The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-31 00:00:00

Ist, To take into consideration the best means of enforcing
one uniform system of management on railroads in operations,
or to be constructed, and to secere the due fulfilment of the
provi.ions of the Acts of Parliament under which the compa-
nies have obtained their powers, whereby greater accommoda-
tion and safety may be insured to the public. tld, To take ;.nfe
consideration what means may test be adopted for dientni,hirg
the extravagant expenses attendant on obtaining Acts of Par-
liament for legl, itnate and necessary undertakings, and at the
same time for discouraging the formation t f schemes got tip
for the mere purpose of speculation. 3d, to consider what
legislative measures could be framed to protect individuals from
the injury they may sustain by laying down lines of railway '
through their property, without subjecting them to th•• ruissous
expense of opposing Bills in Parliament. These resolu-
tions contained the objects which he sought to carry
out by the present motion. He had no hostile
feeling against railways, but he wished to place them on a good
and wholesome footing. There was now found a great diffi-
culty in the other House of Parliament, in legislating on this
subject, from the strong railway interest that was growing up
there, and unless the matter was taken up in good time, this
power would so increase that it would be very difficult to deal
with it. No time therefore was to be lost. Some steps were
absolutely necessary to be taken, in order to control this grow-
ing power to a certain extent. He knew it would be said that
it was now too la eto urge on this question. That was the ob-
jection by which it was met before ; and he was glad that no
step had been taken upon the subject before, because when this
project was urged on a former occasion, they had no idea of the
extent to which this railway spirit would spread ; but now they
had the advantage of the experience the delay afforded them
and he dist truce the House would take advantage of it, and
frame some measure by which the public, as well as individuals
would be protected. He might be met with the answer that
the Board of Trade had certain powers over railways, but he
did not think those powers sufficient. The Board of Trade
was not to be blamed for that; he had no doubt they did their
best ; but it was not because they had failed that another trial
should not he made, with a view to a more successful result.
The Board, he suggested, should have a power of superintend-
ence over railways in actual operation, and appoint superintend-
ents in the same way as they had superintendents now over
parishes, and over rivers, and other matters. Now he thought
there were certain means which might be adopted by the Com-
mittee, and which would, in his opinion, exercise a control
over them. This was one of them. He found it in
letter addressed some years back to a Member of the
other House by an eminent engineer. After corn'
paring roads • and canals with railroads, and cow-
plaining that there was no adequate safety to the public, be
said that by reducing the capitals of all railways into one stock,
he would venture to say that the evils now complained of would
be done away with. He (Lard Kinnaird) thought the thing
practicable ; at all events, it was worth the consideration of
the Committee. His own idea was that the public would be
efficiently protected by encouraging competition. There were
already several lines in existence, all proceeding from this great
metropolis, and all forming what he might term the great
arteries of the country His proposal was, that these lines
should be consideroa great arteries, and therorore should not be
allowed to amalgamate. Now let them look at the aces in
operation. They had the Great Western, which proposed, by
way of Oxford. to reach Liverpool, then Lancaster, and so along
the emit to Glasgow; then the London and Birmingham,
which partly taking the same route, joined the Caledonian, and
so round by the north to Edinburgh and Glasgow. They had
also the London and York, which, by way of Hexham, reached
Edinburgh; and the Eastern Counties, which, proceeding by
Newcastle, reached Berwick. If they turned to the west"
they found the Great Western throwing out lines to
Exeter, and the South-Western doing the sail
thine They had lines to Dover, to Brighton, and
to East Kent, awl these all formed great and distinct lines.
He thought that competition should be encouraged between
these companies ; and he put it to their Lordships' consideration
whether such a system would not be likely to concuce to the
public interest, if adopted. Suppose they wish to accommo-
date the country between these lines, say perhaps Nottingbanif
then a reference would be made to the Government Board,
which would apportion it in reference to the existing railways.
There were several other points bearing upon the question, but,
as the motion wr s not to be opposed, he would content himself
with moving for the Committee.
The Earl of DA LHOUSIE confessed that he did not enter-
tain such sanguine expectations with respect to the Noble
Lord's plan as the Noble Lord had expressed for himself
With regard to the amalgamation schemes referred to, he would
say, that it was a matter which should be looked upon with
jealous eye, whether the amalgamations referred to railway to
railway, or railway to canal. The attention of Parliament
had more than once been called to this question. It had been
treated by a Committee of the other House in 1844, and lest
year by the Beard, in connexion with the Executive
Government. The subject in the present session was referred
to another Committee, just appointed, with the view of laying
down additional rules and conditions respecting amalgamations
Regarding the other feature of the plan proposed by the Noble
Lor, that of a Board in connexion with the Executive Govern',
ment, he would pass by the consideration of the Board
,_°l.
last year, in comparison with it, as the powers now sour"
by the Noble Lord were more extensive than had been the
fuuction of the Board of Trade. It was quite clear that the
present system was open to strong objection, but he did no
think that much advantage would result from taking the potvee
of dealing with them out of the hands of those who now had
No doubt, when a company was formed for the purpose n'
getting the power of taking possession of the property of other!,
it would not be well to leave so large an amount of power 01
their hands. As to what had been said about the expenses
incurred in going before Standing Orders' Comotittee,sl
it would be desirable that the amount of those expenses shoe!"
be lessened, still he did not think that that was a matter In
which the Legislature ought to interfere.
Lord KINNAIRD did not intend that the powers which
Parliament had should be taken from them ; but what he til
suggest was, that certain parties, on behalf of the Government,
should be taken down to make inquiries upon the spot into tl'i;
merits of each case. He had been on a Committee in wine
this plan was adopted, and the results were most satisfactorfi
and such plans would also have the effect of preventing a las
mass of litigation.
The Marquis of BREDALBANE said he agreed with hi
Noble Friend. Nothing could be more desirable than that
there should be some controlling power over those railway Cent'
panics. He was anxious to see all railways the result of Os!.
petition and private enterprise ; but, with respect to the desire,
for amalgamation, no doubt it would be very de-irable that nil
great lines should be under the control of one great directory'
and that frequent ownership along. a line should be prevented;
big he could not say that he entirely concurred in his Nob
Frienp's view of the principle o. amalgamation.
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said he was in fall
of amalgamation ; but care should be taken that it was ea.°
extended too far, lest too great encouragement should re
given to monopoly, which would be ve:y dangerous to Id
public interest. He was of opinion that those matters shoo
be left untouched until the present COmmittees had tent up
their reports.
slot
Lord WHARNCLIFFE said, that although be did did
wish to express any opinion unon this question, yet he "
not with it to be understood that by giving his vote in faT4
of the Committee he was giving his sanction to the
sap-
pointment of a Board of Commission. Railways had lt°„
become matters of national importance, and it would be vet?
desirable that the Government should have a power of controlo:mr
the companies to a certain extent. He was not very 04°1
as to the results of this inquiry, but it might, to some cite @e
be useful ; and it was not too late, as had been supposed, to
it, because, in every railway Bill that had been recellt;
passed, a clause had been inserted to the effect that all !litho
companies should be subjected to any general rule whin'
Legislature might deem it necessary to adopt.
Lord MONTEAGLE said that great it itconception existed
out of doors upon one point connected with railways, and
was this. In many cases the parties to a deed for a rativis#
felt indisposed to carry it out, and would prefer not doing 5..,°,
but they were under the impression that they could not e°"b'e
before Parliament with a petition praying that they mightdere
relieved from this work, which they themselves had tin
_of
taken to complete ,• but he believed they were mistaken, liso,
he thought it would be well that the public should be inaol
aware that parties to a deed of this sort had the power to F
in such a petition, and the Legislature to grant its prayet:•B 0
The Duke of WELLINGTON said it was the prat they
submit railway companies to the power of the law befuretoel
got their Bill, but there was nothing like a sufficient els° niss
over them afterwards. He did think that those compare
be amenable to the common law after they had '-
their railways, as well as before.
ties
Lord H A THERTON did not think that the fact of Pilae.
petitioning to be released from the making of a line, ab°,7o'
lieve them from certain responsibilities which they OA loss
dertaken. He was also of opinion that the expense as
of time consequent upon parties being obliged to go
two Committees on Standing Orders should be avoided, an
could easily be done by means of a commission. plats
Lord CAMPBELL said he agreed wi.h the Noble_aajait
that the public safety should be more carefully guarded 31rf A
than it had been upon the railways. The inflictive Joie
deodand had no effect whatever, and he agreed with
and Learned Lord, that that was nothing more than,!troels
u
culous remnant of ancient superstition. Care should ' ,
also that in case when a man, the father of a family Or sre
should have been killed, that the widow and family aloud lot
ceive compensation. A Bill to that effect was introduce... 44
session, but was thrown out. In Scotland the law 04°1 of
pecuniary compensation in such cases ; and he had bed 10
one instance in that country, where a man been killed an
widow was awarded 2,00P1. 1,001
Lord REDEADALE hoped the Noble and LearnedLe ore-
opposite would introduce that Bill again, for, under t° /eel
sent circumstances, parties had no redress whatever.
of the
might apply to the superintendent or to the chairmen; defy
board, but all these were parties interested; they ga
civil answers, but no redress was to be had.
The motion was then agreed to ; and
Lord KINNAIRD said he would name the Committee
morrow.

