The Sun.
London, England, 1859-07-08 00:00:00

had from time to time been brought before Parliament with
a view of remedying this state of things ; but, with the ex-
ception of the South Wales Act, none of these measures had
received the sanction of Parliament. The bill which he held
in his hand had been introduced by the late Government,
had been discussed in that house, and had gone through
committee with some amendments. Under these circum-

stances he would not detain the house with any explanation
of the principles of the measures. He had followed the form
of the late bill word for word, and he therefore wished that
_ _ _

,he merit of the measure should be given to the late Govern-

ment, through one of whose members (Mr. Hardy) the
measure had been brought before the house. (Hear.) The
bill proposed to give parishes the power of forming them-
selves into districts, and of appointing a surveyor of the dis •
trict for the purpose of keeping the roads in order.

ARMY ORGANISATION COMMITTEE.
On the motion of Colonel NORTH, that the name of Col.
Lindsay be added to the committee,
Mr. S. HERBERT consented that the name be substi-
tuted for that of Lord Hotham, who was unable to serve.
METROPOLIS CARRIAGE WAYS.
Mr. COWPER moved for leave to bring in a bill to re-
strict the erection of permanent structures in the carriage
ways of the metropolis. We had (he said) for some time been
under the apprehension of a French descent' on our coasts,
but the fart was that a V'rench descent had really taken place
in the great thoroughfares of the metropolis, a French com-
pany having takenpossession of them, and haring commenced
setting up various objectionable erections, in the most con-
spicuous places. They had already commenced operations at
Hyde-park Corner, where they had broken up the pavement
and proceeded to set up a grotesque and tawdry structure,
something between an Alhambra clock and a Chinese pagoda,
under the name of an advertising column. A pretence of
usefulness was advanced in favour of these obstructions, on ,
the ground of the information which was thus afforded, such
as the time for Creroarne, the names of the vestrymen who
had consented to the erection, and the time when Dr. Eacli
was to be found at home—(a laugh)—but he did not think
even this information important enough to justify a posi-
tive nuisance, the more especially as these columns were
calculated to attract foot passengers at points which were
most dangerous for themselves and most inconvenient
for the circulation. The vestries had, he believed, granted
a concession in favour of these columns, but he thought
p
they had in doing so completely mistaken the scoe of their
powers or duties. They never were intended to be looked
up to as the guardians of the public taste, although they
had full powers to take care of the pavements. It was further
urged in favour of these columns that they superseded the
greater nuisance of advertising vans; but advertising valls
might be got rid of by indictmet if the nuisance were
proved, and it was a bad method to get rid of one nuisance
by setting up another. But an indictment would end in 6
penalty, and a penalty might not abate the nuisance!?
happened in New York in the case of the celebrated Mr'
Barnum, who at one time paid four dollars a day for a fort'
night for the privilege of persevering in a proved nuisance.
As the most efficient way of meeting all cases of this de'
scription in future, he (Mr. Cowper) proposed that a vet° •
should be given to the Chief Commissioner of Works upon
the proposed construction of any edifice in the London
highways. (Move, move.) He feared that if something
of the kind were not done we might gradually find objet'
tionable edifices rising up in all the most frequented
thoroughfares of the meropolis. The hon. member con'
eluded by moving for leave to bring in the bill.
The house divided—
For the bill , 165
Against it
Majority
ADULTERATION OF FOOD, &c., PREVENTION
BILL. • .
Mr. SCHOLEFIELD, is moving the second reading a
this bill, said that its object was to authorise geverufe,go
bodies in different districts to appoint public analysts
detect such offences, and also to impose certain penalties:oJ
parties guilty of adulteration.
Mr. G. HARDY opposed the bill, which, if brought Ui
operation, would lead to a system of informations 0,,
spyings-out perfectly intolerable, and to the unnecessaril:
bringing parties before magistrates when there was 13°
just ground of accusation. Believing the bill would act
most oppressively and unjustly, he begged to move as all„
amendment that it be read a second time that day three
months.
Mr. CRAWFORD seconded the amendment.
Mr. W. COWPER supported the bill, believing so
°
remedy against adulteration to be absolutely necessary. a
Lord R. CECIL said if the doctrine of the hon. a°
learned member for Leominster (Mr. Hardy) was to pet;
wail, Parliament ought not to interfere to prevent a Itt,,
having arsenic mixed with his lozenges. Tea, coffee, sura
and other necessary articles of consumption were adulteratee
to such an extent as to affect the comfort and health of tb
population, and it was quite impossible for the poor man t°
