The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-09 00:00:00

THE CAB QUESTION.

( From the Morning Chronicle.)
We can now approach the discussion of the cab ques-
tion in a more dispassionate tone than was possible ten
days ago. Indignation is impatient of argument ;
and neither we nor our readers were then in a position
to take a very cool or deliberate view of our future rela-
tions with the proprietors of hackney carriages. All that
we cared to know was, that a substantial abatement of
the alleged rigour of the recent act had been offered to
the cab trade before the strike—that the owners and

drivers struck in spite of this concession, making other
and preposterous demands, which they did not get—
and that they returned to work exactly as they had
quitted it, without succeeding in their preposterous de-
mands. What they struck for, but did not get, was the
appeal, and a shilling instead of sixpence for the shortest
hiring. What they had been offered by way of abate-
ment of the act is now embodied in clauses 13 and 14
of the Hackney Carriage Duties Bill, which, having
passed through committee, now awaits a final discussion
in the House of Commons.
We have all along contended that the entire abolition
of back fares constituted a substantial grievance. It
was a hardship to hire a cab, say at Cumberland-
gate, at any hour of the night, for a six miles fare into
the country. To the reasonableness of the relaxation
of the law, as at first propounded by Mr. Fitzroy,
giving a shilling a mile for every mile beyond the first
four, we assented, though aware that it was a double
boon to the cabman, as curtailing the distance and in-
troducing shilling fares. But we were soon convinced

that the clause giving this shilling a mile for every
mile after the first four beyond Charing•cross or Temple-
bar, is an injustice. London is far too large for a
single centre. We neither have, nor ought to have, a
milliarium aureum. The old heart of London was

the Standard at Cornhill ; but this is extinct. If
any place can claim to be the central sun of the Lon-
don nebula, it is the Post-office. But for locomotive

__---.. -
purposes, the metropolis ought to be divided into sepa-
rate departments. Bow is as much within the Lon-
don limits as Brompton ; uni so is Upper Holloway.
The streets teem with population the whole way.
A complete London native may find himself in want of
a cab eastward or northward when he is already four
miles from Temple-bar. We see no reason why there
should not be many starting points from which the
compulsory four miles may be taken— e. g., the Angel
at Islington —Shoreditch Church—Aldgate Pump—
London-bridge—Hyde-park Corner—all the railway sta-
tions—King's-cross—and the like. It is the vice of the
Legislature to regard the Houses.of Parliament as the
centre, material as well as political, of the British uni-
, verse ; and to fix upon either Temple-bar—or, still
worse, as was at first proposed, Charing-cross—is a boon
to the aristocratic West, at the expense of the poorer
and more populous East of London. As to the other
clause, which, when more than two persons are con-
veyed in a cab, gives sixpence for every passenger above
two, whilst the existing act gives only a single sixpence
for any number of passengers above two—the objection
to it is, that it is perfectly superfluous, and only entails
inconvenience on the hirer, without any gain to the driver.
For example, if it is required to take a family party of five
to a theatre within a mile, it will be actually cheaper
to hire three cabs than one. Three cabs will cost
eighteen-pence--a single cab will cost two shillings.
Again, two cabs, for four persons, will cost one shilling
—one cab, for four persons, will cost eighteen-pence.
Perhaps Mr. Fitzroy has an eye to the pictorial effect of
processions. A family party, settled in a succession of
cabs, will give some grand combinations and novel

street attractions ; and an ordinary Bloomsbury soiree
will afford occupation and amusement to a string of a
hundred vehicles. The change has surely only its own
cumbrousness to recommend it.
From much that we hear, we can only look forward

