The Sun.
London, England, 1855-07-03 00:00:00

Lord EBRINGTON then withdrew his amendment

Sir B. HALL brought up a clause for compensation
to persons holding any office which by the passing of
this bill should be abolished. The person so deprived of
his office shall apply for compensation at the district
board, and they, under the powers of the Palace Act of
1849, shall take such application into consideration, and
decide whether the compensaticn shall be by an
annuity or the payment of a fixed sum. Any per-
son feeling himself aggrieved by such decision to Savo
an appeal to the metropolitan board of works, whose de-
cision shall be final. If an annuity be granted, and the
person so receiving it be appointed to another office of
equal or greater value, such annuity shall cease ; and if

the salary be of less amount the compensation shall be
reduced the amount of his income from his new office.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE Said he did not consider the
clause went far enough. There Nvcre perßons holding
relations in connection with others affected by the act,
who would not be removed from office, although their
incomes would be diminished, and he wished to know
how they were to be comtrensated.
Sir B. HALL admitted the difficulty of the case, and
promised to direct his, attention to the circumstances,
and consult further with the hon. member for Lambeth,
before the clause again came before the house. He
thought it might be got over hy introducing the worth
" wholly or inyert " shall have lost his situation.

LordEBRINGTON was --delig'cted to find the hon.
baronet, the President of the Eoard .of Health, had re-
.
cognised the principle of compensation. Cases of corn-
peneation should be decided in•as judicial and impartial
a manner, and the tribunal as much removed from per-
sonal contact with the persons _so affected as possible.
He' thOught it' would' be better to p!ace the power of
determining the amount of compensation in .the Metro,
politan Board of WI:111B, and the appeal from that body
to the Treasury. - • • • - •

Lord SEY .Afamt, in_order to insure a uniformity of
allowance, suggested that before the
.compensation Wll3
granted it should be.forwarded to the central board, and
their sai.etsiart obtaired. _ -

Sir B. LIALL concurred in the suggestion of the
noble lord, and promised to alter the clau3e so as to pro-
vide for that-uniformity of principle in granting compen-
sation so necessary.

Sir W. CLAY thought the right of appeal ought to
be given to the vestry as 'well as the person claiming
compensation, so as to protect the vestry against too
large an amount of compensation being granted.
Sir F. BARING said he thought tie naming of a
proper Court of Appeal a very important question. It
should be as independent a tribunal as possible ; be knew
none more fitting for the discharge of the duty than the
Treasury.

Mr. 'WILLIAMS was in favour of the Treasury being
appointed a Court of Appeal.
Sir B. HALL could not but consider it rather singu-
lar that the metropolitan members should be so anxious
to take the right of granting compensation out of the
hands of those to whom great powers would be given
by this bill. He considered the commissioners who
would be the guardians of the ratepayers the best per-
sons to grant this compensation rather than
leave it to the Treasury, who might grant larger sums
than were necessary. If the house wished it to be place I
in-the hands of the Lords of the Treasury he would alter
the clause accordingly.

After a few remarks from Sir J. WILLOUGHBY and Mr.
WILKINSON, the clause was aided to the'bill.

CROSSING SWEEPERS.

Sir J. SHELLEY said that at the request of several
vestries he moved a clause to the effect that the various
district boards should have the power of appointing the
industrious poor, to the crossings to keep them clean.
The plan had been tried and found successful in Gros-
venor-place district, where the persons were distin-
guished by a badge.
Mr. WILKINSON asked if provision had been made
for compen.satiog the present crossing sweepers ?
(Lao gh' er.)
Sir J. SHELLEY said they all knew the way in
which crossings were at present swept, and the conduct
of the persons stationed at them, to prevent which, and
improve the former, was the reason why he brought for-
ward this clause.

The clause, after some amendmeht, was agreed to.
. _

Mr. MASTERMAN moved as an amendment a
clause permitting the city of London to construct the
sewers through the city.

Sir B. HAIL opposed it on the ground that it would
be an act of injustice. The real object the City had in
view in making this proposition was to be relieved of its
just share of, taxation in carrying out the works contem-
plated by this bill.