protect himself from the injuries inflicted upon him. . ,
Mr. WALTER was convinced of the necessity of leg'st
lating, on the subject, and trusted the house would couse"
to the second reading of the bill.
Mr. BRADY supported the bill, which was founded p.
the recommendation of a select committee appointed to 1138
quire into the subject, and expressed his surprise that oaf
of the representatives of the great trading community
the city of London should object to the passing of a meat"(
the object of which was to prohibit the people from be".""
robbed and poisoned by adulteration. (Hear.) ,
Mr. E. JAMES congratulated the hon. member (5,
Brady) on having postponed his leave of absence, whichL,.
enabled him to be present to advocate this bill. He Oul
James) believed the really honest tradesman could not objeft
to the bill. It was absurd to say that a poor man who bong
a pennyworth of coffee, and got more chicory than offe/
could indict the tradesman. He thought the bill was 131,
on a sound principle; and should give it his hearty supl)°4
Sir G. C. LEWIS said he thought every member w°l7ol
concur in supporting the principle of the bill, and every of
that came recommended by his hon. friend the member Jot
Birmingham came recommended from a good source. 13.0
after having carefully examined the clauses of this bill, voto
a silicere•desire to accede to them; he could not agree e,
them. The great objection he had to the bill was the vaglij
ness and generality of its provisions. The offences creard
were in two branches. The first clause Subjected the offend
to a penalty if he sold any article of food or drink in ww-of
there was any ingredient calculated to injure the health
the person purchasing it. Now, when they knew the vartfiertel
of opinions entertained by medical men as to what inj
health, this provision, it would seem, was very vague. Thel„;
was a school of persons who maintained that if alcohol sv,',"
mixed with any article—for instance, with water—(a lauo. ee,l
—it was injurious, and he apprehended that the Gelling e
alcoholic drink would come within that provisiOn. Then tti
second branch of the offence was this—any personwho show:
sell or expose for sale any adulterated article of food or driT,
to the knowledge of the person so selling it, should be ell,o
jecf to a penalty. It was not said that the article mixed wtil
to be deleterious, but merely that it was to be mixed
and foreign to the article sold.. He apprehended that
th
sale of coffee mixed with chicory would come under the Pr"
vision. (Hear, hear.) Then they came to the machine,,
by which the bill was worked. District boards were to
appointed to analyse food and drink, for which they Were 60
be paid. It was, clear,_ therefore, that considerable exPet.)ol
would be incurred. Desiring to avoid any legislation Nclurd
might be vexatious, and might create traps or pitfall'
the honest trader, he did not think that any advant°e-
would arise from passing this bill.
After a few words from Mr. BARROW and Mr. D.
GRIFFITH, the house divided—
For the second reading 227
Against .103-124 to
The bill was then read a second time, and ordered to
committed on Wednesday week.
The Court of Probate Acquisition of Site Bill W-„j
through committee, with the addition of a clause prop...„lo'ci
by Mr. Ayrton, providing that the compensation to be Yais
to the Collego of Advocates should not be more than
real market value of its property.
The Public Health Bill was read a second time.
The Clerk of the Council Bill was read a second time.
Qn the motion of Mr. IiADFIELD, the Admiralty C°
bill was read a second time and ordered to be committed "
Tuesday.
ROMAN CATHOLIC RELIEF ACT AMENDMOI
BILL.
Sir W. SOMERVILLE moved the second reading of
this bill.
Mr. SOTHERON-ESTCOURT hoped the right 11;0
gentleman would not press the bill that night, as it
only printed and put into members' hands,that morning'
Mr. PIGOTT seconded the amendment.
After a few words from several hon. members, the de.
bate was adjourned.
ENDOWED SCHOOLS BILL.
Mr. DILLWYN moved that this bill be referred to*
select committee.
Mr. NEWDEGATE opposed the bill, which would, lie
said, impose for the first time a distinct disability on tb.:
Church of England. The Church would be placed in a cllr
ferent position from all other religious bodies holding pro'
party in the country, because the Church alone would w:
precluded from acquiring a title by long possession to ,
property which might have been in her hands for a loin,
series of years. It would be better to refer the whole WO'
tion, and not this bill alone, to a select committee.
Mr. HUBBARD opposed the bill, and regretted tb
such a measure should have received the sanction of tb
Attorney .General.
Mr. HARDY assented to the proposal that the bit°
should be sent before a select committee, but reserved,:
himself the right of moving on any future occasion an ""
struction to that committee.
Mr. NEWDEGATE insisted on a division being talter4
and the house was cleared for that purpose. Owing, 110":,,,,‘
ever, to a moment's inadvertence, the hon. gentleen
omitted to press his demand at the right time, and, anti
much laughter, _
The SPEAKER declared the motion carried.
The house adjourned at 20 minutes before 12,