooded amidst some soafasioe, and, on • show
el hands, dealsged to be carried by • majority of 34 to 29.
Oa this again being put as • substantive propeetioa,
Mr. CaalalNGTOff said he should move another amend-
ment, (Oh, oh, Hear, hear, and laughter.) He did not

oink it want all seceseary
adults all the year rood.
moved aa an amendment at
gruel at night to adults
months." (Cries of Hem,
Mr. Memos (St. Pancras)
Mr. Teverze (MaryleboM
be huadreds of mew where p
daily required gruel in the
winter, and he contended
general ruts depriving them
On this amendment being
majority of 28 to 26, and was
previous me in the original rs
Mt. FLIIIALL rid the other
now to thunder was that of +.
(Hear, hear.) Guardians I
exact from the casual poor ,
for the food and log
dietary, in some pariah's
others pickiog oakum, sad r
recce, of coarse, operated %
would go where the least
had been prepared for the gat
had considered the subject,
might he acquainted with
general mulation would be
each board thereon. (Hear,
Mr. Dooms, chairman
the following resolution :—'
meeting that the guardian
the metropolitan district eb
tion :—' That the muter
union, or parish, do sot
ander any temporary or perweessi
an ocomicieel poor parson, - •
workhouse, in,return for
such person, to perform the
say (here set forth the task ...-
person shall be detained against
formasce of such task of work '
hours, from the hour of bray
after admission, and provided
shall not be required from
strength, and capacity it shall
Mr. Dar (Camberwelli
Mr. FARNALL, is answer .
that in the event of a vagrant
assigned to him after partakim
provided by • pariah,' the
time. •
detaining such person for

Mr. CHAPPLZ (Vestry
square) said the usual practice
able-bodied vagrant who had t•
to work, was to take him
borough-street, who oaly
work, and who then commit
days. He thought that the m
with them. (Hear, hear.)
After some further okwervatit
and carried unanimously, iv."
Mr. FARNALL said he wo.
the minutes and resolutions
forwarded to every metropoli
under the provisions of the
hear.)
A vote of thanks to the
proceedings, which throughout
character.

PRIVATE BILLS IN THE HOUSE Or COMSIONS.-,
As official list has just been issued showing that the num-
bar of private bills filed io the House of Commons for next
session was 633. Lost year's list showed 595.

ESTIMATES FOR THS NEW RAlLWAYS.—Saturday
was the last day for lodging estimates and declarations for
private bills in the next session. It is supposed that the
d money it money on the estimates will amount to about ten

FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENTS.—A shocking (=Sr.
rends took plods on Friday evening on the South Western
Railway•bridge which crosses the Thames at Barnes. One of
the ticket collectors in the service of the Metropolitan Rail.
way, and employed at the Heinnsersmith station of that
company, called on Friday Griming at 5 minutes to 5 o'clock
at the Bull's Head lsn, ee-terrace, kept by Mr. Pank-
burst, wed after taking some little refreshment inquired of
the landlord what time the next down train would leen
Barnes for Kew. He wee told that the next train would
leave that station at 5.20 p.m., and he then left the house
after bidding one of the men " good bye." Between 5 and
6 o'clock his mangled body with the head and foot partly
out off wee found on the down rails upon the bridge, the
poor fellow having evidently been knocked down
and killed by the 4.30 p.m. train from Waterloo.
His name is supposed to be Chambers, and he wore
the uniform of the Metropolitan Railway. From the
circumstance of his having lived in the vicinity of Chiswick
it is thought that the unfortunate man had got upon the
bridge for the purview of making a short out to his home, and
thinking the line was clear had proceeded os his way, not
noticing the approach of the down train behind him, and
that no doubt caused his death. He, however, bad no
right upon the bridge, and was trespassing when killed.
The remains, by the direction of Yr. Ryder, the Barnes
station• master, were conveyed upon a trolly to the Boll's
Head Inn, 'entreat an *nest.— On Saturday morning, about
7 o'clock, one of the platelayers named Worrell, working
upon the main line of the South Western Railway, Dear
Clapham Junction, was accidentally caught by &pilot engine
and killed instantaneously, his body being fearfully crushed
by the violence of the blow which caused his death. The
corpse was taken to the Wandsworth Union.
SHOCILIPICI CASE of STABBING.—The police were
called at an early hour yesterday morning to the house of a
retired tradesman, Henry Keeble, 5, Southwood-lane,
Highgate, a person passing having hew informed by him
that there were thieves iu the blues whom he had attacked
with a knife ; groans being at the same time heard in one of
the rooms. The police found Keeble himself, who is about
sixty-eight years of age, to • state of delirium tremens ; sod
his wife, aged about sixty, lying en the pound matinee in
blood, which was issuing from some thirty or forty serious
wounds in various parts of her body, which she states were
inflicted by her husband. She can hardly be expected to
recover. The husband is in custody.

