The Sun.
London, England, 1852-11-20 00:00:00

[PRICE SD.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.-(YESTERDAY.)

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at 5 o'clock.

The Marquis of CLANRICARDE gave notice that
he would put a question to the noble lord at the head of
the Government, on Monday night, with respect to the
public business to be introduced into this house before
the adjournment.
'THE SANITARY CONFERENCE.

•
The Earl of ST. GERMANS rose, according to
notice, to put a question to her Majesty's Government
touching
the report and proceedings of the late Sanitary
Conference in Paris, for a copy of which he had
moved in the course of the last session, but
which had not yet appeared. There was an impres-
sion abroad that persons interested in the maintenance
of the quarantine system, had prevailed upon her Ma-
jesty's present Ministers to recede from the position oc-
cupied by their predecessors with respect to the question,
and, instead of heading the onward._ movement, to fall
back upon the old restrictive regulations. He also
wished to ask whether Any letter had -been addressed, by
order of the -Privy Council, to the Commissioners of
Customs, directing that certain quarantine regulations
be enforced in the case of all ships coming from countries
in which cholera prevails ? He also wished to know
whether there was any foundation for the report which had
appeared in the public papers of to-day, with respect to
the West India mail-packet having arrived with several
cases of yellow *fever on board, and having been put in
quarantine ? He would wish to inquire, still farther,
what accommodation had been provided for the recep-
tion of the unfortunate passengers, and whether, gene-
rally, medical attendance was provided for persons put
in quarantine ?
The Earl of MALMESBURY said he was sorry that
as negotiations were pending, to conclude a convention
respecting quarantine regulations, he could not yet lay
on the table the papers which the noble lord had asked.
for. Spain and Austria had as yet refused to sign a con-
vention, but he believed that Russia, France, Portugal,
and Sardinia were ready to co-operate with her Ma-
jesty's Government for this purpose.
The Earl of LONSDALE answered the second question
of the noble lord. It had come to the knowledge of her
Majesty's Government that the cholera had broken out
with much malignancy at Dantzic, and it was thought
necessary to give directions that quarantine regulation
should be carried out with respect to ships arriving from
that quarter. With respect to the case of the West
India mail packet, the information alluded to had only-
reaChed her Majesty's Government that morning by tele-
graph, and he (the noble earl) had thought it best to die.
patch orders for the release of the passengers, and that
medical attendance at once be dispatched to the sick
persons.

- Lord STANLEY (of Alderley) said, he thought it
was scarcely to be expected that her Majesty's Govern-
ment could conclude a convention with respect to the
abolition of the quarantine with foreign governments
when they were enforcing quarantine regulations at
home with more stringency than ever.
The Earl of ISIALMESBITRY, on the part of her
Majesty's Government, repudiated any idea of obtaining
the total abolition of quarantine.
After a few words from Lord WIIARNCLIFFE, who
also thought it a preposterous thing for her Majesty's
Government to expect to negotiate a modification of
quarantine regulations when their officers at home had
put a whole shipfull os passengers in quarantine for two
cases of yellow fever, in the• month of November.
The subject dropped.
RAILWAY LEGISLATION.

