The Express.
London, England, 1868-08-04 00:00:00

MRTROPOLITAN CADS AND RAILWAY&

The rapidly inereeetag extension of our metro•
polit an zailwey system is evideatly beginning to se-
riouely affect I ho pecuniary intercede of the London
cab-trede. A few years since, when omnibuses and
cabs formed almost the only means of conveyance
between the city and the suburbs, and when rail-
way passengers from the provinces found their
joarne), suddenly terminated at Paddington, Nine-
elms, or some other station equally inconveniently
distant from the heart of the metropolis, the
London cab-drivers had a busy time of it.
There was a perpetual stream of cab-traffic pour-
ing to and •fro between the various railway
termini, the city, and the suburbs. " Long fame '
were plentiful, and the profits of cab-drivers
and proprietors rose proportionately. The
demand for cabs was continually on the
increase, and with it came a continual develop-
ment of the much denounced "privilege" system,
whereby certain cabs, on payment of a fixed
annual sum, are permitted, under given regula-
tions, to ply for hire within the various railway
stations. This custom is said to have originated
with the Great Western Railway Company, who,
on the completion of their line to Paddington,
undertook to ensure a proper supply of cab aocom-
modation for such of their passengers as might
require the same. It, however, frequently oc-
mined that the number of privileged oohs at the
:vitriol'," stations was considerably short of the
demand ; in which case the service; of the diffe-
rent vehicles plying for hire outside the station
Were speedily brought into requisition. The pos-
sibility of such a contingency was always sufficient
to ensure a goodly muster of non-privileged cabs
outside the stations on the arrival at any important
train. These were the halcyon days of the metro-
politan cab trade.
But a change was silently impending. With
the development of the suburban traffic enjoyed
by the North London, Metropolitan, and
minor railways, their extension into the City, and
their increasing connexion with the London
termini of the Great Northern, Great Western,
Midland, and other leading lines, the more profit-
able portion of the cab-driver's business gradually
began to diminish. Long fares became the ex-
. oeption, and short fares the rule. This loos of
remunerative custom was considerably increased
by the.growing competition of the omnibuses, the
proprietors of which were also suffering from the-
increase of metropolitan railway accommodation.
New omnibus routes were continually being
opened into neighbourhoods where previously cabs
had long enjoyed the monopoly of public con-
veyance. At the same time there was t general
lowering of omnibus fares. On the o of
the Metropolitan Railway, between r-street
and St. John's-wood, nearly one half the omni-
buses plying to and from the Swim Cottage were
removed to other routes. Simultaneously with this
the cab-drivers in the neighbourhood of the new
stations experienced it considerable diminution of
business. People would not pay a shilling or
eighteen pence for a cab ride when the journey-
could be performed more comfortably and speedily
for less than half those sums. In this is to be
found the real secret of the present unsatisfactory
condition of the cab trade. No wonder that the
amount of competition among the cab-drivers is
daily becoming more strong. They are suffering
from decreased custom and increased competition.
Long fares have almost become a thing of the
poet. They have now each-to put up with a few
short farce, not infrequently finding themselves
out of pocket after all actual expenses have been
paid. Hence the growing resentment entertained
by the cabmen towards the railways. They argue,
that inasmuch as the railways have withdrawn so
large a portion of custom from the cabs, it is only
fair that they, the tale, should -butte- bee access to -
the railway stations.
To effect this object, a strike against the various
railway companies is seriously contemplated. En-
couraged by the leaders of the recently-formed
" Metropolitan Licensed Cab-drivers' Association,"
a very considerable proportion of the cab-driving
community have undertaken, after a day yet to be
named, not to ply at any railway station, or at
any rank in the neighbourhood of a station.. It is
difficult to perceive how this determination can
seriously affect the interest of the railway com-
panies, unless the privileged cabs join m the
movement, and of this there is little sign. If the
non-privileged cab-drivers refuse, when required,
to convey passengers to the railway stations, they
will find their licenses endangered • if they absent
themselves from the neighbourhood of the sta-
tions, they will occasion an increase in the
number of privileged cabs. In either case, they
are likely to defeat their cherished purpose without
gaining any equivalent. Nor would it be prudent
to rely on the support of the railwa -travelling
public. These latter cannot be ex . "to approve
of a movement entailing considers .le inconvenience
and lose of time on themselves. Besides, the cab-
community are less unanimous on this; question
than was the case during the famous " No Lamps"
agitation. Many of them appear instinctively to
feel that the probabilities of defeat are greater
than those of success. Moreover, it is by no means
certain that the pecuniary value of the object de-
sired is worth the cost of the struggle requisite to
achieve it. The cab accommodation now afforded
at each of the metropolitan stations is amply suffi-
cient for all ordinary requirements, and there is
little room for further enlargement. The example
of the Waterloo station,where the free cab system
is adopted, certainly does not afford much evidence
in favour of the contemplated strike. In some re-
spects the Waterloo station system will not bear com-
parison—so far as the safety and convenience of the
public are concerned—with that in foroe elsewhere.
The truth is, the cab proprietors and drivers
have wholly mistaken the character of the
which has overtaken their trade. Whetant
omnibuses found their custom departing they at
once lowered their fares, and m up by nume-
rous small fares the amount which they had pre-
viously obtained by means of a comparatively few
high fares. But cab fares cannot be profitably
reduced at present in consequence of the heavy
duties and numerous restrictions to which they are
exposed. It has been very correctly pointed out
by an intelligent cab proprietor that the number
of licensed cabs in the metropolis is 5,877 ; and
that, allowing 501. as the average value of a cab
and two horses—an estimate certainly not over the
mark—the aggregate worth of this cab property
may be assumed at 293,850/. This property is
subject to an annual duty of 100,0001., or more
than one-third of the capital represented. Now it
is the existence of this preposterous amount
of taxation which really bee at the root
of the cab difficulty. With heavily taxed
corn we had dear bread and limited con-
sumption. With excessively taxed cabs we have
an undue proportion of bad vehicles, and enhanced
cost of conveyance. It is not by striking against
the railways that the cab trade will improve its
condition. The true way to effect this is by pro-
curing a diminution of cab taxation ; also by a
better system of police regulations, and an in-
crease of standing room for vehicles, so ae to ob-
viate the necessity which at present compels more
than half the metropolitan cabs to be ceaselessly
crawling about the streets in search of fetes. With
better cabs, lower fares, and increased accommoda-
tion for the public, ample and. profitable employ-
ment would be speedily secured for the whole cab-
driving community. Cabs would become a greater
necessity than ever, and their drivers would find,
in the rapid increase of small fares, employment
more eonstant and remunerative than is possible
under the existing system.

