The Express.
London, England, 1858-11-18 00:00:00

THE RIVAL OMNIBUS COMPANIES.

POLICE COURT.-(THIS DAY.)

The sue of the rival omnibus companies was re..
snoesa this morning before Mr. Paynter, the Westminster
Polies magistrate.

Mr. Edwards, the oceansel lot the prosecution, said, before
the evidence was proceeded with, he was Instructed by the
Saloon Company to dewy that they had ever made overtures
to the Cheers' Conway to sell the goodwill of their con-
own for 2,5004

Mr. Panne observed that this was a matter of no impor-
Mae*, bat the etatimeent was that the offer was made before
the Saloom Company commenced Mutates.
Mr. Matimunitra, the director of the General Company, who
made the statement, repeated that it was strictly true. da
attempt wee made to extort 2,6001. from him and three of his
coadjutors beim the Saloon omnibuses were started, sad
that he could prove by competent witnesses.
Blomteld, the polic►constable who had deposed to the
conduct of the General Omnibus drivers and conductors in
poling and nursing the Saloons, as he had witnessed the pro-
ceedings at the corner of Sloane-street, was cross-examined
to-day, and he admitted that he was removed from the
Sloane-street station because a written complaint of grow
partiality was made against him by the General Company,
BA was sent specially t• watch the General Com-
pany's omnibuses, and was only there four days. The
commissioners of police did not attach may credit le
the complaint, but the complaint being made they flit
that the proper course was to remove him. Captain
Harris, one of the commissioners, hoverer, had assured hist
that be saw no reason to find fault with his conduct. No
other complaint was made against him than that of the
General Omnibus Company.
Mr. Bodkin, who appeared for the council of the Oenerel
Omnibus Company, thought there would be no difficulty in
acting upon the suggestions thrown out, at the last hearing,
by Mr. Poynter, that this ass should bo compromised. Ha
had not consulted the solicitor to the company ; but for his
own Manta he could assert that their influence should be
used for regulating the trek of the two companies upon
just and equitable principles.
Mr. Sleigh, who appeared for Mr. Hartley, one of the
district directors, said without having had any 001110911i01.
tics with Mr. Bodkin he mold readily tall in with his views.
Mr. Hartley desired only to me fair play between the two
companies, and that in this free country there should be free
trade in omnibuses se well ea other trades.

' Mr. Robinson, representing the internal salsguesd d
the company, concurred in Mr. Bodkin's suggestion; bid
the same time, on behalf of his clients, he must protest tisk.
they had done nothing illegal in this matter.
Mr. Oifferd also insisted that his alien', Mr. Macneassra, •
was not responsible for any illegality.
Mr. T. Atkinson, who represented the driven sad eon
declare, wee perfectly prepared to meat every inquiry ed
await He result. Of COl2/90 he would fall into eny snow"
meat that might be some to.
Mr. Pollard, who was oounael for Mestere. Pedwardieellk
Hawkins, the two defendants that have no direct teased=
with the general company, simply remarked that es yet al—
evidence had been adduced implicating his clients.
Mr. Edwards, for the prosecution, insisted that tt was helyaa
less to think of a compromise. The Saloon Creamy bed .
made morn than one overture with a view to a settlesest 51 ,
the dispute end from the spirit in which those ammeses
been met it was clear that an amiable armrests* et; Ihs .
difficulty was quite out of the question.
Mr. Peyote: repeated his already expreesed opinion dor
something might be done to settle the matter without name-
leg to the full measure of the law. The General Omnibus
Company appeared to have fallen Into the mistake of sap i
posing that by the shore force of capital, aided by ether* g
pilaw's, they could monopolise the entire traffic of the Erie
tropolitan roads. For his own part he tal no objection to will
was called the French system of omnibus oommunicatiaa, ete •
It must be admitted that the omnibuses of Paris was
far superior to those whisk we were la the habit of seas la
the streets of London ; but it could not be allowed that the
law should he violated even for the sake of obtaining is
approximation to that convenient system. There could be
no doubt that the free amuse of the metropolitan meets sad
highways had been interrupted by the rivalry of these com-
panies; while it was squally clear that the directors of one d
them had winked at thing" dons by their servants which,
es individuals, they would indignantly repudiate; het,
those gentlemen should remember that although they 111 0
their individuality in becoming part of a joint stash awl
piny, they yet did not lose their moral and legal sespele4
sibitity. He therefore sincerely hoped that both sides Mae
see the penalty of coming to some arrangement that
stop these unseemly proceedings in the public streets : err
tainly, If they did not, the kgielature must interfere; sad he
should not be wanting on his part in making repreeentsdase
in the proper quarter to bring about the passing of as act d
parliament for establishing bye-laws to regulate the traffic cl
the stmt.
Mr. Girard made some remarks with the view of show*
that the Saloon Company had always resisted an arrange-
toast of times.

Mr. Paynter repudiated the idea of a time arreagmesill.
The streets were open to all, and at all times; but the tor
petition must be legally conducted. Ni. company or set
persons could seer more any particular tiros or route list
their omnibuses.
Mr. Bodkin °teemed that the Saloon Company wanted aD
the best Uwe of the most profitable liner, and yet not to run
for the accommodation of the public on roads that did
not pay.
Mr. Vining, the solicitor to the Saloon Company, wished
to dl.ouaa the terms of an arrangement, and suggested that
the dispute should be referred to a gentleman of eminence at
the bar.
Mr. Poynter said that point must be settled out of omit
Iw lad thrown out a suggestion for the sake of the partial
and the public, bat how It would be carried oat men be
determined elmwhare, and without his farther interposition.
Ultimately an adjournment to the 2lat of Demobs
agreed upon. If an arrangement is not then arrived at the
case will be proceeded with, day by day, before the Mild'
trate, until the deposhions ore completed.

The publishers (American) of Mr. Longfellow's
aetir volume already mamma the twentieth thorns).
"Miles Standah's Courtship" look. now as if it wenld
ahead of " Hlaweths." Seven different persons ars abet.
Hood to reed it in public; sod, although it woe °My pat
)(shed on Saturday last, found purchasers to the amosall,
10,000 in one day.—Bator Jorrtieu.