The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-29 00:00:00

PRIVATE BILLS.

The select committee appointed by the House of Com-
mons have presented their report. They examined many
witnesses, but all of them agreed that the ultimate decision
upon opposed undertakings ought still to rest with the Le-
gislature ; and, having regard to the character of the ques-
tions which arise, the committee concur in the view enter-
tained by the majority of the witnesses that no court of
inquiry could be constituted for the purpose of investigating
such questions, which, on the whole, would be so satisfac-
tory to the public as committees composed of members of
the Legislature. A proposal, indeed, was made by Mr.
Booth, secretary to the Board of Trade, which, " if it could
be adopted" would relieve select committees of a large
portion of the contentious discussion now carried on before
them, the suggestion being none other than to give such
free scope to the principle of competition as to allow no
railway schemes to be opposed on the ground that they will
compete with existing lines. The committee content them-
selves with recommending that, where " all parties con-
sent," the certificate of a Government department may
allow new lines to be made, or mutual arrangements between
companies for the working or use of their lines for limited
periods, or for raising further capital. A further Consoli-
dation Clauses Act is recommended. An important reso-
lution states the opinion of the committee, that an arrange-
ment ought to be come to between the two Houses for a
single hearing of contested cases. The appointment of
paid chairmen of select committees was suggested, but the
committee do not advise it ; they re commend that the select
committees consist of only three members, to meet at 11
o'clock, no member who has served 10 days to be required
to serve on any new inquiry in that session. They decline
to indorse a suggestion made that there should be power to
award costs as acheck upon vexatious proceedings. The high
fees of Parliamentary counsel had the attention of the com-
mittee, and they consider that, instead of the ten-guinea fee
for daily attendance and five guineas a day for consultation,
only five and two guineas should be allowed on taxation.
The Attorney-General stated that the existing scale of fees
is not established by rules recognised by the bar at large,
and that counsel taking a brief before Parliament at lower
fees would not infringe any rule of etiquette of the bar in
general; and the committee hope that, with the concurrence
of the profession, a modification of the present practice may
take place. The charges for Parliamentary agents and soli-
citors are under the consideration of the Speaker ; the com-
mittee condemn the practice of allowing solicitors to charge
Bd. a folio for copies of minutes of evidence, which are in
fact made for them at 21 a folio. It is recommended that
the minutes of evidence be printed. In regard to the fees of
the two houses the committee condemn the system of ad
valorem fees, and recommend that the whole scale be re-
vised, so as to meet, but not exceed, the expenses thrown
upon Parliament by the private business. Among minor
recommendations is on) that the advertisement of notices
in the metropolitan newspapers be discontinued.