The Express.
London, England, 1860-07-11 00:00:00

REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE.

In April the House of Lorda appointed a select
committee to inquire " what woed be the probable increase
of the number of electors in the counties and boroulhs of
England and Wale. from a reduction of the franchise, and
whether any or what change is likely to be made is the
character of the constituencies by such iscreave ; also, what
difference there is betweeu large and small constituencies in
respect of the proportion of the registered electors who
usually vote in contested elections, and into the causes of
any such difference which may be found to exist, likes:se
into the means by which elections in very large constituen-
cies are practically determined, and into the expense incr.--
red in conducting thou."
This morning the report of the committee was issued. It
will be seen that the committee abstain from the expression

of opinions, limiting themselves to a statement of the
points upon which they have collected evidence, und to a
rooommendation of Oust ev.dence to the ►ttention of the

house.

The report is as follows :
" 1. The probable increase which will be made in the num-
ber of electors in cities and boroughs by exteniFog the
franchise to occupiers of 81., jester.' of 101. annual value ;
and the extent to which the estimate on this point. given
iu the returns which have been laid before par'iament by
the Poor Law Board, may be considered as accurate or
otherwise.
" 2. The proportion in which the increase of the town
electors may be distributed over different boroughs, iu
respect of which great inequality appears to exist ; and the
probable effect of this in any estimate which may be formed
of the importance of the proposed change.
" 3. The probable effect upon the registration which will
arise from the admission to the franchise of persons occupy-
ing tenements the rates on which are compounded for by
the landlords.
" 4. The extent to which the ' gross estimated rental ' of
tenements, as given in the rate-books, corresponds with, or
differs from, their actual value ; the effect of this upon any
estimate of the probable immense of the number of electors
under a new franchise which may be founded upon the gross
estimated rental, and not upon the actual value or upon
riding; and the probable proportion in which the adi'tioual
number of electors w:11 be distributed over the different
boroughs.
" 5. The probable character of the voters who would be
created by any proposed reduction of the franchise. The
extent to which the working classes enjoy the electoral
franchise under the present system, and the proportion in
which the working classes would be admitted to the right of
voting iu towns of varying extent, under the supposition of
the reduction of the franchise to B'. or to 61.
" 6. The probable effect of the reduction of the county
franchise, especially in those counties in which there ere
large unrepresented towns and villages.
"7. The imperfect state of the present system of regis-
tration.
" 8. The uncertaitity of the law as to what constitutes the
difference between a tenant and a lodger.
" 9. These points will require very careful consideration
whenever parliament may be called upon to enter upon any
measure of perliaineutary reform, and the committee lags
to call the attention of the house to the evidence taken by
them." . . .

Upwards of forty witnesses were examined, including Mr.
Sidney Smith, Mr. Philip Rose, Mr. It. 1). Baxter, Mr. D.
Chadwick, Lord Wensleydale, Mr. Thomas Hare, Mr. E.
Baines, M.P., Mr. John Dowries, ✓te.

To-morrow Sir G. C. Lewis will bring in a bill to
"amend the acts concerning theatres and public-houses."

Ou goiug into Committee of Supply, Sir John
Trelawny will move "That this house, in consequence of
the House of Lords having interfered with the arrangement
of 'applies fur the year recommended by her Majesty's ad-
visers, and by such interference assumed responsibility for
the conduct of finance, postpones the consideration of
further proposals by the ministers of the crown towards
meeting public expenses until the period when the authority
of the House of (.011111101111 shall have been asserted, and the
bill for the repeal of the excise on paper shall have become
law." _ _

--- •
A ,loputation waited on Sir Charles Wood yester-
day to urge the Indian government to promote ELlgliall set-
tlement iu the plains of India, for the cultivation of ootton,
sugar, flax, and tither protlucta, by encouraging the con-
struction of etude for irrigation and navigation. Mr.
Ewart, M.P., claim-14n of the late Committee ou Cohouiaa-
tion and Settlement in India, introduced the deputation.
Proposals for canalising Scindo and the Punjaub, (iujerat,
and Klniudeish here been submitted.
Mr. Beaumont has paired from the 7th instant
for the remedial*. of the wake for government with Mr.
Ala: iuder Baring (Matron% against.
RETIREMENT OF MR. WINE, M.P.—Yellterolay
Mr. Wise issued au address to the electors of Stafford,
auuouuciog his intention to retire, his health having been
for some tame so injured " by the labour; late hours, and
general habits of a istrlia•neutary
FOREIGN-OFFICE, MAY 9.—The Queen has been
gtaciously pkesed to appoint John Potherick, Esq., now
British vioe-cousul at Khartoum. to be her Majesty's consul
in the district of the &WIWI. —Unutte.