The Express.
London, England, 1850-03-14 00:00:00

tiered in • self elected and ineeiresthiebry. that was
thud to be so great • grievant* by the atemmyersithat
priaciple of representatke se • chellijele Bea hifee
istrodurd by parliament (Helt) 4thent 'Th '11,21:01oadeilo,
teed 41 the poor rate, what wt' Site prioeiple die tree
Peer Ler Amendment Aor IV. 46 bet the
ef gum! by a body of guardians onentsfit *end by
Meer
instituters to Auk that gnat bruiehlif expedffitun
Therefore the multitude of the change did act alarm him.
Well, but it was said in referees to this measure that the
magistrates of England who entered this
p met were the great proprietors, and had thegreatest
interest in the expenditure, of the county rate, and that,
therefore, it was perfeetly safe to allow them to
regulate that expenditure, to which they them-
rives most largely contributed. without the cheek
of popular repreratadoe. That seemed to him te
M • very_ odd areenteat to us in the House of Cou
WM
(.Sr,H hear ) Why, se the very same ground they
might error the taxation of the whole country to the
Hour of Lied• without say interference from the nye*
✓otative. of the people. (Hear, beer.) The Hoses of
Lords consisted generally of the large landed proprietors at
the sunny. They, therefore, it might be said, bad as Wi-
✓er Is keeping down taxatioe, yet was it found neeemery to
have the check and control of this else ive assembly.
(Cheer) The boa patleran (Mr. Peeks) said that there
was • limit to this power oft taxation on the part of the
▪ He laid that the tax of runty rate was • matter
Mao great coos queen, that it was °sly aid. in the pound.
(Hear, hear.) Bat it was as. of *OW local burdens of
width they had lately heard so meek. (L-ad cheer.) It
was small now, hat h was very large • few nights ego.
—(theers and laughter)—when you wished to transfer it me
a local burden to the general taraatioa of the country. It
was a sum, however, of 1,200,0004 (Hear, hear.) The
hon, gentleman said that there were four heads of expendi-
ture, but these wen four important heeds of expos-
drat*, and if the magistrates decided on bend-
ing • bridge, which, although to them it might
seem to be necessary, might hot appear to he
se to the tenant, it would be bat little comfort to him to reed
the account of the expeneliture of his mouey in the county
newspaper. Immediately after the porno of the Rearm
Bill an act of Parliament was introduced, to the effect that
all public mosey st ould be voted in open court; sad the
operation of this check was found to be most salutary in the
county is which he had local experience. It was sew the
prudes to appoint a financial committee, who per
pared • report which was laid before the mouth;
'rambled in open court. That course had been
very much commanded, but he wee net sure
that it was not open to the objection of nano
enacting the g od effect of voting money in open cout
bonus • report so brought forward, ready out and dry, was
ndoptel without any or with very little discussion, and was
generally acquiesced in and adopted off-band. (Hear, heat)
His opinion was that more check, founded on popular eke*
tin, and consisting of rats payers, attic( with the magis-
trates, and on the magistrites, was now recenary, and
ought to be established. (Cheers.) He should not hesitate
foe one single foment to supp.rt the measure.
Mr. AGLION SY said he came down prepared to rapport
the principles of the bill, and the arguments of the right
hon. gentleman, whose experience and judgment were enti-
tled to the greatest respoot—(bear, hear)—csofirened him in
the view he tank of the subject. He crate' state that the
right hon. gentleman was most arida ras in attending to the
affairs of the county of Cumberland, and there wee no person
there who did not feel indebted to him for his assistance.
(Hear, bear.) There could be no doubt that a more
effectual control over the count! rata was necessary than
arty that existed at present. Therefore he did not thins
that &committee was necessary, and he expected no other
result from it then doubt, delay, and arsenate:non.
Mr. SPOONER said that he was deciledly in favour of
giving control to the rate payers, and the only question with
him was how that principle could hest be carried into
effect He would guise his honourable friend the
momb:r for Droitwich to withdraw his amendment. He
would a'so recommend his right hon. friend the member for
Manchester to withdnw his bill, sod to all ,w the subject to
go 'serene before • committee, not hypothetically whether
• better system than the present one could he de visor, but to
inquire wnich was the best mode of carrying the principle
into effect. (Hoar.)
