The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-04 00:00:00

RAILWAY BILLS.

On the motion of Mr. STRUTT, the following resolutions
for the regulation of Railway Bills were severally agreed to :
I. That a Committee of five Members be appointed. to be
called the Classification Committee of Railway Bills, aad that
three be the quorum of such Committee.
2. That copies of all petitions for Railway Bills presented
tothe House be laid before the said Committee.
3. That the Committee of Classification shall form into
groups all Railway Bills which, in their opinion, it would be
expedient to submit to the same Committee

4. That -its—s-o-on-as—tlie—do-mmittee of Classification shall
have determined what Railway Bills are to be grouped to-
gether, they shall report the same to the House, and all
Petitions against any of the said Bills shall be presented to
the House three clear days before the meeting of the Com-
mittee thereon.
5. That there be no more than seven clear days between
the, first reading of any Railway Bill and the second reading
thereof, except by special order of the House.
6. That the breviate of every Railway Bill shall be laid on
the table of the House, and be printed and delivered one
clear day before the second reading.
7. That such Railway Bills as shall have been read a first
time before the House shall agree to these resolutions, shall
be read a second time within seven clear days thereafter.
8. That such of the standing orders as relate to the com-
position of the Committees on Private Bills, and the orders
consequent thereon, be suspended, so far as regards Railway
Bills pending in the course of the present session.
9. That Committees on Railway Bills, during the present
session of Parliament, shall be composed of a chairman and
four Members, to be appointed by the Committee of Selection.
10. That each Member of a Committee on a Railway Bill
er. Bills, shall, before he be entitled to attend and vote on
Such Committee, sign a declaration that bis constituents have
12010 cal interests, and tl:at he himself has no personal interest
for or against any Bill referred to him; and no sucl Cin-
Tnbersueshall proceed to business until the whole of the Mem-
.That the thereofa shall have signed such declaration.
Promoters of a Railway Bill shall be prepared
to go into the Committee on the Bill on such day as the
seven clear days (committee of Selection shall, subject to the order that there
be
between the second reading of every Pri-
vate Bill anti the sitting of the Committee thereupon, think
proper to appoint, provided that the Classification Committee
shall have reported on such Bill.
12. That the Committee of Selection shall give each
Member not less than fourteen days' notice of the week in
which it will be necessary for him to be in attendance, for
the purpose of serving, if required, on a Railway Bill Com-
Mittee.

13. That the Committee of Selection shall give each
Member a sufficient notice of his appointment as a Member
of a Committee on a Railway Bill, and shall transmit to him
copy of the twelfth resolution, and a blank form of the de-
claration therein required, with a request that he will forth-
with return it to them properly filled up and signed.
14. 'That if the Committee of Selection shall not within
due time receive from each such Member the aforesaid
declaration, or an excuse which they shall deem sufficient,
they shall report to the House the name of such defaulting
Member.
_l5. That the Committee of Si-lection shall have the power
of substituting, at any time before the first meeting of a
Committee. another Member for a Member whom they shall
deem it proper to excuse from serving on that Committee.
16. That power be given to the Committee of Selection
to send for persons, papers, and records, in the execution
of the duties imposed on them by the foregoing resolutions.
17. That no Member of a Committee shall absent himself
from his duties on such Committee, unless in the case of sick-
ness or by leave of the House.
18. That all questions before Committees on Railway
"tooPs or Bills shall be decided by a majority of voices, in-
cluding the voice of the chairmen ; and that, whenever the
voices shall be equal, the chairman shall have a second or
Bastin vote.
19- That, if the chairman shall be absent from the Com-
mittee, the Member next in rotation on the list, who shall
be present, shall act as chairman.
20. That Committees shall be allowed to proceed so long
as three Members shall be present, but not with a less number,
unless by special leave of the House.
21. That if on any day within one hour after the time ap-
pointed for the meeting of a Committee three Members shall
not be present, the Committee shall be adjourned to the same
hour ou the next day on which the House shall sit, which
had been fixed for that day.
22. That in the case ofa Member not being present within
one hour after the time appointed for the meeting of the
Committee. or of any Member absenting himself from his
duties on such Committee, such Member shall be reported to
the House at its next sitting.
23. That each Committee shall be appointed to meet on
each day of its sitting not later than twelve o'clock, unless
by the regular vote of the Committee.
24. That Committees on Railway Bills have leave to sit in
the present session, notwithstanding any adjournment of the
House, if the Committees shall so think fit.
25. That it be au instruction to all Committees upon Pri-
vate Bills not to hear parties on any petition hereafter re-
ferred to them, which shall not be prepared and signed in
strict conformity with the rules and orders of this House.
26. That all Select Committees on Railway Groups or Bills
be empowered to refer, if they shall so think fit, to the
Chairman of Ways and Means, together with the Members
ordered to prepare and bring in each such Bill, any unopposed
Railway Bill submitted for their consideration, and that such
Bills be severally dealt with by the said Chairman, and those
Members respectively acting with him, as other unopposed
Bills are to be dealt with.