TYPHUS FEVER. IN ST. PANCRAS WORKROOM.
—On Saturday at St. Pancras Workbonne, Mr. John
Roberts, the senior surgeon of the infirmary, died from
typhus fever, contracted whilst performing his duties in
attending fever patients. Some fortnight or three weeks
back a whole family of children stricken with typhus, but
who bad been refused admission to the tendon Fever Hos-
pital from want of room, were brought under Mr. R•berte's
care. The type of the fever being of the malignsat kind it
moon net only extended to other inmates but to the nurse.,
thus adding materially to Dr. Hoberta's labours, as well as
anxiety, and ultimately resulting in his contracting the
disease himself. For some time after the first ravage, of
the fever Dr. Roberta progressed favourably until Friday,
when symptoms of an alarming character est in, and be
died on Saturday morning at an early hour. Dr. Roberta
was only 26 yews of age, but be was looked upon as a moat
talented medical practitioner, and ass highly respected by
the authorities am well as by b' poor.
-

A Nre, !Ls&'s Gm 143 DEBTORS. To-day
the various inmates of Whitecroe&street Prim will be
regaled with beef, bread, and beer at the expewe of the
&herds of Loudon and Middlesex. There are only 60 debtors
in the prim.
CHRISTMAS DINNERS TO THE POOR.—The distri-
butioo of Christmas fare this year at the Leicester-iguana
soup-kitchea, Ham-yard, was by uo means an unimportant
item is the beoefactioes of the 301111011. Seven hundred
families, comprising 3,sooisdividuals, received a substantial
dinner. This is a larger number than dined in the City of
London and Strand Unions. Of course a corresponding
quantity of good things was required. The plamTudding
weighed over 2,00010 e. sod the meat 3,0001b5. Each family,
according to numbers, received 4lbe. of beef and 2albs. or Mb*.
of pudding, with tea, sugar, and loot of bread. To make
the feast more seasonable by the addition of luxuries, •
hogshead of biscuits was generously sent by Huntley and
Palmer. Mr. Gordon, Messrs. Green and Be Carne sent
some brandy ; led and Coope, • barrel of Rumford ale ; and
Godiog and Jenkins a barrel of stout. This was all care-
fully dealt out to each family as their need seemed to require.
Several noblemen and gentlemen kindly contributed to
the fluid, and the Earl of Darnley sent • fine sheep from
Cobham-park.

THE NaW FIRE BRIGADE.—At 12 o'clock last
night the whole of the engines belonging to the various
imam= offices, forming what is termed the London
Brigade, were banded over to the Baird of Works, and is
future the engines will be called as belonging to the Metro-
politan Fire Brigade. The firemen in future will wear brass
helmets instead of leather ones as hitherto worn. The
stations will be considerably augmented, and the outskirts
will in future be amply protected. Messrs. Shand, Mason,
and Co. are manufacturing several land steam fire and
manual power engines, as well as some of the patent @article
engines
THE Bourg Yoßisuran Comaata. —On Friday
afternoon a meeting of the executive of the Miners' Amoco
elation was held at Wombwell, for the purpose of consider-
ing the offer made by the Coslmasters' Association, to ad-
vanes the =Least the men at their collieries five per cent,
to continue in force till May next, instead of the permanent
ten per cent. It was resolved that th•oolliers should accept
the five per amt. with weekly pays, wherever such terms
WWI offered uncoaditionally ; and it was further agreed that
the restrictive system should remain is force, sad the men
about to come out on strike should persist in that intention
=low satisfactory terms were 0000sded. At nearly all the
collieries unconnected with the Masters' Associatioe, the
five per sent. has been conceded. At the Oaks, Smithy
Bridge, Bast Gewber, Mount Osborne, and Lan ill. the
men have accepted the five per cent, so that at least two-
thirds of the collie's in the district have accepted the terms
Proposed-

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N EW S PA PE R
::-7,''‘'-• •-\ il
~,, :-. .._147, ~,c. ~•- , - .\ , , _
'At rat, ''. '—'--,.. ..-. P•
ssauaxa
I
_ .
(TWOPENCE
try that gruel should be give. to
I. (Hear, boar.) He, therefore. .
or additioei, " That the ono pint of
be omitted dozing the summer i
hew, aid Oh.)
as) ascended this ammedroant
ow), contended that thane might
a poor women with children seps-
is summer mouths as well as the
that it would he cruel to make a
11
en of it. (Hear, boar.)
being put it was carried by a
was then incorporated with the
al resolution.
other part of the subject they had
of the uniformity of labour tort. •
I under the act were bound to
tr some test of labour in
mg they received, but, elike tfiexchange 1/
ores they gave breaking stristro in • .
4 other employment. This Me- , •
,
d very prejudicially, and vagrants • i i
ist work was exacted. A form 1 1
i guardians to till in when they 10 •
Sot, so that the Poor-law Beard
ith their opinions, and then •
be framed for the guardians of
*r, hear.)
a of the Lambeth board, moved
:—" That it is the opinion of this 1
ias of unions and parishes within
should par the following resole- I
rr of the workhouse of the • .
every adult pesos sot suffering
remanent infirmity of triply, heZ
, who shall be relieved su the
the food and lodging afforded to
the following took wok, that is to
rah of work), provided that no seek
against his or her will for the per , •
work for any time exceeding Nor
f breakfast, on the morning Bert
ided also that such amount of work
from any person to whose age.
shall appear to be unsuited.` • I '
ill) seconded the resolution. t
ter to a number of gustier's, said
vagrant refusing to do the labour
partaking of the food and lodging
the authorities had the pause. of
r four hours, but not beyond that
I Clerk of St. George's, Hanover-
practice in their parish when sa 1 i
had been lodged sod fed retard
m before the magistrate at Marl- •
y required proof of his ability to i
inmittod him to prison for Devon
i•
he most simple comae of dealing
r.)
Minos, this resolution was put
would have copies of the whole of . , I.
ions of that meeting prepared and
mpolitan board of guardians coming •I
the Homeless Poor Act. (Hear,
be Poor law inspector closed the
. I
ghout were somewhat of a stormy
I THE HOUSE Or COMDIONS.—,
been issued showing that the num-
in the House of Commons for seat
ear's list showed b 95. I
• I
i
s New RAILWAYS. —Saturday , I
ging estimate. sod declarations for
I session. It is supposed that the .
'timers will amount to about ten
t
ILCCIDENTS.—A shocking occur- (
day *riming on the Booth Western g
w
ores the Thames at Barnes. One of i