The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-17 00:00:00

CITY OF LONDON COMMISSION.

The Commission met again yesterday in the Privy
Council Chamber, and resumed their inquiry. Corn.
missioners present—Mr. Labouchere (chairman), Sir J.
Patteson, and Mr. Cornewall Lewis. The first witness
examined was—

Mr. John Cattley, who deposed : I am a merchant in
the city of London, and engaged in the East India trade,
and I also am chairman of the London Dock Company.
I have been twice pressed to accept an alderman's gown,
but have refused, because I could not spare the time
necessary for the discharge of the duties. My opinion
of the corporation is rather favourable than otherwise.
I think the way in which the aldermen discharge their
judicial duties would bear comparison with the manner
in which justice is administered by paid magistrates or
unpaid county magistrates. An examination of the
comparative number of commitments and subsequent
convictions would, I think, bear out this opinion of the
administrative efficiency of the aldermen. They have
very able professional assistance from an assessor or
clerk, whose advice, I suppose, they generally follow on
legal points. I should be sorry to think the unpaid
magistracy in the City is more economical than a sys-
tem of stipendiary magistracy. I think the merchants
in the City are much favoured by those gentlemen who
act as aldermen and magistrates, and relieve them of the
duty. It might be desirable that the corporation should
be brought into closer connection with the larger class
of merchants ; but I think the principal merchants of
the City could never afford the time to act as members
of the corporation. I know one leading merchant, how-
ever, who is an alderman. I mean Alderman Thomp-
son. We do not allow the City porters to enter the
docks, but the City meters and guagers come there to
act as a check in favour of the merchants. The services
of the City guagers and meters in the docks are, how-
ever, optional only. A chamber of commerce might be
useful in the City, but there have been many plans
for establishing chambers of commerce recently proposed
in the City by adventurers, which have not been re-
eived with much general favour. A chamber of com-
merce, such as I should suggest, would not be in the
nature of a tribunal of commerce, but merely an organ
for representing the grievances of the commercial body
o the Government. Ido not think we have much rea-
son to complain of the manner in which the Corporation
manage the conservancy of the Thames. At the same
ime the navigation committee of the corporation cannot
be at all conversant with the duties they have to per-
or in, as they are generally small tradesmen, and I think
the various dock masters would be more suitable for the
exercise of such functions. I think the best navigation
ommittee would be a mixed one, composed of harbour
masters, some members of the corporation, and some
other mercantile members. I should think the present
navigation committee must rely in most eases upon the
advice of the harbour master, who is an efficient officer.
I think the exemption of the London Dock Company
from the imposts of the City porters rests upon a provi-
sion of its special act. A cargo of corn unloaded in the
London Docks is, however, subject to the City metage.
I do not think it desirable that the City should retain
the right of enforcing its metage upon importers who do
not wish to have their goods measured, or in cases where
there is no transaction between buyer and seller. At
the same time, supposing the importer does not want his
goods measured, if he only manages well and goes to the
City authorities, and pays a proper amount of dues to
them, I do not think he will experience any great incon-
venience. Ido not recollect whether the London
Dock Company compensated the City porters for the
loss of their privileges as regards the docks, but I
dare say it did, because when the company got its act
it was compensating almost everybody. With regard to
the City police, Ido not consider it would be advantageous
to incorporate it in the general system of metropolitan po-
lice, because there is so much property condensed within
so small ,a space in this City, that I am afraid there
would not be a sufficient number of the police force
allowed to watch and protect it. If such a change were
effected, very likely the City would only be allowed to
have the same number of policemen to the square mile
as the rest of the metropolis ; and that would be quite
sufficient. I have received many summonses from the
corporation to take up the freedom of the City, but I
have never paid any attention to them, because the City
could not compel me to take it up, on account of my
not being a re,tail trader.
The next warless examined was

Mr. James T. Goixien, who stated—l am a yachtsman
and sketcher, and have paid considerable attention to
the subject of the conservancy of the river Medway by
the city of London. I believe the powers of the City in
this respect are much misunderstood. In ancient times
the City was solemnly entrusted with the duty of
walling and embanking the course of the Thames and
Medway ; and my charge against the corporation is
that it has not adequately maintained the embankments
of either of these rivers. With regard to the river Med-
way especially, their neglect is causing great diaster.
In the year 1850 I called the attention of the Admiralty
Board to the neglected state of the river Medway, and
they had the river re-surveyed in consequence of my re-
presentations. The whole of the banks of the Medway
have been disintegrated, and it is too late now to remedy
the evil.

Mr. C. Lewis—Your object then is to show that the
corporation of London were charged with certain duties,
which they have wholly failed to perform in respect to
the river Medway, and that the consequences of their
failure are irreparable.
Mr. Gooden —lt is so.