to a single solid remedy for the present, and perhaps
unavoidable, defects of any legislative measure. The
cab trade still sulkily obstructs, to say the least, the new
act. Their clamours for the appeal are deep, if not loud,
and another srtike is by no means impossible. But mat-
ters have come to that pitch that the very slightest re-
laxation in this direction is impossible. Summary juris-
diction before the police-courts has secured the decency of
the drivers. This single provision is vital. London may at
last take its drives in security—the moral tyranny is at
an end, and for ever. If, however, the cab and omnibus
trade will not submit to this most excellent provision,
we must find those who will. Yet we must remark that,
in the countless difficulties about the number of per-
sons to be carried, the fares, and so forth, an entirely
free trade alone will adjust all hitches. We see
enough of acts of Parliament, present and prospective
to feel convinced that no measure can be devised
which shall secure entire fairness, and prevent all in-
equalities. Nothing but free trade will do it. We see
no reason why there should not be on the stands cabs of
various qUalities and prices. We should hail shilling-a-
mile vehicles complacently as we should welcome four-
pence-a-mile cabs—the one class would be found to
answer just as well as the other. And if the present
cab-owners will not accept a monopoly, with its neces-
sary accompaniment of restrictions, they may depend
upon it that the public will be benefited by the total
abolition of the monopoly.
Meanwhile, a stimulant may be usefully administered
to the parties entrusted with the publication of the
lists of fares. The public are very reasonably com-
plaining of the tardy and inefficient way in which the
provisions of the new Act are carried out. The fares
are not measured. The regulation requiring the fares,
and the number of persons carried, to be painted inside
and outside the carriage, is not complied with. Adequate
supervision as to the character of horses and vehicles is
not exercised. That the act has already done so much
in civilising Cabby, only proves its latent capabilities for
achieving further good. The good temper and public
spirit with which the inhabitants of the metropolis met
the inconveniences and losses of the late unprincipled
strike, require an exercise of corresponding energy on
the part of officials. And, till the book offares makes
its appearance, half the benefits of the improved system
are in complete abeyance.

WESTMINSTER-BRIDGE.—Yesterday the new act, passed
on Thursday, to transfer Westminster-bridge and the
estates to the Commissioners of Public Works and Pub-
lic Buildings, and to enable the commissioners to re-
move the present bridge- and to build a new bridge on
or near the same site, was printed. All former acts are
repealed, and the Commissioners of Public Works are
constituted a corporation, for the purposes of this act,
and the former corporation is dissolved. The rent-roll
of the houses belonging to the bridge amount to 7,406/.
ls. 6d. a year. General powers are given to the newly-
appointed commissioners of the bridge, and they are
authorised to construct a new bridge with proper ap-
proaches, according to the plan deposited in their office,
which plan may be inspected on the payment of
IThere are several clauses to provide against dam Until
the new bridge, and penalties may be enforced
the new bridge is completed and thrown
coopmentounit
ni
public, the commissioners are to keep up a Com-
tion between the Middlesex and Surrey
pensation is to be given to the (ffiicreortus
offices.
As soon as
by reason of the abolition i
of their
ts
hh
eo roel sd.
bridge,
convenient, the old bridge s to be taken down, and the
materials sold.
THE NEW ACT, on SAVINOsSe
.BoAnNsene,
gs banks an-
rutn tues.
Yesterday the new act justp,l d
cslieate and amend the
nuitics was printed. I
laws, and t ) grant additional
Annuities, through the medium
tiios to onsonal facilities in relation to the
purchase of Government
mee i
to make other provisions in re-
spect thereof. of savings banks, Someand
portions of the acts relating to
such matters are to be repealed on the 10th of October ;
and from that day the National Debt Commissioners
may receive money from depositors, &c., for the pur-
chase of Government Annuities, on sirgle or joint con-
tinuance of two lives, to any amount not less than 4/..
ncr more than 301., for the benefit of any one person,
and to receive payment for Immediate Life Anntries in
one sum, or for Deferred Life Annuities, either in ene
sum or in annual sums, payable for fixed periods. No
such annuities are to be granted to or for the benefit of
any person under the age of ten years.
THE CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE THAMES.—As Mr. Pea-
cock the late holder of the champion sculls, is not in a
condition to row, there will be no race on Wednesday
for the championship, Mr. James Payne becoming the
holder.
FULHAM REGATTA.—The Fulham regatta was rowed
yesterday, but was chequered by a variety of misadven-
tures, none of which, however, were of a serious nature.
After rowing three heats John Phelps was declared the
winner, Kelly being second.