The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-02 00:00:00

such a better class of men, act as a collateral guarantee
against the probability, if not the possibility, of the re.
currence of such practices.
The'Otairman—Do you think it would be possible to
inducc; the higher class of merchants in the City to ac'
cept the office o.
Mr. Acland— e. not. The office carries with
it so bad a name, and such a bad odour, that no high
class of merchants would like to bear it.
The Chairman—But supposing the bad opinion of the
office were removed by the alterations which might be
made, what do you think would then be the disposition
of the higher classes
Mr. Acland—l believe if the circumstances of muni-
pal government in the City were so altered as that none
of the bad odour which now attaches to the corporation
would attach to them in the opinion of their fellow-
citizens, that then there would be a disposition on the
part of a higher class of men to accept municipal office.
The Chairman—You think they might be induced to
spare the time and direct the attention necessary for ful.
filling the duties of the office ?
Mr. Acland—l do.
The Chairman—Have you any other observations to
make on this head ?

Mr. Acland —The Court of Aldermen is an irrespon-
sible body, being elected for life, and I think it uncon-
stitutional that it should have the power of voting away
large sums of money without the consent of the Court
of Common Council.

The Chairman—What term of years do you consider
would be sufficient for the tenure of the office of alder-
man ?

Mr. Acland—l would do away with the office of alder.
man altogether.

➢Zr. Cornewall Lewis—Do you see any advantage in
the distinction between the Court of Aldermen and the
Court of Common Council, as compared with the ordi-
nary forms of the town councils of other municipal cor-
porations ?

Mr. Acland—None whatever. In theory the Court
of Common Council, being the representative body,
holds the purse-strings ; but in practice, the Court of
Aldermen ♦ote away public money without confirma-
tion by the Court of Common Council, as they last year
voted away 36,0001., for instance.
The Chairman—Would you merge the Court of Alder-
men in the Court of Common Council in the case of the
corporation of London as in the case of other municipal
boroughs ?

Mr. Acland—l would certainly get rid of the Alder-
men as a separate legislative body. It would be pre-
ferable to merge the two bodies into one, than to leave
them separate as they exist now.
Mr. C. Lewis—ls the Court of Aldermen not con.
sidered principally as the executive body, and the Court
of Common Council as principally the legislative body ?
Mr. Acland—lt may be so principally, but each of the
bodies assumes both legislative and executive functions
in turn. The Court of Aldermen vote annuities to
the daughters of Aldermen, who fail and become poor,
and one inducement to become an alderman is that,
should he ever be reduced, there is the office of chamber-
lain with a good salary, which may be open to him. The
Court of Common Council can vote money without the'
confirmation of the Court of Aldermen, and the Court•
of Alderman can do the same without the confirmation
of the Court of Common Council.

The Chairman—Supposing that the Court of Common
Council held the control over the expenditure, if the,
body should be too large to manage the details of the'
accounts, would you appoint a committee from their
number for the transaction of such business ?

Mr. Acland—Such detailed management must always
be imposed either on a small body or upon properly
qualified officers. Whatever might be the munipical
body which was given to the city of London, those who
represented and were responsible to the constituency
ought to be intrusted with the expenditure of the funds.
The chairman here stopped the further examination of
the witness, and said that, as it was then four o'clock,
the commissioners would adjourn the inquiry until next
day (Wednesday).
Adjourned accordingly.