The witness then withdrew.
Mr. Wallis, one of the sheriffs appointed by the City
corporation, and a freeman and liveryman, was next ex-
amined. He stated : The office of sheriff for a number of
years past has fallen into disrepute, owing to the jobbing
of the under-sheriffs, and at the request of several gen.
tlemen in the City I was induced to undertake the
shrievalty when it was last vacant. Indeed, I may call
myself a sort of stop-gap, in order to prevent the autho.
rity of the Queen's sheriff from dying out in the City.
The reason why the office of sheriff has become so un-
popular is, first, the expense attending the office, and
next, because the sheriff has no voice in the Court of
Common Council, where he is a kind of "dummy," decked
out in official robes, indeed, but destitute of any real
power. I think, the sheriff ought to be an ex officio
member of the Court of Common Council, as well as a
member of the Court of Aldermen ; but at present the
practical duties of the office are little more than nominal
and they are chiefly performed by a deputy. The
sheriffs attend the judges when they preside at the Cen-
tral Criminal Court, and also acts on other ceremonial
occasions. I have known as much as 3,000/. or 4,000/.
a-year to be expended by the holder of the office ; but
that is a larger sum than it is necessary for him to ex-
pend. I think 2,500/. a-year is about the ordinary
amount expended. It is requisite to go through the
shrievalty before becoming lord mayor. I have been
employed as an agent at elections both for parliamentary
and civic offices, and I have clients now who wish to be
made sheriffs in order to become aldermen. I think the
elections of aldermen in the City are not pure. Cor-
ruption also takes place at the election of chamberlain,
and I have known as much as 10,0001. to be spent on
both sides to secure an office worth 2,000/, or 3,000/.
a-year. Some of the money is given to the voters,
and some is spent in treating. I have known 1,500/.
to have been expended in obtaining an alderman's
gown. Since the contest between Laurie and Key
more bribery has been practised than before that period.
I am, however, inclined to think that the elections of
common councilmen are generally pure, because the
matter at stake is not much, and nothing to be compared
with the prize involved in the office of an alderman. I
believe an alderman has great power of providing for
his relatives if he chooses to exercise it. I think the
franchise under which aldermen and common council.
men are elected is very objectionable, and ought to be
extended so as to include all occupiers, that is, all who
Pay scot and lot.
Mr. C. Lewis—What do you think of the municipal
franchise now established in other boroughs ?
Mr. Wallis--My only objection .to its application to
the city of London is, that it is not extensive enough.
I think that the livery of London ought to be taken
the basis of the constituency, but I consider that the oc-
cupiers should be amalgamated with them. I object to
the condition of residence being attached. to the fran-
chise of the livery, further than to require that they
the liver
y
should not live out of England.
At
present
I
may live in any part of the world,
which
think is ob-
jectionable. I see no occasion to do away with the
wards, provided their inequalities are
redressed
My
opinion is that the Court of Aldermen should
be.
away, and that a Lord Lieutenant of London should be
elected by the citizens at large in the place of Lord
Mayor.

The Chairman—What advantage would be gained by
calling him Lord Lieutenant instead of Lord Mayor 2
Mr. Wallis—l think it would be more palatable in
the City; but that is only an opinion of mine. my
suggestion for improving the franchise is this—that the
S I," builis-roll should be formed of all occupiers paying
GAy/
byrif
..,> 1., ,',
.), andh.that when the existing liverymen have
1;1. - -,v
~ tot,„o , e burgess-roll should be composed exclu-
. ,?t'" r,,ii, i uplero. I consider that tho elections at
j.:% Ava:
..:7,••
........

~~:/

common-hall are very defective, and many persons are
admitted who are not entitled to be present, but who
are anxious to obtain the allowance.
Mr. C. Lewis—That is, the compensation given for
loss of time ?
Mr. Wallis—Yes ; but I think the allowance to the
poor bona fide voter for the loss of his day's work is not
very objectionable, and it has been given, I believe, ever
since London was a city.
Mr. C. Lewis—Have you known any contest to take
place for the office of Lord Mayor ?
Mr. Wallis—Yes, several, and I have known as much
as 15,0001. to have been spent by both candidates. The
poll is open for seven days, which I think a long period.
The office of chamberlain is very lucrative, the emolu-
ments being, 1 believe, 2,5001. a year. The office is
generally given to the senior alderman who stands next
on the rota. The duties are very light, the real work
being done by Mr. Scott, the clerk to the chamberlain.
Mr. C. Lewis—Have you any knowledge of the ap-
plication of the funds of the corporation to purposes of
corruption ?
Mr. Wallis—l only know that a candidate for whom
I was engaged once informed me that 1,9001. was sub-
scribed among the aldermen at the Mansion-house in
order to secure a brother alderman's election to a civic
office.
Mr. C. Lewis—But you do not call such a subscrip-
tion the funds of the corporation !
Mr. Wallis—l do not know about that—in general
cases I would not consider it so. The change in the
corporation which I would propose is that I would have
a Lord Lieutenant for the City elected by his fellow
citizens, and twenty deputy lieutenants appointed by
the Crown, to assist the Lord Lieutenant in all mat-

