The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-04 00:00:00

CIVIC .REFORM.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sir,—The Royal Commissioners having made their report
to the Queen, and handed it to the Home Secretary, its
early presentation to the House of Commons and cons°•
queut publication may be, not unreasonably, expected.
Meanwhile intense anxiety prevails in the city as to its
general nature, and the particular character of the reforms
it may propound.
May I, therefore, be permitted the use of your valuable
columns to state, in anticipation of the official report,
what I know from unquestionable authority of its more
prominent recommendations? It advocates :-
1. The recognition of a 101. occupancy as the qualification
of a citizen.
2. The equalisation of the wards, and their reduction
from 25 to a number not less than 12 nor more than 16.
3. The election by the citizens of each ward of an alder-
man and five councilmen.
4. The election of aldermen for six years, instead of, as
now, for life.
5. The abolition of the Court of Common Hall.
6. The eligibility of all citizens to the office of mayor.
7. The election of mayor by the Court of Common
Council.
8. The extinction of the city coal dues in 1862, when
the act granting them expires, and to which period they
are supposed to have been mortgaged.
9. The abolition of street tolls, corn, fruit, and oyster
metages, fellowship porterage, and generally of all excep-
tional tolls, dues, and impositions, and of all municipal
monopolies.
10. The just consideration of vested interests.
11. The economical remuneration of civic officers.
12. The withdrawal of the conservancy of the Thames
from the corporation.
13. The continuance .of the magisterial functions of the
aldermen, and thnoptionat pciWer of appointing stipendiary

magistrates.
I take leave to add that such a report reflects great credit
on her Majesty's Commissioners, realises the expectations
of all who had confidence in their high character and
integrity, and throws the onus of good local self-government
upon the enfranchised constituency of the city of London.
May the Ministry and the Legislature give speedy effect
to the patriotic recommendations of the Royal Commis-
sioners !
I have the honour to be, Sir, your obliged servant,
JAMES ACLAND, Secretary.
Offices of the City of Lon,lon Municipal Reform
Association, 27, Milk-street, May 3.

VALOUR UNDER DIFFICULTIES.

(From. Punch.)
March, march, pipeclayed and belted in,
That is to say, you must march in good order ;
March, march, broiling sun molted in,
Stocks all so tight that on choking you border;
Martinet's auger dread,
If you can turn your head,
Martinet, stubborn as any old Tory ;
Shave, and make ready then.
Half-strangled Englishmen,
March on, as well as you're able, to glory

----
THE TRANSPORT SERVICE.- -Orders have been re.
ceived at Southampton that the Admiralty agents in
the Mediterranean will be employed in the transport
service, and that the mails will be under the charge of
the commanders of the mail packets.
THE lONIAN. ISLANDS.—The Duke of Newcastle has
appointed Mr. George Ferguson Bowen, Fellow of
Brar.enose College, Oxford, permanent secretary to the
Lord High Commissioner of the lonian Islands, in the
—At their
ASSOCIATION.—At
Council
room of Sir John Fraser, R.C.M.G., who is about to
retire on his pension, after 20 years' service in that capa-
city. •
meetingINVITATION
on wTe
do
nTem
y tBRITISHhe mAa
directed the blayor to invite the Britian Assocla. tion to
. visit that city gain at an early period.

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