The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-29 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 28.
The SPEAKER :took the Chair shortly before Four
o'clock.
The Blackburn, Darwen, and Bolton Railway Bill
was read a third time, and passed.
The Chester and Holyhead Railway Bill was read sfr
third time and passed.
The Manchester and Leeds Railway Bill (Burnley
Branch), and Heywood and Oldham Branches Extension
Bill were read a third time and passed.
Upon the question for the further consideration of the
third reading of the Leeds and Bradford Extension
Railway Bill from Shipley to Colne,
Mr. C. WOOD moved that the Bill be re-committed.
He thought that it was necessary to take time to re-
consider the merits of this Bill, and he thought it ne-
cessary that the House should know the grounds on
which he moved the re-committal of this Bill. There were
two clauses in it which were totally inconsistent
with each other. By the 43d clause a maximum charge
was established for the carriage of coals, which made
the price Id. a ton per mile. By the 39th and 40th
clauses this was extended to 3d. a ton. By the general
standing orders this price was limited to 11-d. per ton,
but by the 30th clause a power was taken to raise the price
to 2d. a ton, where the j distance over which the coal
was carried was more than 15 miles. By the 40th
clause an additional penny was given, which made the
price 3d. a ton per mile. There was, therefore, a glar-
ing inconsistency between the clauses, as one gave
only lid. a ton, while another gave 3d. a
ton per mile. This distinction was openly re-
pudiated in the Committee. The Committee themselves
thought that there ought to be no distinction between
the carriage for fifteen miles or more. The power of
charging the aid. a mile was above the maximum charge
fixed by the Board of Trade, and there was, therefore,
no means of getting rid of the inconsistency, except the
re-committal of the Bill. The Company themselves had
expressed their willingness for the alteration, and he
should, therefore, move that the Bill be re-committed.
Mr. P. M. STEWART thought that the best plan
would be to re-commit the Bill, as this would do away
with the inconsistency, and establish one maximum in
all the clauses.
Mr. ENTWISLE thought that no imputations of
unfair conduct could be brought against this Company,
because the House would find that the 39th clause of
their Bill was exactly in conformity with their offer to
the Board of Trade.
After a few words from Mr. Stuart Wortley, Mr. P.
Stewart, and Mr. Charles Wood, the Bill was ordered
to be re-committed.
The Leeds and Bradford Extension, and the Leeds,
Dewsbury, and Manchester Railway Bills, were read a
third time and passed.
SCOTTISH CENTRAL RAILWAY.
Mr. PARKER moved the re-consideration Of the re-
port on the Scotch Central Railway Bill.
Mr. DUNCAN moved as an amendment, that the Bill
be re-committed.
Mr. E. ELLIS, jun., seconded the amendment. He
had no doubt but the Committee had given the line the
greatest attention, but the facts as they were reported
could not stand. He wished the whole of the ease should
go before the Board of Trade, and the fixing of the ter-
minus, &c., should be left to it.
The motion having been put,
Mr. J. PARKER opposed the re-committal of the Bill,
on the ground that the decision of the Committee on the
line itself and on the different termini was influenced by
a regard to the public interests.
Mr. HOME DRUMMOND hoped the House would
support the Committee.—(Hear, hear.) The Committee
had been unanimous in their report, and he saw no
reason at all for the re-committal of the Bill.
The amendment having been withdrawn, the motion
was then agreed to.
Mr. J. PARKER thought much time would be saved
if a great portion of the railway business were given
over to some inferior tribural, he would therefore move
that it be referred to the Select Committee on Railway
Bills, to consider whether certain portions of the case
for every Bill, on which reports are now required by
the Standing Orders, may not be investigated under the
authority of the House, before the Bill goes into Com-
mittee, and to report their opinion to the House.
Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET thought this motion
had better be deferred till the greater portion of the
reports of the Committee had been brought up.
Mr. PARKER said that the intense attention to pri-
vate business prevented that consideration of general
principles which they required, but as the House was
not at present in a position to entertain his motion, he
would beg to withdraw it. The motion was then with-
drawn.