Sir G. GREY said that when this measure was before the
hour a few weak. race his noble friend expressed his
iota. tion of crannies in the principle on wino!' it was
founded. Toe wined. he of the bill, as he understood it,
was to provide for the formation of county financial bonds
based
on the repreaentative principle. (Hear.) It was not.
as had bent stated by the hon. gnu man, to provide for the
transference of the duties and power now au reined by the ir-
responsible macistrates to • board of 10 or 12 elected gnat,
than, for half the board was to consist of magistrates and
half d elected guardians. He was ready to express his con,
current' in the principle of the hill, but he saw rest diffi-
culty in carrying that principle into effect by this b.II. But it
it was clearly understood that the principle was admitted t is
right hon. friend was willing to send the bill before • ecm•
mitre, in order that its details might be thoroughly sifted
and investigated. He (Sir G. Ore)) would support the bill ;
ad he hoped it weld Ibe tent before • 0011101ittt an-stain,
where full evidence could be gone into en its merits. (Bear.)
Sir R. PEEL said that he believed, from the in.
tegri y of the magistrate*, and the deep and anxious
attention paid by them to their maple:trial duties, that in
the individual exercise of that pow, r no persons could be
more carious than they were. Therefore he thooeht the
defect lay in the constitution of the body w .ictt they were
enabled. without any cheek, to exercise the power of tax.
iog. He believ.d it was on yesterday he (Sir R. Peel)
presented a petition (net a highly f, alumna' b.dy, who
wen likely to exercise a diepusionate judgment on the
merits of the present bill—he refervd to :he board of guar-
dians in his district, and with which be had the honour to
be connected. That petition was unanimouely signed by
the entire bleed, and it preyed that there might be a concur-
rent control with the magistrate 4 the ratepayers, secured
by the representative system. (Hear, h-ar.) He (Sir R.
Peel) had been further authorised to start that all the ma-
gistrates on the Mad ware unanimously of opinion, and
MIS anxious to have the authority and support of the rate-
Wbased on the representative system. (Hear' beer.)
virr,e be feared ti at if these opisions tenoned, and if in-
quiry should he refused—which he (S.r R. Peel) would no.
refuse, were he • magistrate—the magistracy would be
plated is an invidious position, and the performance
of their duties would become more lamer and difficult
(Hear, bear.) He was of opinion that the fullest considera-
tion thould he given to the matter. H. (Sir It. Peel) being
connect. I with the cowry of Lancaster, ebould stole in justice
to the magistrates of that county that a most Arkin thaws
sion was entertained in reference to them as regarded the
increase and expenditure of rate.. Upon the whole,
then, and with the full no currents, of his constituents, he
(Sir R. Peel) was inclined to support the second reading of
the bill in perineum t the amendment. (Hear, bear) He
did not wish to be nedentood as denying that the bill was
imper!ect; but he was desirous of emitting the principle
that there ought to be a reccgnition cf the right of rate-
payers to representation ; and such seem: d to be the ex-
pressed opinion of several hon. gentlemen who pre erica
him. (Hear, hear.) It was impossible to ask the house to
inquire whether the more effectual metro! over the county
rate could be r.oprad by admitting the right of rept rota-
tion to the ratepayers. It was impossible to ask that without
admitting the pricciple. If they v end for the second reading
of the bill, and admitted that the subject should be inquired
into, they recognised the principle adverated by the motion
of his hon. friend.
Mr. R. PALMER believed the bill at present before the
house was impracticable, and could no: be carried into
effect ; but he could assure net hour that the magistrates of
the county to which he belonged hat to &intim to the
principle of control by representation. On the whole, he
thought it useless to enter on a dis ussion of the bill.
Mr. HINDLEY said that as far as the propesitiou went,
that the ratepayer should have a certein control in the
levying and expenditure of rates, he believed there was no
difference of opinion. However, the house should Colltiddi
that the present bill was similar to t' at of last year, with a
few amendments. He believed the effect of the present
would be to supersede the authority of the magistrates in
nutters relating to rates of every kind, as sell as in visiting
prison., lunatic asylu Ma, and workhouses. He he lie Ted it would
have the effect of superseding them as ex officio guardians.
Should his h n. Mead think fit to prise his motion to • divi-
ai-n, he would moat certainly support it.
Sir G. S (RICHLAND felt certain then was • general

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