The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-04-14 00:00:00

have always supported the Smoke Committee in
their laudable efforts to purify our atmosphere
from the contamination caused by the dense

masses of unconsumed carbon, emitted from the

various chimneys in connection with public

works, steam vessels, &c.

The change which has been effected within a
limited period, and by the simplest of processes,
would appear incredible were it not that we have
the facts patent before our eyes. Only some
eighteen months ago Liverpool could claim pre-
eminence as being the smokiest town in England.
Many attempts had been made to suppress the

nuisance, but without effect, until the present
Committee commenced operations, the result of
which has proved most satisfactory to the public
at large, for the nuisance has long since virtually
ceased to exist, not only on land, but also
on the river ; and the atmosphere of
our town will, in this respect, contrast

favourably with any other large town in the

kingdom: And this once intolerable nuisance
has thus been effectually suppressed without
causing serious loss or injury to persons employ-

ing furnaces.
While in every other place where the act
has been put in force, manufacturers and

others have been put to serious expense and
inconvenience in having been compelled to use
patent furnaces of some kind, as a substitute for
the common furnace, here nothing of the kind
has been required—thanks to the exertions and
skill of the Committee, or, what is the same
thing, of their officers, not one manufacturer in a
hundred has been called upon to spend a single
shilling on alterations. We repeat that, for
having thus effectually and considerately sup-
pressedthe nuisance, the Committee are deserving
of our best thanks. But we must take exception
to the remarks of Mr. DOVER on the occasion in
question, as savouring of something like_ a desire
to persecute or to convert a penal statute into a
means of extorting money from a class who are
perhaps as important as any in the community.
When the Act first came into operation, it might
have been commendable to press for heavy
penalties, in order to convince the parties con-
cerned that the Committee were determined to
carry out its provisions stringently. This, how-
ever, cannot now be urged as a reason for finding
fault with the magistrates who may, in• their
judgments, impose such moderate penalties as
they think meets the justice of the case. The
Smoke Committee can have no desire to derive
a revenue out of the penalties inflicted on persons
said to transgress the law. Such a proceeding
would he exceedingly reprehensible ; it would
be something more, it would be positive injustice.
All will give the Chairman of the Committee
every credit for the excessive zeal he has dis-
played in the discharge of his duties ; but this
very zeal may tempt him to overstep the bounds
of discretion, and if such should be the case, the
Committee would become a greater nuisance than
; the smoke itself.
When the Committee have given orders to

their officers to prosecute certain parties, there
their duties end. It is for the magistrates to fix
the penalty ; and it is bad taste, indeed, for the
Committee to cavil at their decision, be it what
it may ; besides, it is well known that the per-
sons called upon to pay these heavy penalties,
are not themselves the actual offenders, every
furnace owner being entirely at the mercy of his
stoker or engineer, who may at any time commit
the offence without the knowledge of his em-
ployer. As the working man cannot possibly
pay 51. and costs, without entailing absolute
ruin on himself and family, it follows that the
master has to bear the loss. Were the fines
reduced, as we think in common fairness they
ought to be, then they might be made to fall on
the right shoulders; and we are glad to find that
the Justices are taking this view of the question.
Perhaps the Smoke Committee may desire to
make their establishment self supporting, for we
are at a loss otherwise to account for the com-
plaints of Mr. DOVER. For our own part, we
see no reason why the functions of this com-
mittee should not merge into those of the General
Health Committee. It never was originally in-
tended that the staff of the Committee should be
permanent, and a considerable saving might be
effected by a transfer of the Smoke Inspector to
Mr. FREsx's department, as was, we believe,
first contemplated. Be that as it may, we hope
we have said enough to deter the Committee for
the future from indulging in observations which
may cause their motives to be impugned.

AMONG the many topics to which the new
Parliament must devote immediate and special
attention, is our present monetary system. We
are glad to find that one of our representatives,
Mr. HORSFALL, has given the subject some con-
sideration, and that he feels the pressing neces-
sity which exists for a thorough and immediate
reform. In his speech on the hustings he said—
" There is no question that there is a general dis-
satisfaction with the bank charter. There can be
no question that it does not, under the act of
1844, meet the requirements of the country.
There can be no queation that it has disappointed
the expectations of its promoters. Well, gentle-
men, I know that that question has been well
considered here, for I have received a series of
resolutions adopted by your Chamber of Com-
merce, but that very Chamber also acknowledge
the difficulties which surround the question ; for
whilst they adopted resolutions, in .which I think
I may say I fully concur, they felt the necessity
of accompanying those resolutions with three
different draft reports, setting forth the reasons
which induced them to come to their conclusion.
Well, gentlemen, what has been the course pur
sued by the House of Commons ? Her Majesty's
Government have thought it right to refer that
subject to a select committee for the purpose of
taking evidence and of making a report, and
when that evidence and that report are brought
forward, it will be not less my duty than my
privilege to communicate with you, and to ask