BRISAILIANT.—EPPB'S Cooo.4.—PreparedohinaiM iat
sod homeopathie , the
in sad 101eld14agragib ma
il with awl
tin %W

ELECTION INTJULIUINCE.

BRADFORD.— A meeting of the friends of Mr.
W. E. .Forster, M.P., and Mr. Miall was held yes-
terday for the purpose of appointing a joint elec-
tion committee. Mr. Forster expresbed a hope and
belief that there would be no contest, and en-
joined the friends of himself and Mr. Miall to adopt
conciliatory efforts to unite the whole liberal party, and
reminded those liberal friends who had hitherto supported
Mr. Moulton of the great responsibility involved at this
juactwe in creating a division. Mr. Mull also addressed
the meeting, and in the course of his remarks took oc-
casion to defend Mr. Forster from the " imputation" of
holding seine of his own "extreme views," and justified
the cows the honourable gentleman deemed it proper as
a statesman to take with respect to some questions on
which he (Mr. Mien) held decided opinions. Thanks were
presented to the asuman, and the meeting separated.

BODMIN.—This borough, which is re-presented
by the Hon. E. F. L. abwer and Mr. James Wyld, loess
one teat by the Reform AM. Mr. Gower offers himself
for re-election.

BOSTON.—Mr. T. Parry will again offer himself
aa a candidate in the liberal interest. It is proposed to
start a second liberal candidate, but no positive arrange-
ments have yet been made.

DIVOMPORT.—Mr. Montagu Chambers, Q.C.,
and Mr. Lewis, of Membland, near Ivybridge, are the
liberal candidatee against Masers. Farrand and Fleming,
conservatives.

