The Sun.
London, England, 1851-05-08 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 7.
AUDI I' OF RAILWAY ACCOUNTS BILL.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)
Colonel SIBTHORI? would give his consent to any
measure which would oblige railway companies to make
compentrition for the accidents which occurred on their
lines. In his opinion the whole system of railways was
founded on injustice and spoliation.
Mr. 0. RICARDO had no objectiod to the principle of
the Bill, because he was favourable to the establishment
of an ample railway audit, but he reserved to himself
the right of canvassing the details in Committee.
After a few words from Mr. PACICE and Mr. W.
EVANS, the House divided, when there appo tred—
For going into Committee ... 72
Against it... 49
Majority —23

(THIS DAY.)

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The House then went into Committee on the Bill.
Mr. BERNAL in the chair.
On clause I being proposed,
Mr. B. DENISON proposed the substitution of the
following clause in place of that contained in the Bill:
That notwithstanding anything contained to the con-
trary in any Act relaticg to a particular railway com-
pany, or to railway compel-lies in general, it shall be
lawful for any railway company in extraordinary general
meeting assembled to determine from time to time the
method of selecting auditors of the accounts of that com-
pany, and the qualification of such auditors, their re-
muneration, and their duration in office; and also from
time to time to determine the method of auditing the ac'
counts of that company; and whether any and what per-
sons shell be employed for the purpose of investi-
gating_
the said accounts in aid of the auditors of that
company; and whether the audit thereof shall bebe con-
tinuous or occasional; and what publicityshall
shall allowed
be gve
to the said accounts; and what access
the same are ss
to all or any of the books in h
con-
tained, or to the registers of pwropir anyrcieto of such rs and of trans-
fers; and whether copies of ail
docu-
ments, or abstracts thereof, shalobe periodically or oc-
casionally circulated amongst the shareholders.
The CHAIRMAN wished to remind the Committee
that by proposing the substitution
itorneloef
eafntebwe
Committee,
which Hon. Member was evading the
which required that new matter should only be intro-
diced at the end of the Bill.
After a short discussion the amendment was negatived
without a diviaio
- • e on the understanding that it should
be brought up afterwards.
After cousideraele discussion, in which Mr. Spooner.
Mr. Ricardo, Mr. E. Ellice, and Mr. Waddington, opposed
the clause, and Mr. Mowatt, Mr. L. Heyworth, Mr.
Rume, and Mr. Locke supported it,
The House divided, when there appeared—
For the clause ..
Against it ..,
Majority
... —2l
The clause was then agreed to.
Clauses 2,3, 4,5, were then agreed to.
Clause 6 gave rise to some discussion. It provided
that directors should only vote in their own right, and
it was contended that this would prevent a director from
voting with a proxy.
Mr. RICARDO explained that it very frequently hap-
pened that shareholders at a distance sent the directors
their proxies to vote on particular questions connected
with the railway, but if this clause were passed as it
stood it would altogether prevent that.
Mr. LOCKE said the object of the clause was simply
to preclude a director from voting in respect of shares
which he held as trustee for the company.
Mr. RICARDO proposed that an addition should be-
made to this clause to render it clear upon that point,
and after some conversation the proposal was adopted.
The clause, as amended, was agreed to, as was also
clause 7.
On clause 8 being proposed,
Mr. H. BROWN moved, in page 4, line 28, after the
word " investigation," to add " and shall make a special;
report as to any increase of capital which may have
been made since the then last previous audit, and how
such increase has arisen, end particularly whether
t,uch increase has arisen in works or plant, and whether
the same was contracted for under competition, or how
otherwise such increase may have been created."
Teem was no objection to this amendment, and it was, I
therefore, agreed to.
Mr. 11. BROWN then moved, in line 40, after the
word " line," to add the following words: " and also
that such auditors shall require to be produced to them,
occe at least in every year, all bills of costs for charges
in law, equity, conveyancing, and Parliament, and that '
the said auditors shall have full power and authority, if '
they shall think fit, to employ some competent person
or persons to examine and report to them upon the
charges in such bids of costs, and also to tax the same
before the proper authorities."
Mr. SPOONER objected to all the words after the
word " and also."
Mr. LOCKE also resisted that part of the amend-
ment, and appealed to the Hon. Mover to withdraw these
objectionable words.
Mr. LABOUCHERE was disposed to support the
amendment as it stood, believing that it was of the ut-
most importance to check the legal expenditure of rail-
way companies as much as possible.
Mr. HUME also supported the clause as it stood.
Mr. H. BROWN, in order to show the necessity for
this clause, mentioned a fact that had recently come to
his knowledge. A solicitor sent in a bill to a railway
company with which ho was connected, claiming a ba-
lance on his account of 20,6791., bat on taxation the
amount was reduced 8,3371., while upon investigation he
found that of the latter sum only fifteen seven-eighths
was fee money out of packet.—(Bear, and laughter.)
After some fureaer diFens3ion the gallery was cleared
for a division, fait none to"k place, and on our return
we found the di,icassion still going on.
An amendment was then moved by Mr. SPOONER,
that the clausu of which ho had given notice should be
pissed.
The Committee divided, when there appsared—
For the amendment 57
Against it

