The Sun.
London, England, 1865-11-13 00:00:00

sioners think that, by suitable precautions, the cala-

mity may be prevented from reaching that country,

but they urge the speedy adoption of all desirable

measures, for the disease spreads with such startling

rapidity that otherwise the necessary end will not

be gained. A separate report is appended, which

contains the signature of those members of the Com-

mission who cannot agree with the others in some

particulars. They disbelieve the proposal of stop-

ping all traffic of cattle in Great Britain, because
they say such a plan could never be " practicable."

The price of meat would rise, and many evasions be

made, which would militate against the success of
the scheme. Of course all such wholesale proposals

are very difficult to judge of, and there is no won-
der that dissentients should be found. It does 'not

seem, however, that the Commissioners differed as
to the expediency of some of the chief recommenda-

tions, such as the second, for instance, concerning
the desirability of wholesale slaughter. So far, it
must be admitted, that the Commissioners have been

at great pains to discover the causes, and suggest
the prevention of the disease, and that they have
fulfilled all reasonable expectations as to what their

labours and researches might effect. It now re-
mains for the powers that be to carry out their

recommendations so far as practicable, and those

are immediately concerned in the care and traffic of

cattle should by all means follow the instructions

so plainly given. Practical truths are of immense

value to the public in general, who get confused by

so many theories.

The evils of monopoly need hardly, one would
think, be discussed at the present day, but although
the whole tenour of our legislation is directed against
it, and although public opinion is strongly opposed
to it, it still appears to live and flourish amongst us.
There is unfortunately a strongly marked tendency
in human nature generally to abuse irresponsible
power, and the consequence is, that where there is
not the wholesome check of free competition, the
public is seldom well or efficiently served. If this
be the case with mere articles of luxury or con-
venience, it is certainly doubly true of those com-
modities which, in our busy and exacting age, have
become almost necessaries. There has very often
been good ground of complaint against the man-
agement of the gas and water companies of this
great metropolis. Water may certainly be ranked
amongst the first requisites of existence anywhere,
but the complex civilisation of a great city requires
a costly and elaborate artificial sj stem of supply.
Gas may be said to be absolutely necessary for the
conduct of business, as well as for the convenience
of families, the protection of our streets, and the
lighting of our public buildings. Of course, other
artificial light, could be procured, but, under present
arrangements, it would only be with great cost and
inconvenience, so that the gas and water companies
hold in their hands the control of our busi-
ness, health, and pleasure. Yet marvellous
as it may seem, considering how much de-
pends upon them, and considering, too, the
the great objection which Englishmen have to a
centralisation of power and authority, these com-
panies are virtual monopolies. If a man dislikes
the quality of his gas, or finds reason to complain
of exorbitant charges, he has no power to influence,
much less to control, the gas companies. London
is divided into districts, each company supplying
one, and by a mutual arrangement no company will
supply another's department. So that the alter-
native offered to malcontents is the abandonment
of gas altogether ; a resource that the private
householder is not very likely to resort to, and
which the man of business will certainly not adopt.
So well, indeed, do the gas companies know their own
power in this respect, that so far from deprecating
the withdrawal of the supply, they hold it in ter-
rorem over the heads of refractory customers. An
instance of this system of virtuous indignation was
given the other day, when a gentleman, who ob-
jected to an unaccountable increase in his gas
account, was told the supply would be stopped
forthwith. Of course, if every one agreed to stop
burning gas the companies would be the sufferers,
but they know very well that there js no fear of tho