The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-04 00:00:00

not been incorporated with the bill beteugh t iu a few nights
ago with regard to the removal of tke poor, as ho wished
to see the statutes relating to the peer simplified and not
multiplied.
Mr. BARROW considered that the ratepayers should
continue to appoint the officers, and hoped the whole poor
law would be shortly consolidated.
Viscount EBRINGTON thanked the right hon. gentle.
man (Mr. Bouverie) for his proposal with regard to the
auditors. Ile only trusted he would limit their numbers,
for upon that the sound administration of the poor law
very much depended.
Mr. PEACOC.KE objected to that part of the bill which
proposed to deal with extra-parochial places.
Lord J. MANNERS sail the money which the atzditnrs
had to overlook was paid by the ratepayers of the country,
and therefore it was not so unreasonable that the ratepay-
ers should have the nomination t4l the office, or nominate
themselves as auditors. .
Mr. BOUVERIE having replied,
Leave was given to bring in the bill.
DRAFTS ON BANKERS.
Mr. A. PELLATT moved the second reading of the
Drafts on Bankers Bill, the object of which is to render
crossed cheques upon bankers legal instruments. The hon.
member stated that, before the joint-stock banks were ad-
mitted to the clearing•house, the value, of -the cheques
cleared amounted to 1,000,000,0001. yearly, but that now
it might be fairly estimated at 3,000,00 ),000/. ; and that
theme enormous transactions were effected mainly through
the instrumentality of what were called crossed cheques.
He proposed, therefore, to legalise the system of crossed
cheques, so as to give additional security to the public and
the bankers. The custom of bankers with respect to
crossed cheques had been interfered with by recent deci-
sious in the courts of law, but if this bill were passed, it
would restore confidence and tend very materially to fad-
Mate the immense monetary transactions of the country.
The bill was supported by the committee of bankers, by
the committee of the Stock Exchange, and the Governor
of the Bank of England had also given him certain sugges-
tions, which he had adopted, with the view of makingthe
measure more efficient.
Mr. GLYN supported the second reading, and assured
the house that there was a universal feiling in the City in
-favour-of-some of—the sort, in consequence of
recent deciiions in the courts of law tending to throw doubt
upon the validity of the custom among bankers. He did
not, however, think that the bill under discussion ought
to be passed in its present shape ; but as regarded the ques-
tion of security, which was the maiu object of the bill, and
of the original practice among bankers, it had his full ap.
proval. There were also other grounds upon,which he was
prepared to support some measure of the sore, and that was
with reference to the currency. Within the last 10 year.
,its-,the commercial classes of Ilia4natronnlia 1..1 Ana ..... —.l

thesect ottnsll by econorniaing „the currency of
th country, which some persons supposed to be based
upon somewhat too contracted a basis.- With this view
many alterations had been introduced in the clearing-
house and general conduct of banking business, and im-
mense sums of money daily passed through the clearing-
house, and were settled without the use or intervention of
a single bank note. (hear.) This bill would add mate-
rially to the efficiency of the system, and he was therefore
prepared to support its principle, reserving to himself the
1 right to oppose the 3d clause in committee; as he did not
consider that portion of the measure necessary or called for.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that the result of
his professional experience induced him to give his hearty
support to a bill the principle of which he approved, al-
though he believe I some of its details would require con-
siderable modification.

Mi. JOHN MACGREGOR expressed a hope that if
the bill were extended to Scotland it would be permissive.
and not compulsory.
•
Mr, HANKEY did not think that any legislation was
required upon the subject. The present system prevented
bankers from paying money incautiously, which was the
object of the bill. The object which the hon. gentleman
the member. for Southwark wished to effect would he
already answered under the existing law, by drawing
checks at sight, payable to an inavidual named. He contd.
not recomu.end the house to adopt any legislation on the
subject while the present system was found to act so well.
Mr. WILKINSON supported the bill.
The bi!l was then read a second time, and ordered to be
committed en Monday next.
MARRIED WOMEN'S REVERSIONARY I Si TEREST