The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-08 00:00:00

Cross-examined— Witness's mother has worked for
Mrs. Barber for three years as laundress.
Wm. James Down, aged 74 years, was sworn after
some difficulty raised with regard to his age, and said—
I went to the Samaritan Institution on Christmas-day,
1855, and had five thick slices of pudding, five thick
slices of meat, and five thick slices of bread, and the
gentleman asked me if I had a jug, and I said, "No."
I then went home with the dinner, and returned to the
Samaritan Institution with my aunt to fetch the beer,
which was put into the jug we took for that purpose.
My aunt has gone abroad. The jug held about a quart,
and it was full of beer. I saw the gentleman draw the
beer from the barrel, which was inside the door, near
where they were catting up the meat. I saw the man
serving out the beer to two or three while I was there.
Cross-examined—l was at the institution on last
Christmas-day. Mother was not there, because she was
ill in bed. I have been there every day since for soup.
There were two casks cannected by a pipe, and a tap in
one.

This witness was further cross-examined at considerable
length, and gave his evidence with remarkable clearness,
which elicited considerable applause from a very crowded
court.

Sir R. W. Carden remarked that it was very extra-
ordinary that a child of the witness's years should recol-
lect circumstances minutely that occurred 12 months
ago.

Mr. Joyce said a more truthful narrative be had never
heard given.
Mr. Sleigh at this stage said there were limits to all
human endurance, and as he had been without food for
the last 12 hours, he was not desirous of continuing s
until 9 o'clock the next morning, the time Mr. Horsley
had said this case would last to.
Sir R. W. Carden said he did not wish to sit after 12
o'clock, and it would therefore be better to call Mrs.
Down in and examine her, and then adjourn the inquiry.
Mrs. Down was accordingly sworn, and corroborated
her boy as to the food she had received from the Sama-
ritan Institution on the day in question.
The little boy was then recalled, and examined by the
&Herman, when the replies he gave were inconsistent
with some unimportant parts of his evidence.

Sir F. W. Carden intimated that it was quite clear
the witness had bees tutored.

Mr. Joyce said he was satisfied the boy was stating
everything to the best ~f his recollection, and that which
he believed to be true.

The inquiry, having lasted seven hours, was adjourned
at 10 minutes past 10 o'clock at night.
Mr. Barber was again bound over in his own recogni-
-ances i❑ 501. to appear and further answer the charge.

PROPOSAL AND PLAN BY WHICH SIXTY
THOUSAND POUNDS A- TEAR MAY BE SAVED
TO THE RATEPA ItRS OF THE CITY PARISH.

(Prom the Glasgow Sentinel, Dec. 27, 1856.)
We have received a copy of the undersigned memorial
from its promoter for insertion in the Sentinel. We will-
ingly give it a place, and earnestly recommend its careful
perusal and consideration to the members of the Corpora.
tion, as well as the ratepayers of the City generally. When
the project is fully and fairly discussed, it is intended that
the memorial shall receive the signatures of all parties de-
sirous of promoting the social and sanitary improvement of
the population without inflicting on them the " dead
weight" of an enormous Corporation debt
Into the Honourable the Lord Provost and other
Members of the Corporation of the City of Glasgow,
the Memorial of the undersigned, bankers, mer-
chants, tradesmen, and other inhabitants of Glas-
gow, respectfully sheweth-
1. That, according to the last financial statement issued
by, and under the authority of your hon. Corporation, the
yearly amount of interest paid for money borrowed and
debts die is more than the whole of the other sums annu-
ally expended by the Corporation, and consequently all the
ratepayers are taxed double the amount they would other-
wise he subject to were no borrowed money required.
2. That in addition to the debt of the Glasgow Corpo-
ration, the Water Commissioners are advertising that
" they are prepared to receive loans on such terms and for
such periods as may be agreed upon, and to grant mort-
gages over the property and works vested in and to be
acquired or constructed by them in virtue of their Act, an,i
over the several unlimited rates authorised to be levied
under the provisions thereof." And further, that " the
Parliamentary Trustees on the river Clyde and harbour
of Glasgow are at present receiving loans, rate of interest
4 per cent., for any period from three to ten years."
3. That, by other statements made, it appears that the
amount of money required for the completion of the Loch
Katrine Water Works, with contingent expenses, will be
700,0001.; and that, in addition to the interest proposed to
be paid for this sum, the Glasgow Corporation is also
bound by the award lately made respecting the claims of
the Glasgow Water Works Company, and the interest also
payable to the Gorbals Gravitation Water Works Com-
pany, the whole amounting as follows :
To annuities payable to shareholders of Glas-
gow Water Company 216,176 6 0
To interest of debt. due by do
To annuities payable to shareholders of
Gorbals Gravitation Water Company lO,BOO 0 0
To interest on 700,000 i. proposed to be bor-
rowed for now water works (say) ... 23,000 0 0
To interest payable and to be paid on pre-
sent debt of corporation (say) 10,929 14 10

