The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-27 00:00:00

RAIL WAY INTELLIGENCE.

RAILWAY LEGISLATION.

The question relating to the introduction of Mr. Card-
well's committee of new clauses in the London, Brighton,
and South Coast, the North London, and other railway
bills now before Parliament, as a first step to improve
railway legislation, is appointed for discussion to-night
in the House of Commons. It appears that great efforts
have been made by the directors of several railway one"
panies to obtain the rejection of those clauses, prepara-
tory to the intended overthrow of the general measure'
to be brought before the house on the Ist of May, for
facilitating the transmission of traffic from one railway
to another, and compelling railway companies to forward
the traffic over the various lines of railway in a manner
most conducive to the public interests, and at the same
time it is believed for the mutual advantage of theshare-
holders in the respective companies. Some of the railway
directors and officials strongly object to the pro- •
posed interference, and also to the power in
the bill sought to be conferred on the Board
of
Trade of regulating the traffic arrangements, and
settling differences that might arise between railway
companies, deciding on the amount of tolls in certain
cases to be charged and paid, and on the hours for the
starting and arrival of railway trains at certain points
of junction with lines of hostile companies. Bad 45
the vicious system of railway legislation" has heel
heretofore, and which has been so bitterly cornPlaine
of at railway meetings, it seems it is not to be given IT
without a struggle. With regard to the objection raised
against the adjudication by the Board of Trade, it la
rather remarkable that in almost every case of dispute,
between railway companies for some years past the rtf'
way companies have invariably addressed the Board
Trade on the subject for redress in some shape or otherr
with a view to induce that Board to interfere in the mat-
ter, and finally to undertake a settlement of the difference.
In many railway bills the companies hilve provided that
in case of dispute the matter should be referred to the
Board of Trade, or to some arbitrator to be appointed 11,
the Board of Trade. The proposed general measure voli
require some useful modifications to secure the interests
of shareholders, and to meet objections that may be
raised, and to carry out the objects of it successfully
and satisfactorily. There can be no doubt, however'
that any simple and effective measure that may have the
effect of doing away with the necessity of, or pretad
for, all sorts of amalgamations, improvident leases, an
unwarrantable guarantees, which have already albs;
ciated railway property to the extent of several Eni,°i;
of capital, will meet with the most strenuous opPosi"-
of directors, lawyers, Parliamentary agents, and other
interested parties, as it would at once cut offs Derr
fruitful source of profit, and condemn the policy Pura°
for years past by a number of large railway comp

RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURN.
for O.
SCOTTISH CENTRAL RAILWAY.—Traffio return
week ending April 23, 1854 £2,9982,99g 2 1
of
Corresponding week last year 2,782 12