The Express.
London, England, 1850-03-06 00:00:00

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said he teght he could
satiety the house that it would be a waste of time to allow
the hill to he laid en tie table. Moreover, the members of
her Maleity's government had reams to complain of the
muses adopted loy the hon. gentleman who sought to introduce
the wawa The hon. gentleman admitted that his object
heretofore bad boon to remove the fines within the city of
London, and for that purpose he submitted a bill to the right
has. speaker; but finding from his opiates that the bill was
a private one, and that new notice should be given in order
that the oorpsestion of London, wham interests were cer-
tain to be affected by it, might be nude aware, the ho..
gentleman renewed his motion and embraced within it other
cities and towns in England and Wales, with a view to the
wholesale confiscation of their corporate fonds. I Laughter,
and hear, bear.") The hon. gentleman assigned as a reinon
that the municipal constituency of London decreased in pro-
portion aethe parliamentary oonstitnenq' increased ; whereas
the fact was, that in Liverpool and other places the
municipal franchise bad increased to proportion to the par•
liamentary. But this remedy for the city of London was
simple, and might be effected hra short bill to be laid before
that home. Maar, hear.) What was to prevent the cor-
poration of the city of London bringing in a municipal
reform bill if they saw the necessity *Rh ? But surely it was
no reason for the abolition if municipal fines, ;because the
municipal constituency did not keep pace with the parlia.
mentary. (Hear.) The motion of the honlurible
gentlemen went directly to touch the property
of the corporations of England and Wales: and he (tree
Atiorney•General) wished to know what right the hon.
gentleman had to interfere to such an extent without the
consent of these corporations, and without even having made
application to a single member of the London corporation to
inform him of his intention to endeavour to abolish these

...v.--
fines The hon. gentleman said hie bill would merely
affect fines and stamps; but if he prop, sad to abs.
lish the creation of freemen by purchase he TIRO
taking a strong measure wherewith to altar the
entire constitution of the corporation of the City of London,
without even the justification of an application on their part.
(Hear, hear.) The hon. gentleman bad else stated that the
question did not involve more than about 6001. a year, which
was a mistake, se the amount would teach buween 2,4001.
and 3.0001, no inconsiderable sum. There was no comp.aint
on the put of the citirin as regarded the corporation ; and
therefore, he thought the corporation =mull be left to effect
such change as they deemed improvements, particularly
when they ponened the power within themselves to do so.
He should therefore oppose the Introduction of the bill.
(Hear, hear.)
Mr. FORSTER considered there should be a thorough and
searching reform in all corporations. The hon, and learned
Attorney-General asked why not leave these reforms to the
corporation itself t Now he (Mr. Forster) was certain that
the hon. and learned gentleman was the last man that ex-
pected they would ever do so. (Laughter.)
Colonel BIBTHORP supported the bill, and expressed his
opinion that they never could obtain an inquiry into the City of
London municipal body, as long es it was represented in that
house by a prime minister, who sat on the treasury bench.
(Laughter.)
Mr HUME confined that he wished to see the citi-
zens of London placed on a footing =miler to that enjoyed
by the inhabitants of ether corporate localities. (Hear,
hear.)
Sir B. HALL clearly recollected when the reform bill,
from which the City of London was excluded, passed that
house ; and on that occasion the g,vernment promised
they would, without delay, introduce a measure for
the reform of the City of London corporation. He was glad
the present motion had been made by the hon. alderman, as
it would have the effect of rousing public attention. (Hear,
hear.)

- ,
Mr. Alderman SIDNEY replied. The corporation as a
body was anxious for retorts, consistent with the privileges
they enjoyed. The bon. and learred AtturneyHeaeral
stated that the present measure would interfere with the
legitimate powers enjoyed by corporations; but if these
gentlemen inflicted fines not consistent with justice, was not
that house the tribunal to stop in and rectify such ? (Hear,
hear.) He did not seek by that bill to invalidate the property
of corporations in England and Wales, be only asked to be
allowed to introduce the bill that and unjust burdens
might be removed. (Hear, hear) However, as certain re-
turns Witt yet to he laid on the table, he would not hesitate
to withdraw the bill, promising that he should again seek to
introduce it after these returns had been laid before the
house.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL stated his determination
to object in the strongest manner to such a tonne. (User,
hear.)
Mr. Alderman SIDNEY would not withdraw the bill.
Mr. REYNOLDS considered it an anomaly, that, in the
City of London, rated to the maintenance of the poor ►t
over a million of year, ratepayers should be without a vote
for municipal representatives. (lieu.)
The motion was then negatived without a division.