57. That the following clause be inserted in all Railway
Bills passing through this House:—
And be it further enacted, that nothing herein contained
shall be deemed or construed to exempt the railway by this
or the said recited Acts authorised to be made from the pro-
visions of any general Act relating to such Bills, or of any
general Act relating to railways, which may hereafter pass
daring this or any future session of Parliament, or from any
future revision and alteration, under the authority ot Par-
/lament, of the maximum rates of fares and charges autho-
rised by this Act.
Mr. HUME wished to know if the Government proposed
to take
any steps to carry out the principle agreed to by the
Private Committee, which sat last session on Railway Bills—
B`elt some responsible board, answerable for those
4, shouhld be appointed. He wanted to know, therefore,
'Whether any measures had been taken for the purpose of
having preliminary inquires made with respect to the pro-
Posed railways ?
, Mr. STRUTT said that he himself was a member of the
‘;:mmittee referred to by the Hon. Gentleman, and con.
take in the report that a local inquiry should previously
e place before any steps were taken in that House. Such
an inquiry locally on the spot would be more advantageous
414 any that might be made before a Committee of that
Ilse. Since the report of that Committee an
ct
passed in the House to carry out the
recommendation of that report, and, in accordance
h
de„ that Act, preliminary inquiries had been made by two
sztrartments--namely, the Admiralty and tbe,Board of Woods
orests. The department of railways was, he considered,
naryin which it was especially necessary that these prelimi-
inquiries should take place, and he begged to inform the
ti,fB6 that the question was at present under the considera-
C, ef the Government. He hoped shortly to be in a con-
-"°,11. to state that a measure on the subject would be in
mess to be placed before the House. He did not think
-eeessary therefore, to make any further observations at
rresent.