----
Total interest payable
..
Ind to be paid by the city of Glasgow corporation for
money borrowed and to be borrowed, and debts due by
them, exclusive of the interest due and to become due for
money borrowed and to be borrowed by the Parliamen-
tary trustees on the river Clyde.
4. That, to meet these annual liabilities, Mr. Donaldson,
the assessor, has made an estimate showing that, in 1859-
60, when the above items for interest will become charge-
able, the revenue from the water rate alone at ls. 2d. per
11. rental on the north side of the Clyde, and is. per 11. on
the rental on the south side, will realise the yearly sum of
74,281. 2s. 4d., to which may be fairly added from all
other sources of income a sum which will make the entire
yearly revenue of the Glasgow Corporation 1,000,0001.,
which, at 4 per.cent, or 25 years' purchase, represents a
capital of 2,500000/ , guaranteed by the best of all secu-
rities, viz., " The property and works vested in and to be
acquired or constructed by the Corporation in virtue of
their Act, and over the several unlimited rates authorised
to be levied under the provisions thereof f' and the whole
doubly secured by the property, ingenuity, and industry
of all the ratepayers.
5. That the system of borrowing money on interest for
the purposes of the corporation is most injurious to the
ratepayers, as such practice is certain to impose a perma-
nent debt on the population, which, like the " national
debt," will become a " dead weight " on their ingenuity
and industry • and, therefore, such practice should be for
ever abandoned.
6. That, instead of borrowing money cn interest, the
Glasgow Corporation should hanceforth make and is4ue
their own money for all the purposes of the corporation,
and that such corporation money should consist of notes
of the representative values of 1/., 51., 101., and 20/., or
such other values as may be determined, based on the
aforesaid securities ; and that such notes be received by the
corporation and its agents at their respective values, in
payment of all rates, taxes, rents, or any other claim what
ever due by any person or persons to the Glasgow Corpo-
ration.

7. That, while this system will allow the corporation to
carry forward their various social and sanitary improve-
ments with much greater facility and security to all par-
ties, it will also enable the Corporation to apply their sur-
plus funds, acquired by the saving of interest, to the liqui-
dation of their entire debt, and consequently lessen the
burdens of the ratepayers.

8. That, in support of these views, the case of a market
erected in Guernsey is quite in point, as stated in the his-
tory of that island and va,rions other publications as follows:
"The material wealth of the island is computed at four mil-
lions sterling. Instead et borrowing money at interest to
build the edifice, the inhabitants issued notes founded oe
their own property and credit. This was done by the autho-
rity of their local parliament or states. The estimated cost
of the market was 4,000/., and 4,000 one pound notes were
issued. These were paid to the contractor as the works
proceeded : with these he payed his workmen's wages : they
in turn gave them to the shopkeepers for food ; the shop•
keepers gave them to their landlords for rent, and they wei o
again reelistributied among society. In this manner
they were kept floating about, fulfilling the functions
for which they wqre made and issued. In due season the
market was comilleted. It contained eighty shops, which
were let at 51. each a year, so that the annual rent wa,
4001. At the erad of the first year of tenantry, 4001., for
which notes ha d been issued to build the market, having
been received as rent, were burned in presence of the
official authorities. The same operations were repeated
annually for ten years, at the expiration of which period
all the votes. -were redeenied, and being cancelled, were, of
course, passed out of circulation; but the annual rent
did
not cease, it, exists to this day, and is employed for loc.d
improvenafints, and thus a substantial reality was created
by a chew') representative money."
9. That, from the foregoing facts and figures, it may
ba
fairly assumed that the Glasgaw Corporation debt, floating
and corwolidateil in 1860, will be about one million five
hundt/Jd thousand pounds, and the yearly revenue about
one b' undred thousand pounds. Assuming also that the
inter est on the said debt is saved by the issue of the Corpo-
rati on money, it follows that about sixty thousand pound,
a y ear will be saved, and may be applied to discharge the
de/at, which by such process would be cancelled in 25 years,
an d the corporation notes withdrawn from circulation,
w'han the water rates and other local taxes may be con-
si reduced ; or, if continued, like the rent of the
Gaernsey market, applied to promote other social and
ea,aitary improvements.
'lO. That the measures requisite to organise and carry