The Sun.
London, England, 1838-06-22 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS, JUNE 21.

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The SPEAKER took the chair at the usual hour.
Mr. Crafer from the Treasury appeared at the bar with re-
:urns, which were laid on the table.
GLOUCESTER ELECTION.

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The SPEAKER acquainted the House that the petitioners
who had complained of an undue return for the city of
Gloucester, had not entered into the recognizances required
by the Act of Parliament. The order for taking the peti-
tion into consideration was then discharged.
ROYAL EXCHANGE (REBUILDING) BILL.
Sir MATTHEW WOOD moved the second reading of
the Royal Exchange Rebuilding Bill.
Mr. BRISCOE said there were some objectionable clauses
in the Bill.
Mr. HUME had great objections to a part of the Bill—he
meant that part which continued the taxes on coals. By the
report of the Coal Committee, which had been laid upon the
table, it appeared that the tax would expire in 1851. The
object of the present Bill was to raise a sum of from 150,000/.
to 200,0001. or 300,0001. for rebuilding the Royal Exchange
and other improvements in the city of London. The effect of
that measure would be to continue the tax on coals till
1858 or 1859. He thought such a tax ought not to be
paid by the poor but by the rich, and when he recollected
that on a recent occasion the City talked of raising a sum of
200,0004 or 300,0001., for rejoicing and feasting on the occa-
sion of the approaching Coronation, it was a sorry specimen
of the loyalty or spirit of the City of London to tax the poor
man for the building of au Exchange fur her wealthy mer
chants. lie should, when the Bill was in Committee, mast

certainly propose to exclude the clause, as he objected to a tax
on what was one of the first necessaries of life.
After a few words from Mr. BARNARD,
Mr. HUME did not oppose the second reading of the Bill,
because he wished to see the improvements carried through ;
but he objected to the improvement being made through the
medium of a tax upon coals.
Mr. WILLIAMS deprecated the making of improvements
by a tax upon coals. The City of London for the greatest
job that ever was perpetrated, the removal of Fleet Market,
increased the tax upon coals to the extent of 250,0001., and
now it was proposed to put on an additional tax to the amount of
150,0001. He was one who wished to see the Royal Ex-
change worthy of the City of London, but he thought that
the tax for such a purpose ought to be on the citizens of Lon-
don themselves.
Mr. PEASE must resist any new tax upon coals as im-
politic and injurious to the lower classes.
Mr. LIDDLE thought that an increased tax upon such
an article of life as coals ought to be discountenanced.
The Bill was then read a second time and ordered to be
committed.
Sir M. WOOD obtained leave to bring in a Bill for im-
proving Westminster.
On the motion of Mr. DENNISTOUN the Glasgow and
Garnkirk Railway Bill was read a third time, and passed.
Lord STANLEY moved the third reading of the Maccles-
field Grammar Schools Estate Bill.—Read a third time and
passed.
On the motion of Mr. CHALMERS the Newtyle and
Coupar Railway Bill was read a third time and passed.
Mr. WALKER presented a petition from places in Lan-
cashire, in favour of a Ten-hours' Factory Bill.
CONVEYANCE OF MAILS BY RAILWAYS.
Mr. PEASE presented petitions from the Great Western
Railway Company, and from the London and Birmingham
Railway Company, expressing their readiness and anxiety to
render to the Government every possible assistance, and
to enter into any engagement that might be reasonable
or just, for the conveyance of her Majesty's mails, and
praying that the Bill brought in by the Vicc-President
of the Board of Trade might contain provisions for a just and
fair recompense for any services they might render, and that
the House would not sanction any plan by which the
management of their own machinery was to be taken cut
of their hands, not only to the destruction of their own pro-
perty, but to the great jeopardy of the lives of the passengers.
BANK OF IRELAND.
Mr. O'CONNELL presented a petition which had been.
agreed to at a public meetinc, in Dublin, and was signed by
the Lord Mayor on behalf of the meeting, against the mono-
poly of the Bank of Ireland.