Mr. C-ÜBITT was of opinion this was not an unrea-
sonable request on the part of the city of London to be
permitted to construct their own sewers. From the
great stiff a surveyors, atd other appliances they pos-
sessed for carrying out such a work no difficulties could
arise.

Mr. TvIASTERMAN disclaimed any intention on the
part of the city of London to shrink from bearing their
share of the expense attending the carrying out of,the
provisions of this bill.
Mr. A. PELLATT supported the amendment.
The amendment, was ultimately negatived without a
division.

On the motion of Mr. B. BARING, that the Metropo-

litan Board should be reduced from its present number,
42 members, and that they be pasid the same as railway
boards,
Sir B. HALL said that when they found that the
duties to be discharged by this board were greater than
Wag ever contemplated by the till, be did not believe
the house would say the numbers were too large. They
would form. a court of appeal from all other boards,
make bye-laws for those local boards, leave the general
supervision of them, and the drainage of the metropolis,
the supervision of the main sewers, and to see that the
intercepting sewers prevented the flow of the sewage into
the Thames, which would embrace an outlay of from
three to five millions sterling ; and the improvement of
the metropolis in roads, thoroughfares, and squares, sub-
ject to the Chief Commissioners of Works when the
estimate exceeded 30,0001., and Parliament when it
exeeeded 100,0001.

The committee then divided, when the numbers were
For the amendment 1
Against B2 —Bl
The amendment was accordingly lost amidst loud
laughter.
Sir W. CLAY then submitted a proposition to the
effect that the Poplar district should have a separate
board—in fact, that it should be included in schedule A.
Sir B. HALL resisted the motion on the ground that
there were other parishes larger in area, and containing
a larger population, in the metropolis,•which had not a
district board.
After a few words from Lord R. GROSVENOR, in fa-
vour of the motion,
The committee divided, when the numbers were :--
For the motion
Against it - 59
Majority against —39
The motion was consequently lost.
Schedules A, D, F, were afterwards ordered to stand
part of the bill.
Sir B. HALL said as the bill was about to be re-
ported he felt it to be his duty to thank the house for
the forbearance it had shown, as well as the assistance it
had given during the progress of the measure.
The bill was then reported, and the house resumed.
PASSENGERS' ACT AMENDMENT BILL.
The house afterwards went into committee on this bill.
The preamble was postponed, but clauses 1 to 14 were
agreed to without opposition, and the house adjourned
at ten minutes to four o'clock until six.

The SPEAKER took the chair at aix o'clock.
OPENING OF THE CRYSTAL PALACE ON
SUNDAY.

Sir J. V. SHELLEY gave notice that, early next
sersion, be should bring in a bill to legalise the opening
of the Crystal Palace on Sunday. (Hear.)

THE DECORATION OF THE BATH.

Admiral WALCOTT asked the First Lord of the Trea-
sury whether it was intended to recommend the issue
of the existing decorations of the Bath, without refer-
ence to the projected order of merit, contemporaneously,
with the eminent services which deserved them, espe-
cially at a time when gallant officers, some, indeed,
already formally recommended for distinction, were in
hourly exposure tu loss of life ; and, therefore, in the
case of death, whether it would not be pruper to date
back the Gazette which rewards the survivors, in order
to include the names of the fallen, as a national
acknowledgment of the merit of these who died nobly
for their country, and a sacred heirloom of their fa-
milies. (Hear.)

If‘rd PALMERSTON said that the Order of the
Bath would be issued without reference to the Order of
Merit ; and with regard to those officers who had been
recommended to receive the order, but who had been pre-
vented by death from receiving the honour, their names
would be published in due course, in order that the pub-
lication might grace their memory. (Hear.)
THE HYDE-PARK DEMONSTRATION.

In reply to Mr. ROEBUCK, who called the
attention of the Home Secretary to the fact that the pri-
soners who bad been apprehended in connection with
this affair had been confined in prison for some time
before being brought up for examination.
Sir G. GREY said an inquiry should be instituted
into the matter, but it was thought desirable, as the
prisoners were to be defended by counsel, that the
Crown should be represented in a similar manner.
DEATFI OF LORD RAGLAN.—THE QUEEN'S