The Sun.
London, England, 1853-07-27 00:00:00

PETITIONS.

Mr. MULLINGS presented a petition from a local
law society, praying for amendments in the Stamp Act.
Sir C. LEMON presented a petition from a savings
bank, against the Savings Banks Bill.
Mr. COBBETT presented a petition from a body of
dyers, in favour of the Factories Act.
Mr. A. PELLATT presented a petition from the
Potteries, in favour of the rights of labour and the
People's Charter.
Mr. PUGH presented a petition from Newtown,
Montgomeryshire, in favour of the ocean penny postage.
Mr. G. DUNCAN presented a petition from the Cham-
ber of Commerce of Edinburgh, praying for an amend-
ment in the Passenger Act as far as relates to cabin
and steenze passengers.
Mr. H. W. WICKHAM presented a petition from
the Chamber of Commerce, Bradford, Yorkshire, against
Mr. Cobbett's Factory Bill.
THE CAB STRIKE.

Sir R. H. INGLIS drew the attention of the house to
the strike which had taken place amongst the metropo-
litan cab drivers, and said it had been attended with
great inconvenience to the public. Now, considering
that the Cab Act had been passed without being referred
to a select committee, and that the fares had been fixed
in defiance of the recognised principle of political eco-
nomy, he wished to ask whether the hon. gentleman the
Under-Secretary for the Home Department was prepared

Now to submit the question to a select committee ?
Mr. WALPOLE said, before the hon. gentleman
gave an answers he might, perhaps, be allowed to state
that the great ground of complaint amongst the cab pro-
prietors arose from their not being allowed to charge
back fares, as was suggested in committee, and he should
be glad to know if the Home-office was prepared to bring
in a bill to amend the cab act in that respect.
Mr. FITZROY said he believed the charge of fid a-
mile within the metropolis was considered fair and rea-
sonable ; but, from a communication which he h-d had
with the cab proprietors, it appeared that the abolition
of back fares had been productive of great injury to
themselves. It was, however, impossible to revert to
the old system of back fares ; but, as under the existing
act cabmen were sometimes liable to be imposed
upon, he proposed either to bring in a bill, or to
propose a clause, providing that when a cab was
taken beyond a certain radius, the driver should
be entitled to some additional fare, to be fixed by the
house ; and also providing that a driver should not be
compelled to go beyond a distance of five miles. (Hear,
hear.) Looking at the reductions which were made in
the cost of licenses, and also the reductions which had
taken place in the price of provisions, sixpence per mile
was an amply remunerative fare within the metropolis,
but beyond that the driver ought to have some addi-
tional fare, and he, therefore, regretted that the foolish

proceeding which had just been taken would greatly
embarrass him in carrying out the intention which he
had just announced to the house. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. B. DE.154-ISON submitted that, as the public
were suffering great inconvenience from the absence of
cabs at the railway stations, the honourable gentleman
ought to put himself at once in communication with the
cab proprietors, with the view of obtaining an imme-
diate settlement of the dispute.
Mr. FITZP-OY said the body was so numerous that
he was at a loss to know bow to proceed in the matter ;
but as the secretary of the body was aware of his views
upon the subject, he hoped they would be made generally
known. He should be most happy to put himself in
communication with the cab proprietors if he only knew
how he could do so. (Hear.)
The subject then dropped.
SOUTH SEA. STOCK.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER gave
notice that to-morrow he should move that the house
do resolve itself into a committee of the whole house,
for the purpose of passing resolutions to enable the Trea-
sury to pay off discontented South Sea and other annui-
tants.