The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-04 00:00:00

RAILWAY COMPANIES.

Lord STANLEY moved that so much of the standing
order 142 as prohibited railway companies owning or using
steam vessels, harbours, and docks be repealed. lie pro •
posed that these qu9stions should be referred to a committee
upstairs, and he believed that the order as it now
stood would not be beneficial to the public interests. That
order was made under circumstances totally different to the
present, and he denied that the effect of the alteration which
he proposed would give, as was contended, a monopoly to
the railway companies. He could not see how it concerned
Parliament or the public whether vessels or dock should be
held by railway companies or any other bodies so long as
traffic was facilitated.

Mr. BARROW asked the house to pause before consent-
ing to this alteration. He was very anxious for this stand-
ing order being agreed to some years ago, in order to
prevent a monopoly on the part of railway companies,
which he thought was a subject in which the house should
justly interfere. He strongly objected also to railway
companies having such extensive powers as this order was
intended to limit, without any reference to Parliament.
Mr. CLAY objected to the motion of the noble lord, and
denied that this order prohibited railway proprietors be-
coming shipowners, but merely imposed on them the onus
of showing the necessity of what they desired as a matter
of public convenience. He considered that the repeal
of this order would go further than it proposed, as it would
convey an intimation to railway companies that the powers
which they sought would be granted wherever they
were required, instead of throwing on them the
necessity of shoving that such powers would
be exercised for the public interest. He defied any one who
had read the evidence before the committee to come logically
to the conclusion that by giving railway companies these
extensive powers the interests of the public would be pro-
moted.

Mr. HODSON said that if he thought the repeal of this
order would have the effect of injuring the shipping inte•
rest, he would not advocate it, but he contended that
such would not be the result. He considered, however,
that in regard to the purchase of shipping, or any other
property, the shareholders of railways should have the
right of restricting their directors in making purchases of
such property. Under all the circumstances he felt bound
to support the motion of the noble lord.
Sir H. CAI IiNS was opposed to the alteration proposed,
and cited the evidence adduced before thecommittee to show
that the effect of the standing order being repealed would
be to drive steamship owners out of the field altogether, and,
therefore, virtually create a monopoly Which
would not
conduce to the benefit of the public.
Mr. M. GIBSON said the case was simply that com-
plaints had been made to Parliament which led to
the appointment of a committee, which, after delibera-
tion, recommended the adoption of the course
which the noble lord (Stanley) now advocated. It
was asserted by the complainants that the declared policy
of the house was different to its practice. Since 1848 the
practice of Parliament had been to grant powers to public
companies—
An HON. MEMBER—Sometimes to refuse them.
Mr. M. GlBSON—Sometimes to refuse them. (A
laugh.) What the noble lord (Stanley) asked was merely
to repeal an order that was calculated to mislead the coun-
try.
After
some discussion, the motion was negatived without
a division.

ILLTREATMENT OF MISSIONARIES IN
ABYSSINIA.

Mr. H. SEYMOUR asked tho Under Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs what information her Majesty's Govern.-
ment had received relatin g to the ill-treatment of missionaries
in Abyssinia, and the imprisonment of her Majesty's con_
and there by King Theodorus ; and what steps her Majesty's
Government had taken in consequence.
Mr. LAYARD said, that efforts were being made to
effect the liberation of the Consul, and the other matter had
received the attention of the Government.

GREENWICH HOSPITAL.
On the order for going into committee of supply,
Sir 3. HAN moved a resolution to the effect that it was
desirable that the Admiralty should adopt the recommen-
dations of the Royal Commission of 1860, confirmed by the
report of Sir Richard Bromley, one of the present commis•
sionera, ani by the letter of ekirairal Sir James Gordon, the
governor of Greenwich Hospital, that the present system of
double government be abolished, as a remedy for the abuses
which hal arisen ur.der that syeecna.
The motion was seconded by Mr LIDDELL, who com-
plained of the Government for neglecting to carry out the
recommendations of the commieaioners. He could never
understand how it was that the hospital had not been go-
verned at Greenwich, and he believed the abolition of the
double government would bring the affairs of the institution
into harmonious working, and effect a considerable saving
of expenditure.
Me ADAM Eupported the motion, and urged that to make
Greenwich Hospital what it ought to be, it was necessary
not only that the double government should cease, bat that
the institution should assume the character of an infirmary
as well as an ftsylum.

Mr CHILDERS, whilst can ioning the house not to act
with precipitation, admitted that a stringent men Pure of
reform was necessary, as the expense of management was
far too high, but every attention was paid to the comfort of
the pensioners. It 14-&4 now intended by the Government to
propose to limit admissions to the hospital to thoee who
were incapable, in consequence of age or infirmity, of main-
taining themselves outside its walls. Thus the institution