Lord REDESDALE wished to ask his noble friend
the Vice-President of the Board of Trade, whether he in-
tended to bring in any bill for the regulation of railways.
He believed that there was an almost universal opinion
amongst persons in this country not personally interested
in railways, that some further regulations should be
adopted, and some further control exercised in regard
to natters connected with these concerns. The acci-
dents which had lately occurred, and which had cer-
tainly been more than usually numerous, had drawn
the attention of the public to this matter ; and he be-
lieved that the safety as well as the convenience of
the public really required some attention on the part
of the Government, and the adoption of some regula-
tions which might enable them to interfere a little in
these matters. He knew that there was some difficulty
in moving in this matter ; because it was urged that to
interfere with the railway companies would diminish
their responsibility. But at the same time he was con-
vinced that there were many points on which the inter-
f2r„e4ce of the. Government would be most- useful. His
reason for drawing the attention of the house to this
subject, arose partly from the responsibility which
the house had cast upon him in the office in which
they had placed him as their chairman of com-
mittees. It was supposed that that functionary should
exercise an almost complete control over the regulations
to be introduced with regard to private bills. Now, un-
questionably from the manner in which the house had
always supported the chairman of committees, he had
considerable power, but still no chairman of committees
could presume to lay down on matters of this kind a
principle of legislation which he would feel justified in
imposing on all railways whatever. This could only be
done by Parliament acting legislatively at the instance of
the Government. It was perfectly just for the legislature
to interfere with railway companies in this way because
for the last thirteen years a clause had been inserted in
every railway act subjecting the companies to the operation
of any general act which might be introduced with respect
to railways. He thought that advantage should be taken
of the present session for the introduction of a mea-
sure of the kind-to which he had referred ; for if it was
allowed to pass without this being done, their power of
obtaining a control over railway companies would be
materially diminished. It was also most important that
such a measure should be introduced on account of the
character of many of the bills likely to be introduced—
bills to effect important amalgamations. Now, it was
impossible for any person to look to a great extension of
amalgamation without some apprehensions as to the con-
sequences that might arise from them to the public in-
terests. To a certain extent he entertained no objec-
tion to the amalgamation of companies, but he thought
that proposals for that end should be taken up only with
the greatest caution. Measures should be taken to pro-
tect the public against the consequences which might
naturally be expected to follow from some of these amal-
gamations, if they should be carried out, for they would
certainly partake in a considerable degree of the nature
of monopolies. It was only, therefore, in proceeding by
a general measure, assuming the necessary powers of
control, that they could expect to give *public confidence
in the administration of railway business. There was one
point as to which he thought it highly expedient, with
reference to the opinions of the eountry, that some
power of control should be taken ; there should be
some authority able to insist in having certains trains
run on the lines. At present, the manner in which the
companies managed their trains was not for the public
advantage, but their own. There was one common
practice by which frequent inconvenience, delay, and
expense were produced ; the companies, by taking care
that trains should start at particular periods, in fact
compelled the public to use particular lines. He thought
there should be a power of revision vested in a Govern-
ment board, which could oblige companies to attend to
the representations of the public of a district, and start
trains at particular times. There should also be some
stringent rule to compel punctuality, when trains were
advertised to start at a particular hour. It was noto-
rious that when accidents occurred, they were in most
cases occasioned by want of punctuality in the train not
starting at the proper time. A reform in this respect
would be more beneficial, and would affect more persons
than a reform in the Court of Chancery. He hoped some
safe and efficient measure would be brought forward on
this subject, the urgency of which was increased by the
number of new bills which there was reason to expect
would be introduced in the present session. He would
suggest that some general clauses should be framed,
directed to the objects he had specified, for the purpose
of inserting them in all new bills.
Lord COLCHESTER was ready to acknowledge that
this was a matter which (night to be brought before Pat:•
Lament, with a view to the public safety and conveni-
ences. ences. He was afraid the answer he had to give to
questions put might not be quite satisfactory townhilsoTbblee
v
friend. The attention of the department to
had the honour to belong was constantly
devoted
subject, but was not yet considered to to this
b in a state
which rendered a new legislative measure indispensable.
Iway
bills tha
With respect to the number of new sent ses-
t
might be expected to be introduced
in the p
re
necessarily very
sion their information was at presentc notices by which
imperfect. They had only the
official
and the entire number
to judge of the probable number,
of November, the
would not be known until the
30th
and even then it
depositing the notic.es,
last day for d d
inten e undertakings
must be remembered that any
probably would not be carried out. At present, the
h
ich notices had been given was
number of bills for w
42, 15 of which were
for the incorporation of new com-
panies, 13 for the construction of new works, eight for
continuations, five for
amalgamations, and one for ex-
tension of powers.
The whole subject in the opinion of
Government difficulty
was of such and importance, as
only to be adequately
dealt with by a select committee,
and, therefore, Government had come to the determina-
tion of moving the appointment of a select committee to
consider it. At present he was not able to give a more
decided answer to the questions addressed to him, than
that the subject was engaging the earnest attention of
Government.
Lord BEAUMONT thought that what was wanted
was a general code of laws respecting the management
of railways,tbat would apply equally to railways which
nigh, obtain their bills in future, and to railways also