CLASSIFICATION OF RAILWAY BILLS.
"r• STRUTT oved the nomination of the following
- er°lllMittee for them Classification of Railway Bills :—Mr.
tile% Patten, Lord Courtenay, Sir Robert Ferguson, Sir
e°ll Pakington, and Lord Dalrneny.—Motion agreed to.
~
r• • FIUME wished to know whether there was any pro-
that private Bills should be submitted first to a re-
arsonsible Committee, as during last session ?
Mr• STRUTT quite concurred in the propriety of the
question. By such an arrangement more points would be
satisfactorily arraned than if an Act had been passed, by
nick/1 preliminary inquiries on railway Bills should be made
Le Commissioners of Woods and Forests, and by the Ad-
-... ty.
Mr.
DUNCOMBE moved for a copy of the information,
and
had left the Punishment inflicted on certain parties who
their
Masters' service in a manufactury.
"4r• BANKES presented several petitions in favour of the
" nours' Bill, and for the amendment of the Poor-law Re-
lief Bill
Sir W. SOMERVILLE presented a petition from the ship-
owners of Drogheda, complaining of the light dues.
kr. S. CRAWFORD presented several petitions in
favour of the Ten Hours' Bill.
POSTPONEMENT OF MOTIONS.
Mr. HUME said he would postpone his motions for a copy
Of the returns of corporal and other punishments on board
each of her Majesty's ships in the royal navy, in each year,
from the Ist day of January, 1844. to the 31st day of De-
cember, 1846, stating the name, rating, nature of the offence,
date of punishment, the number of lashes, and remarks of
commander-in-chief or senior officer, as to any excess of
punishments or otherwise, according to the schedules pub-
idled end ordered in the Admiralty Instructions, dated the
tist day of January, 1344, for the government of her Ma-
Je2itY's naval service; stating, also, the number of seamen and
marines employed in each year,and the average number flogged,
distinguishing the number of commissioned and warrant and
Petty officers; also, specifying the name of her Majesty's
iPs and vessels, and the name of the commanders, in whic,f
40 corporal punishments have been inflicted in any of these
Years—also for abstracts of the total number of men, rank
and file, belonging to the Royal Marines, who, from the let
dayl of January, 1844, to the 31st day of December, 184 G,
have suffered corporal punishment or imprisonment on shore,
class
such punishmentad showing
showing the nature of their offences, in classes, for which
hasthbeeen greatestaw ard awarded,
and
tandthe
the
smallestnm be
number
in ea each
fishes
inflicted ;awarded also
as , the longest
nement and shortest period of con-
average period of confinpement for Cactieac prson, nd the
classe of offenace, and
the average number flogged, stating the total number of rank
and file, and also the number of commissioned and non-
commissioned officers on shore in each year: of the total
number of soldiers belonging to the Royal Artillery
and Ordnance corps in Great Britain and Ireland,
who, between the Ist day of January, 1844, and
1846, have an the 31st day of December,ffered corporal
Punishment or imprisonment; showing the nature of the
offences, in classes, for which such corporal ponishment or
imPrisonment has been awarded,
and the number in each
Class; and showing, also, the greatest and the smallest
number of lashes • also, the longest and shortest period of
.confinement awarded as punishment, the average number
flogged, and the average period of confinement for each class
nr offences; distinguishing also the total number of rank and
file liable to be flogged, and also the number of commis-
Veiled and non-commissioned officers in the United
4,ledom in each of those years ; also, returns of
same tenor, of the Royal Artillery and Ordnance
s'userving tPs abroad. Returns of the total number
of .
• Greaten and ots in
soldiers gin reim
i.reat Britain belonand Irelag nd,to who from the Ist day ofdeJanuary
.°44 to the 31st day of December 1846, have suffered either
corporal punishment or imprisonment ; and, whenever either
tereoral punishment or imprisonment has been inflicted on
1 same person more than once, specifying how often it has
been
so inflicted; with abstract of the total number of sol-
o!s, belonging to regiments in the colonies and possessions
°mina
• kireat Britain, who, in each year, from the Ist day of
rot—, rY 1844 to te 31st day Of December 1846, have suf-
yu corporalpunishments or imprisonments ; showing the
batty_ _
.'e or the offences, in classes, for which such corporal
.r.urnehrnent or imprisonment has been awarded, and the
'l.lupbers in each class ; stating, also, the greatest number
Zhthe lowest number of lashes inflicted on any person in
fine Year; also the longest and the shortest period of con-
fio roent awarded as punishment, the average nu•nber
• cFed, and the average period of confinement for each
ofr._ in each year; also distinguishing the total number
neirdt and file, and also the number of commissioned and
soldiers, who
officers, in each year. Of the number of
aitr,rs, who, from the Ist day of January, 1844, to the
ni.,Luay of December, 1846, have suffered corporal punish•
taes-nut, roir imprisonment, and whether either corporal punish-
uto,
~r ivaprisonment has been inflicted on the same person
" than once, specifying how often it has been so inflicted;

and distinguishing the numbers in regiments in the colonies
in pusseksion of. her Majesty. twin regiments in depots in
Great Britain and Ireland; distinguishing, also, the total
number of rank and file, and also the number of commis-
sioned and non-comtni3sioned officers in each year ;
stating the number or name of the regiment or corps, with
the names of the commanding officers, in which no corporal
punishment has been inflicted in any of these years (in con-
tinuation of Parliamentary Paper, No. 308, of session 1845).
He would; however, move for a copy of the correspondence
between the Consul of her Britannic Majesty and the Austrian
Government relative to the annexation of (Ilracow.
DESTITUTE POOR RELIEF (IRELAND) BILL.
Mr. ROEBUCK said he would move to-morrow, in Com-
mittee on the Destitute Poor Relief Bill, that the powers
vested in the Government to render valid a presentment
shauld be expunged.
TR 'YELLING ON SUNDAY.

Mr. HUNIE said that certain railway directors hail inter-
fered with travelling on Sunday, which was considered ex--
tremely incommodious to the public. Now be desired a copy
of the resolutions and orders of every railway company
where the travelling on Sunday has been stopped wholly or
partially, so as to show the accommodation afforded for tra-
velling to the public generally, and to the Post-office espe-
cially on that day. He would then consider what steps it
might beadvisable for the House to adopt in reference to the
subject.