LISKEARD. Sir Arthur Buller, the liberal
sitting manlier. has issued an address soliciting re-
election.
__ _

LAUNCSATON.—Mr. Henry Lopes, recorder of
Exeter, is the sitting member. The hon. and learned
gentleman, who is a conservative, will probably be re-
elected without opposition.
SmeorD.—The issue of Mr. Horsman's address
hes led to the setting in of electioneering in earnest. Mr.
H. 8. P. Winterbotham, one of the present members, and
Mr. T. 8. Dickinson, of Brown hill, have both issued
addresses as liberal candidates. A meeting of working
men has been held at Horeley, one of the borough
parishes, at which a resolution adopting Messrs. Winter-
hoes= and Dickinson was carried unanimously. The
two latter gentlemen, who are working with a joint com-
mittee, have announced a long series of public meetings.
tiLusoßn.—Mr. Cheethsm's address, soliciting
re-election, is published. The overseers of Hord have
placed on the borough parliameutaiy register 9,743 males
and 1,208 females for the township of Salford alone, ir-
respective of the other (minor) townships within the
borough. •
TOWER HAMLETS.—The address of Mr. Bealee
to the eleetortileas issued yesterday.
WEST RIDLNO.—A largely attended meeting
of conservatives was held at Leeds yesterday, to
select candidates for the Eastern and Southern divi•
140111 of the West Riding. Mr. C. B. Denison, who
unsuccessfully contested the Southern division In 1965,
and Mr. Joshes Fielding, of Tedisiorden, were accepted as
candidates for the representation of the Eastern division,
and Mr. W. S. Stanhope, who also was unsumeesf* in
1963, and Mr. L. R. Starkey, of Huddersfield, were
adopted as candidates for the South-west Riding. All
four gentlemen were present, and agreed to carry on the
contest.

The annual meeting Of the British Medical
Association will 00111111101611 at Oxford to-day, and from
the number of visitors who have already arrived, there
is no doubt that it win-bwof the most sitaxesful cha-
racter.

The Rev. J. Alexander, one of the oldest non-
oonformist ministers in England, died on Friday morning
at Norwich. He had bean esionalted with the oongrega-
tionalists for 50years.
The let regiment of Life Guards, which for the
last month has been quartered at Aldershot camp, left
yesterday for Windsor where the troopers will occupy the
Spital cavalry barman The Ist battalion Coldstream
Guards, commanded by Colonel Dudley Carleton, will
leave the Sheet-street infantry barracks on the 12th inst.
for the new Chelsea barracks. The regiment will march
by road to Hounslow Heath, encamp for the night, and
march to the metropolis next morning. The 2no battalion
Coldstream Guards relieves the lst battalion at Windsor.