t ers of public interest. I would retain the Court of
Common Council pretty much as it now exists, but re-
ducing the number of its members, and requiring it to
render to the court of deputy lieutenants a statement
of its accounts. I would also place the sewerage
and lighting of the City under the Common Council,
but I would amalgamate the City police with the
general metropolitan system—a measure which I think
would secure both economy and greater efficiency. I
would substitute for the aldermen four stipendiary may
gistrates —two for the Guildhall and two for the Man-
sion-house. I would not incorporate the borough of
Southwark with the city of London, but would make it
a separate municipality. The practice of charging the
public for admission to the Old Bailey courts is very ob-
jectionable, but I think I may say that the practice is
nearly at an end.
Mr. George Hyde examined : I am a sealing-wax
maker and stationer in Fleet-street, but have had nothing
to do with the corporation. I was compelled to take up
my freedom in 1846, after resisting as long as possible,
and had to pay 121. 10s. for my freedom. I have
directed my attention to the constitution of the corpora-
tion. The state of the constituency is the radical evil ;
and another glaring defect is the inequality of the wards.
I would not make the livery the basis of the constitu-
ency, but I would extend the franchise to all occupiers
paying rates. I would sweep away the livery altogether,
and only allow them to vote as occupiers. I would have
the aldermen elected once in three years, to make them
responsible to their fellow-citizens ; but would still con-
tinue them as a distinct court from the Court of Com-
mon Council. I would have the smaller wards consoli-
dated. I would retain the Common Hall with the ex-
tended constituency I recommend, and I would have
the officers now elected by the Common Hall still elected
by the same body, and not by the Court of Common
Council.

Mr. C. Lewis—Then you would not have the officers
elected in the same way as is done in other municipal
boroughs?

Mr. Hyde--No ; I think there ought to be some dif-
ference between the city of London and other boroughs.
I think many of the aldermen make good magistrates,
and they have many opportunities of fitting themselves
for the office. The office of Lord Mayor ought to be
stripped of its tinsel and absurd pageantry, and be made
more worthy of the respect of the public, but I would
not designate him a Lord Lieutenant. I would consti-
tute Southwark into a separate municipality from the
City. As an inquestman of a ward, I can state that
the presentations of the ward inquests are not attended
to by the corporation committees. I have not paid at-
tention to the finances of the City. I think the power
of voting money ought to be taken away from the Court
of Aldermen, and exclusively vested in the Court of
Common Council. There are too many offices in the
pay of the corporation, and their salaries are on too high
a scale. At present Ido not think there is much cor-
ruption practised at the city elections, and things are
much better in this respect than they used to be. I be-
lieve the emoluments of the chamberlain amount to
3,200/. a-year.
Mr. .1 oh. Jonoo, wo.t.hronlzer, Strand, was next ex-
amined. He stated--I am a liveryman of the Turners'
Company, but never resided in the City. I was de-
puted by my company, of whose court I am a member,
to oppose the last Parliamentary effort of the corpo-
ration to reform its own constitution. My opinion
is that the City Corporation is composed of a series of

trades, and I would not have a man admitted to the
freedom of the City unless he was a member of a com-
pany. Ido not object to persons carrying on trade

in the City being allowed to vote for members
of the Court of Common Council ; but I would
only permit the livery to have the election of the
aldermen and the other higher appointments, because I
consider that the livery is one of the most valuable and
intelligent bodies in the kingdom, and comprises the
choice men of all the trades. When the livery meet in
Common Hall a more respectable body could not be ap-
pealed to by the Government of the day for an expres-
sion of the intelligent public opinion of the country. I
believe the elections at Common Hall are properly con-
ducted when any question of real interest is involved in
them ; but I have heard of bribery taking place at these
elections. When I attended the Guildhall a year or two
ago, when Mr. Croll was a candidate for the office of
sheriff, I saw a number of men go up to a clerk, and each
receive a ticket. I offered one of the men ss. for his
ticket, but he refused to accept it. I then offered him
10s. for it, and he still refused ; from which I conclude
that the tickets were worth more than 10s. each. There
were not more than 150, or at the most 200 persons in
the hall when this took place. I wish to see the trading
guilds of the City restored to their original purpose, and
made to promote trade, and take care that apprentices
are adequately taught.
The Chairman—You say that you are a member of
the Turners' Company, and yet that you are a watch-
maker by trade. Is there any connection between the
business of
.watchmaking generally and the business of
turners ?
Mr. Jones—No.

Sir John Patteson-----So that your case resembles that
of a witness we had before us, who was a barrister and
a member of the Spectacle-makers' Company, without
ever having seen a spectacle made in his life.
Mr. Jones—Yes ; and it is often the case that a
person will join a company the particular trade of which
he never learnt, because he considers it the best company
in which to take up his freedom, and the most advan-
tageous to belong to it in the event of sickness and old
age. My idea is, that the corporation does not exist
without the companies.
The Chairman—We are not competent to enter at
large into the subject of the companies.
The Commissioners having concluded the examination
of Mr. Jones, adjourned their inquiry till twelve o'clock
this day.