The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-20 00:00:00

SMALL TENEMENTS RATING BILL.

On the motion for going into Committee on this
Bill,
Mr. P. SCROPE took occasion to protest against the
House going into Committee on this Bill, on the ground
that it was an ex post facto Bill, and would greatly tend
to add to the already sufficiently heavy rentals of the
dwellings of the poor. The theory of the opponents of
such measures was that the populatton would be checked
by want of house room, and he was surprised the Right
Hon. Secretary of State, having read all the reports on
this subject, should set his lace against this measure.
As he was aware of the feeling opposed to him, he should
not attempt to divide the House at present.
Mr. ROBERT PALMER agreed with much that
had fallen from the Hen. Member. As it was quite
evident that a large majority of the House were in fa-
vour of this measure he should not oppose the Bill going
into Committee, but he should reserve to himself the
right of proposing any modification of it when he was in
Committee.
Mr. E. DENISON said he thought it was perfectly
understood that all rates were puid by real prof et ty.
The Hon. Gentleman who had just spoken seemed to
have forgotten this. The provision was a most
wholesome one, and he. should decidedly give it his
support. _ _

nthr GEORGE GREY said ho could not see any in •
justice or hardship in making a landowner liable for the
rates of houses under 61. He was now responsible for
rates of houses between 61. and 20/., and if he were to build
two houses under 61. instead or one at 121. or 201, he
would not be placed in a worse position. The .House
bad already decided in favour of the principle, and he
hoped they would go into Committee upon the Bill.
Sir J. PAKINGTON said, although he er.ttrlained
an objection to some part of the Bill, he did not wish to
move any amendment, lest the progress of it might be
endangered, because he thought it was a measure which
ought to pass. The Hon. Member fir Stroud had said
he opposed the Bill on behalf ( f the poor, but he (Sir J.
Pakington) supported it for the same reason.—(Hear.)
He was sure it would be of the greatest possible benefit
to the poorer classes.
Mr. BERNAL said a variety of Bills of a similar
nsture had passed through his hands, and in all of them
the power given for making the rate was compulsory,
and no discretion was lett to the vestry.—(Hear, hear.)
He thought the measure, if properly administered, would
redound greatly to the benefit of the poor.—(Bear.)
After an observation from Mr. HALSEY, the amend-
ment was withdrawn, and the House went into Com-
mittee.

Upon the first clause being moved,
Mr. HALSEY moved the intertion of words requiring
that two thirds of the votes of persons present at a ve,try
meeting should be necessary to make their proceedings
legal.
Mr. P. SCROPE objected to the alteration.
Mr. LAW moved that the words, " and are hereby
required," be added to the clause. lie made this motion
because tie thought the Bill ought to be compulsory and
not permissive.
Mr. CHRISTOPHER thought it better to leave the
clause as it stood. _ _

Sir G. GREY said notice ought to have been given of
this important alteration in the Bill; but as no such no-
tice had been given, Le hoped the amendment would not
be persevered in.
Mr. LAW did not wish t) press it if threw any obstacle
in the way of the Bill.

Mr. B. -DENIS° N said there ought to be no room
left for jobbing; the Bill, therefore, ought not to be op-
tional, but compulsory.
Mr. BAINES also entertained the same opinion; but
he was anxious to get the greatest amount of good from
the Bill that he could. An amendment introduced at
this stage, however, might prove fatal to the Bill, and he
would suggest that the Hon. and Learned Recorder
should propose a clause on the bringing up of the
report.

Captain HARRIS did not think the House was taken
by surprise by the proposal of the amendment, and as
the Bill, if it passed in its present shape, would lead to
considerable political animosity, ho trusted the amend-
ment would be persevered in.
SOTHERON deprecated any revival of a dis-
cussion on the principle of the Bill. The object of the
Hon. and Learned Recorder would be better accom-
plished by proposing his amendment en bringing up the
report.

-Mr. COMPTON was ready to support the amend•
ment if it would not impede the progress of the Bill.
Mr. P. SCROPE should prefer the Bill being made
compulsory now that the House had decided that it
should pass.
Mr. W. PATTEN did no► think the Bill ought to be
compulsory, and the majority of the vestries be thought
would agree with him.

Mr. JOHN WALTER supported the amendment.
Mr. W. MILES thought it was the duty of the Hon.
Gentleman the President of the Poor-law Board (Mr.
Baines) to have brought in.this Bill himself. He hoped
the lion. Gentleman would not endanger this Bill by
persisting in introducing a compulsory clause, and thily,
the House would pass the Bill in it! present shape.
Mr. PHILIP HOWARD thought, if the Bill wits
rendered compulsory, the House would be assailed with
more opposition than at present existed out of doors. He
trusted the Hon. Gentleman the President of the Poor-
law Board would not insist on the compulsory principle.
Captain HOWARD supported the Bill in its prevent
shape on the ground that a compulsory clause would in-
crease the obstacles in collecting the rates, and press
with great hardship upon the poorer classes.
Mr. B. DENISON could not understand why the
compulsory principle should be objected to ; he, him-
self, thought it would be most salutary in its operation;
at all events, when the discussion was published out of
doors it would be known who was for and who against
the clause.
Mr. SLANEY supported the compulsory clause.
After a few words from Mr. CAREW and Sir GEORGE
GREY,
The amendment was negatived without a division.
Mr. WALTER wished to know if the power of ex-
emption, which was given to magistrates, would be con-
tinued or not.

Mr. BAINES said that that power would remain
unaltered,

Mr. HENLEY %i:hed to guard him:•AF from being
conarai..ted to the eompul:,ory part of this Bill.
(r.Err SITTING.)

BUNN ON TUB STAGE.— The oftener we hear
this interesting dramatic monologue the more we are
pleased with the intellectual treat, the variety of highly
amusing anecdotes interspersed, and the judicious elec-
tion f some of the most beautiful passages from the
p'erless poet, acted to p.n.Gction by Mr. Been.
TITLES OF RELIGIOUS CONGREGATIONS.—A
presented by Mr. Veto, has been print d, the purpose of
which is to secure to the successors of trustees holding
property for the UEC of religious congregations or educa-
tional societies., a sufficient title in that property without
further conveyance yr assignment.