LORD NAPIER OF MAGDALA.—Lord Napier is
about to visit Wales. The date ts finally fixed for Satur-
day neat, and great preparations are going on in Welsh-
pool and its locality. At a town meeting at Wehhpool
the mayor announced that he had that day received a
nonnininioation *ma fiord Napier,
_through Scott,
acolipftnit the invitation Me perm dinner, and annum
Saturday, the Bth, and Monday, the 10th instant, as the
moat convenient days. After discamion, it was unani-
mously decided that the reception and demonstration
should take place on the first-named day, and a com-
mittee, with the mayor as chairman, was appointed to
carry out the details. The distinguished guest 111 expected
to arrive via Birmingham and Shrewsbury on Friday
afternoon, and will be received at Weishpool Railway-
dation by the mayor and members of the corporation, and
a congratulatory address will be presented to Lord and
Lady Napier. A rorNge will be formed to escort the party
to 75relydan Hall, the residence of General Scott, Lady
Napier's father, where a party of guests have been
invited for the week. A public dinner will be held in the
town-hall in the evening, at which Earl Powis is expected
t°
MdItEVIBINO BARRISTERS ON T/1E HOME ClR-
curr.—Baron Martin, the senior judge on the Home Cir.
cult, has appointed the full number of fifteen revising bar-
risters for the Home Circuit district. The following is the
list :—For Hertfordshire, Mr. Chas. Clark and Mr. Henry
Williams; for Easel, N.E., Mr. Samuel C. C. Fish; for
Essex, N.W., Mr. D. H. Blaine; for Ewen, South, Mr. A.
M. Channel]; for Kent, East, Mr. J. D. Chambers;
for Kent, Mid., Mr. Charles Wotherrpoon ; for Kent,
West, with Maidstone, Mr. W. M. Best; for G. eenwicli
and Gravesend boroughs, Mr. Hugh Cowie; for Surma,
East, Mr. George Francis; for Sussex, West, Mr. Charles
Hance; for -Brighton borough, Mr. D. G. Mac.
leod ; for Surrey, East, Mr. John Hurrell ; for
Surrey, West, Mr. P. H. Le Breton ; and for
Surrey, Mid., with Guildford, Mr. Joseph Phillips.
These gentlemen are members of the Home Circuit, with
the exception of Mr. J. D. Chambers, who practised at
the Chancery bar, and was originally appointed by the
late Lord Milner. Mr. John Deeded) resigned his claim
for reappointment, and the vacancy thus created, with
the additional number of barristers to be appointed under
the new act, gave Baron Martin the patronage of seven
new appointments, viz., Mesas. Williams, Channel,
Wotherspoon, Cowie, Francis, Macleod, and Phillips,
who have been mainly selected from the younger mem-
bers of the junior bar. One gentleman only attained
the requisite qualification of three years' standing at the
bar one month prior to the commencement of the present
circuit. The fee to each rreevvwianngg barrister is 200 guineas.
The revision must be. completed between September 14
and October 8 inclusive. For England and Wales the
maximum number of appointments which maybe made is
and with that number the total fees for revision would
be %,400/.
PARTlaitsurrPe OF INDIISTRY.—The next of the
conferences) promoted by the Working Men's Club and
Institute Limon, on social questions, takes place on
Thursday evening. Tlw subject for discussion is, "Part-
ner/tips of Industry: Is there evidence that a system of
division of profits, between masters and workmen, in •
trading concern, may be maintained so as to conduce to
the welfare alike of workmen and capitalists Y"

LownsoN AND SOUTH WESTEHH Itsu.wAY.—The
directors of this company have resolved to recommend to
the proprietors at the half-yearly general meeting on the
13th instant, that the dividend for the half-year ending
June 30, 1868, should be at the rate of 4 per cent.
per annum on the ordinary capital stock of the own-
pany, carrying forward a balance of 11,1081.

- - - -
" MARTIN v. laiscaoNocum."—This appeal will
appear in the next list of the Judicial Com= The
defeadant has not appealed, and the only questions to be
raised wel be on lighted candles, and the mats of the snit
in the Arches Court.

Locer Acrs.—There were 183 local acts of
parliainest in the last session, against 209 in the preced-
ing. The total acts were 313, against 366 in the previous
year.
Crmors DI6COVEItY.—" In the Cluny Museum,"
says the Bduloia, "may be seen three copper plates, worn
out and marked all ever with indaetetsons, whit& have
been taken from the graves of the French Sines at St.
Denis. On the first are the words: 'Here lies the body
of Louise-Elisabeth of France, daughter of Louis XV.'
On the second :—‘ Beneath is the body of Marie-Adelaide
of /limey, wife of Louis Dauphin, mother of Leine XV.'
Ind on the third :—'Here lies the body of Louis XIV.,
by the grace of God Xing of France and of Navarre,
*lto aibl at his palace of Versailles on the let of S.
timber, 1716.' But where have these plates been dis-
covered f In the shop of a petty dealer, and they still
bear the marks of the nail-holes which bound them toge-
ther as a saucepan."
EOLITH Kassuscrron Mussun.—Tusitors during
the week ending let August t—On Monday,
and Saturday, free, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., 17InsSe.idivd;
an (Woodsy Thursday, and Friday (admission 6clianifron
I 0 a.m. till '6
p.m., 2,671. National Portrait
by i aysemt, 1,436. Total, 21,061. Average of oona-
apend
week in former yeas, 11,408. Ted Ira tket
epeihjelf the museum, 7;601;820. '
Hernitnan's tea is sold Bd. per pound cheaper se
th duty is reduced. This intermstiss fiat will, wham MO
es m further tnereme tin &mead for these choke row Horst.
=Wm are sot meld Meek bet only 1n dulmsisasdHoalaea
LA Co., ferighlal Unmoral st Ow ears iss."assanswasat.l

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