• ect RAILAYS.
Lord BEAUNION T presented a pe'ition against the D
_s„„,btt "
Northern Railway, and in favour of several other railW
his Lordship did not name them.
The House then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS March 3°•
inute
The SPEAKER took the Chair at a few in
Four o'clock.

NEW MEN

:ii Seat

bia
Mr. MILES M`fioNNELL T ,;0.
for the couny of Mo.
SCOTTISHt 'MIDLAayND EXTENSION RAIL
w
IkßEthße. oaths and
BILL. to
Viscount DUNCAN moved that leave be giviettiil-
the Committee on the Scottish Midland Extension ding
way Bill to proceed with the said Bill, notwithsla° btis
that seven clear days' notice of going into Comwittee
not been given, to
Mr. GREENE observed that the motion apPear to
him highly objectionable. The course that ought
if
have been adopted would have been for the clsairul't ;he
he could, to have made the present applic"juil
time of its appointment.
The motion was withdrawn.
SECOND READINGS.
The following. Bills were read a second time
aIId
ordered to be committed, viz.:—
Northumberland and Lancashire Junction Ra
ilwY
ilvvi'Y'
Glasgow, Airdrie, and Monkland: Junction
Edinburgh and Bathgate Railway.
Horbry•bridge and Calder Railway. siov)'
L,,edsn and Thirsk Railway (Knaresborough Extol
Perth and Inverness Railway.
Aberdeen, Banff, and Elgin Railway.
Hamilton New Gas.
11,1,nsburgh Harbour.
flelensburgh Extension and Police.
Shrewsbury and Herefordshire Railway.
SION COLLEGE. Bill be
Mr. GREENE int;ved that he Sion Coll_ ge dby
read a first time, notwithstanding the time holt*
the sessional order had expired.
Time m‘ition ree to.
The followingwas renoagrtsd were brought uP an
d
-
ordered
to b 9 laid on the tahle, viz.:—
Glasgow Waterwolks.
Welsh Charity School Incorporation.
Dundee New Gas.
Sunderland Dock (to be considered).
•