The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-17 00:00:00

SCOTTISH TOLLS BILL.

The Duke of RICHNIOND said that,. in moving
the second reading of this Bill, his only object was to
assimilate the tolls in Scotland to those in England.
In the former country, it was an almost universal prac-
tiee to license the toll-keepers for the purpose of selling
spirituous liquors ; and he
.had been credibly informed
when a carter paid his
The excuse was, that the custom of licensing
t
of money.
ttohlaltiot pwa-asas aa bcaor7roogaivPerlauemticheis change in liquor. instead
these houses was necessary, in consequence of the dis-
tance at which these houses stood from each other. But
this was all a. mistake, for these houses were licensed, in
many instances, where the houses stood within a few
hundred yards of a town. He believed that there metre
not less than 450 houses which were licenselunder th
circumstances. This was plainly unneces ary fortt
wants of the public, and he thought that the Bill would
do away with a great evil, and he should, therefore move
the second reading.
Lord CAMPBELL gave his most hearty concurrence
to the principle of this Bill. lie could speak from
recent experience, for since he had last been in their
Lordships' House he had been into Scotland, and had
there heard complaints from all quarters of the evil
working of the practice. There was one county in
which there was not a single toll-house without a licence;
and so far from these houses being established as a con-
venience, he knew that in one instance the house was
not more than 300 yards from 0 e town. In other in-
stances the houses were placed at the foots of bridges,
and the bridges were actually beleagured by them. In
one county the sheriff was the person who farmed the
houses, and he who ought to be the conservator of public
morals was the very person to betray them.
The Duke of MONTROSE approved of the Bill, and
RthOisSEß was Etl olli beY a said
genmeruaclh lawinconvenience
he should certainly, if necessary, give his vote for it.
ir
ol
t
would
and would interfere materially with private property:
he
result Earl
oiff
Many notorious abuses existed under the old Act,
which were abrogated in a great measure by the Act at
. present operation. He could not agree with his
Noble Friend that this should be a sweeping mea-ure.
Some exceptions ought to be made in particular districts.
The Earl of DALHOUSIE said the abolition of the
system of licensing toll-bars for the sale of spirituous
liquors in Scotland would not destroy the evil .of intoxi-
cation, a
s those desirous of purchasing spirits might gra-
tify their inclination at grocers' shops ; yet great good
would accrue to the public by withholding these licences.
He should therefore vote for the second readirg of the
Bill.

The Bill was then read a second time.
CALICO PRINT WORKS BILL. •
The second reading of this Bill was postponed until
Tuesday.
Several Bills were alvanced a stage, and their Lord-
ships adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 16.

The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock.
SCARBOROUGH WATER-WORKS.

After the presentation of several petitions against the
grant to Maynooth. the Scarborough Water-Works'
Bill was read a second time.

RAILWAYS.

Mr. S. WORTLEY said that he would detain the
House but a very few moments before moving
the adoption of the resolution of which he had
given notice, and which was simply in con-
formity with a recommendation in the first report. of the
any general
liadial
all
in3efenru railway
siuluraar.,jaßeyei
tll,
Bills
Committee on Railways last session. He was. Induced
to draw the attention of the House to this subject from
a belief that we were not yet in a position to come to
ghtioas legislation.
its precisions.
en
(.tnh el ufor passed,ii
.nmgti theti
T•itlhija,Fst
railwaysse ss
requiredc) ft
should
ru
was the plan adopted by his Right Hon. Friend