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The cumbers being equal, the Chairman gave the
testi, g v its in favour of the amendment, and it was ac-
eetdingly agreed to.
On the motion that the chose, as amended, stand part
of the Bill,
Mr. RICARDO protested against the power given by
the cIaUSE, to the auditors to interfere iith the policy of
railway companies' and proposed the omission of the
word •
d any oilier matter or thing they or either of them
may thietc fit."
Mr. LOLRE denied that the clause as it stood would
barn that o,er.
Mr. HUME proposed an amendment with a view to
have the supervision of the House.
Mr. ILSON said that the eleventh clause was evi-
den!ly tyrannical, and gave a power to the directors
which was plainly unconstitutional, and he should there-
fore oppose t‘ie reed ..n.
Mr. LA BO EICEIERB would not venture to say whe-
ther any arrangement of auditors should take place or
not, but this he' would say, that transactions had con-
tinually been taking place of which public officers ought
only to be cegnizent • public efficers ought to be ap-
pointed, for tireless that was done there could be no au-
curity for the public.
Mr. BECKET DENISON said that if this dame
was passed there would be an end to the power of toe
directors. The feet would be, that the reports sub-
mitted to, the shareholders would be the report of the
Government auditors and not of the directors.
Mr. J. LOCKE thought that, es the Honourable
Member for the West Riding had suggested, this
clause had better be left out then in; he was, there-
fore, desirous that the Chairman should report progress,
arl, that t',e House should sit again.
Biel r. LABOUCHERE said that this Was not a public
Howard there was much public business before the
, that the
better plan would be to postpone the
Bill, ai lin. Member for Honiton had proposed.
Aft sinne conversation, in wince Mr. BECKETT
DreherSON
k part, taut course'
was pursued, and the
fu t took art
of the Bill was wejourned until the
25th in.t.
HlGnwAy_,
(SOUTH WALES),BILL.
This Bill passed
iruugh Committee.
Lori
AOUSES BILL.
LODGING.ii
On the motion of
ht
ruiIILEY, the Model Lodge
iregehouse Bill was brou and read a first time.
APPOINMEN't TOcoFFICES BILL.
first
on this Bill.
The House then went into
therst clause would not
Mr. MULLINGS asked if the
the effect of gettine
havestamp •
on sppointments? top duties payable
Mr. C. LEWIS admitted that such would
Mr. Si.9OONER suggested that the Chairmanbe its effect.
progress, inasmuch as an Hon. and Learned should
report
her (Mr. Stuart)
bad given notice of a Mem-
the Bill. motion direct
The of
oppsition to the
The CHAIRMAN then reported progress, and ob-
tained leave to sit again.
The Other orders of the day were disposed of, the
Salo of Arsenic Bill being-postponed till to-morrow (this
day),
MILITARY MEDALS.
Sir G. PECHELL said that be wished to draw the
attention of the House and of the Government to
the
case of the military and naval officers
hadwho been engaged in great naval operations. It
was ~vident that in the cases of Captain Graham Moore
and the other °dicers nothin had been done. What did
they requite?
6i g
Simply that the men should do their
duty, but thought little of the advantsge which the
country would obtain f
ID the action of Admiral from the conduct of the men.
Rodney, the senior officer had
not, as was Usual, In
should therefore mot, such cases, been promoted.
end of the medals which he for the return of the letter
ad been granted Sir Graham
o More.
Mr. FORDYCE having
seconded the motion, the
return was ordered.
ADVERTISING VANS,
inconvenience suffered by the pubific the grevious
conveyances, end thought that private indl7 these
say nothing of Members of Parliament,
ought to be ro
tected from this evil. If the law was Ism,p
Ho wished for rfficlent, it
ought to be made so. -rot
number of those valter.Ye Lets which had reference
t th°
Sir G. GREY said tats: the return fur White the
Hoe. and Gallant Member bad moved had already be„u
placed on the table of the HOLM. For his own part, h,
was not at all to blame, and would be happy to furnish
the lion- and Gallant Member with any information
the t he might require.—(Fiesr, hear.)
-Colonel SIBTITIORP said that the Act was vague, and
elieved that the iciformation Was vague, and he
d therefore move for new iiforreation on a future
•
ST. ALBAN'S ELECTION.
G. GREY announced the; the iiridrets of the House
, Majiity, praying that a reward might be offered
eppreheasion of the witnesses who had ilibkOnded,
hai4 been prooooted to her Alajosty, awl t.at ordaz

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. i had been issued by her Majesty, in scoordsnce with I
the address.
The other business having been disposed of, the House li
adjourned at Six o'clock.

.671V)5.4,
4iov
xzittton

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PRICES OF SHARES
IN BANKS, ASSURANCE, AND OTHER COM.
PONIES' STOCK.
From the Official List.
PUBLIMED ZYRET TUESDAY AND FRIDAY ETNIIIIRS.
LONDON, TUESDAY, MAY 6.