The Sun.
London, England, 1847-05-18 00:00:00

been accompanied by an enormous expense. The
proposition of his llor., Friend was, he thought, ex-
tremely simple, and he hoped that the Noble Lord at the
head of the Government would make an explicit statement,
for the want of it had been attended with very consider-
able inconvenience. He sincerely trusted that the pro-
position which his Hon. Friend had sugge4t-A, whatever
might take place, would, by the cc,nsent of the Govern-
ment, be put before the House.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
that it was a universally agreed proposition by
the House, that no Committee should come to a
decision before they received the report of the
Railway Commissioners. This was the unanimous
opinion of the House. Nothing had been found to affect
the character of t 6• report of the Railway Commis-
sioners, and yet the object of the Hon. Member was to
bring about a decision for the preamble before the Com-
mittees received that report. There had been nothing
to impeach the report of the Railway Commissioner; he
did not see any reason for the alteration. lie had in-
tended to give notice, in compliance with the reasons
which had been adduced that he should move for the
appointment of a Select Committee, and he did accord-
ingly give that notice now.
After a few words from Mr. HODGSON and Mr. W.
PATTEN, who supported the motion,
Mr. BAILEY said the resolution was not only an in-
convenience to the Members of that House, but to all
parties who came before the Committees, and it ought,
therefore to be rescinded.
Mr. F. BARING trusted that the House would not
abandon the resolution which it had passed at a former
period of the session. The object of that resolution was
to draw the attention of the Committees to a matter of
very great importance. It was true there had been some
inconvenience resulting from the operation of this reso-
lution, but then the business of the House was to make
ood and perfect laws. If every resolution were to be set
aside, on the ground of delay, the House would find that
none of its salutary resolutions would be attended to.
And it would be found that some of the companies,
which were exceedingly alive to everything affect-
ing their interests, would postpone sending in their finan-
cial returns, in order to make out a case of grievance,
such as that complained of in the first instance. In fact
it had been stated that the delay of completing some of
the reports had arisen from some of the companies not
having sent in their returns. He should most certainly
oppose the resolution.
After a few words from Mr. SIIAW,
Mr. EDWARD ELLICE, jun., thought that a part
of the difficulty might be obviated if an understanding
were come to between the Chairman of Select Committees
and the Chairman of the Commissioners of Railways.
Mr. FITZROY said that the feeling of those who,
were opposed to his motion might be got over if he in-
serted the words " Committees now sitting." His im-
pression was that his motion was necessary, and as he
had heard no objection to it to warrant him to withdraw
it, he would press it to a division.
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, when the
numbers were—

For the motion
Against it
Majority
POLICE BILLS.

Mr. GREENE said it would be in the recollection of
the House that a short time ago the Police Clauses Con-
solidation BM was referred to a Select Committee. Since
then several Police Bills had been referred to Committees,
and he wished to know from Government whether those
Committees ought to proceed with their labours till the
report of the Select Committee on the Police Clauses
Consolidation Bill was before the House.

Sir G. GREY thought that it was exceedingly de-
sirous—that such a suggestion was valuable, and it was
desirable that the Committee should be instituted.

Mr. GREENE brought up several reports, the titles
of which, owing to the confusion and talk in the House,
were inaudible.,.
HEALTH OF TOWNS BILL.
OlLord DUNCAN gave notice that upon the motion
tor going into Committee on the Health of Towns Bill,
he should move that it was inexpedient to proceed with
the further consideration of that measure until full con-
sideration had been given to the unequal pressure of
the window•tax on the dwellings of the poor.
CONSUMPTION OF FLOUR IN COTTON
WORKS.

Mr. FERRAND gave notice that to-morrow he
should ask a question of the Noble Lord at the head of
the Government: upon a most important subject ; it
appeared that 183,120,000 pounds weight of best
flour were used for the purpose of dressing
warps to be woven into cloth ; and, also,
in daubing cotton with flour paste, with the intention of
defrauding the public. The question which he wished
to put was, whether it was the intention of the Govern-
ment to bring in a Bill to prevent the use of flour to such
purposes?