The Sun.
London, England, 1839-02-21 00:00:00

RAILWAYS.

Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET wished to ask
' of the President of the Board of Tr ide whether it was
his intention to move fora Select Committee, or to in-
troduce a measure, as to conveyance by railways ? It
was quite necessary before the House proceeded with
any Railway Acts, that the mind of the House should
be made up as to the propriety of enacting any new
etringento measures for rendering the Railway Com-
panies more responsible for injuries occasioned by the
neglect and carelessness of their servants.—(Hear.)
Mr. P. THOMSON answered that he could not
positively say what his intentions were as to this subject,
but he was quite willing to say it was worthy the con-
sideration of the House—(Hear, hear)—and that
circumstances had lately been brought to Lis know-
ledge, convincing him that it was important, either by
the appointment of a Select Committee, or by the
introduction of a Government measure, to discuss the
propriety of making some regulations, which were for-
merly neglected—(hear, hear)—not through any fault
of-Lis (Mr Thomson's), but through the current of
public feeling being then against such regulations ; he
would certainly give the question the best consideration
in his power. He thought it would be impossible
in the Committees on Private Bills, to introduce the ne-
nessary additional regulations : for those Committees
were in general occupied by private interests, and the
public interests were too much neglected.—(Hear,
hear, hear.) It was therefore essential that the
House itself should consider the subject : and on
any fresh applications, or applications for enlarged
powers, by the promoters of railway schemes, to effect
such alterations as would save the public from the great
inconveniences to which they hid been subjected by the
Railway Companies.—(Hear, hear.)
Sir ROBERT PEEL said a Committee had been
appointed with respect to the arrangements on private
bills ; and there had been a great number of applications
for such Bills. Now it was important to know whether
the Right Hon.- President of the Board of Trade con-
templated the possibility of any new arrangements
with respect to the conduct of private business being
made at so early a period of the present Session, as to
apply to Bills in progress during the present Session?
And might it not be necessary to postpone the period for
the consideration of some private bills which stood first
for discussion. If any alteration were contemplated as
to the selection of Committees on private bills, it would
be impossible to apply it during the present Session ;
and might it not be necessary to extend the time, or to
give facilities for the mature consideration of the subject?
Mr. P. THOMPSON said Lis object in moving
for a Committee on private business was to follow out
the recommendation of the Select Committee of last
year ; via. that a Committee be appointed on the
opening of each Session, with the view of considering
certain points, either mentioned in the Report, or which
were considered subjects for further deliberation in
Committee. One of those points related to the Com-
mittee lists that might be speedily disposed ,of, but he
agreed that, if necessary, it would be desirable to defer
for a week or a fortnight, any proceeding on private
Bills.