The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-02-23 00:00:00

TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.

On Wednesday last, the adjourned monthly meeting of the
Tuwu CutmLit was held.

MEMORIALS.
The MAYOR presented a number of petitions from different
individuals praying for situations in the Police force, &c. They
were severally referred to the Finance, and Watch committee's.
A letter was then read from Dr Buck expressing his acknow-
ledgements for his appointment to the chaplaincy of the Borough
Gaol.

A petition was read from Dr. John Quale, complaining that
the freedom of the borough was withheld from him, though he
had served an apprenticeship of seven years.
The TOWN-ct.Lux explained, that he had given his Opinion
against Dr. Quale's receiving his certificate of freedom, on the
ground that he had not served seven years under the indenture
of apprenticeship, but had served two years and a belt prior to
• the indenture, during which time he was nut serving in the re-
lation of master and apprentice.
The Mx You said, it was a hard case no doubt, he bad served
his master seven years, but not under the indenture. He, there-
fore, supposed the council would confirm the opinion of the
Town-clerk.
Mr. Councillor DuNcx N said, he knew the late council were
very tiberal iu their cinistruction of such cases, and he thought
that, probably this might be a case in which a committee of
time might examine the case.
The MAYOR said, the fact was, the late council in their
power to be liberal ; but the present council was so confined,
that they had it not in the power to be liberal.
Mr. Councillor BOLTON said, the case was quite clear; it
could not be dealt otherwise with than it had been, and he
moved that the petition do lie on the table.
The TOWN-CLERK said, the former council had the power to
give the freedom; and in cases of hardship, in consequence of
some slip, or the death of a master, they exercised their power
to give the freedom. By the municipal act it was enacted "that
front, and after this act, no person shall obtain freedom by gift
or purchase," but from inquiry he had ascertained that this
would be a case in which the application would not have been
granted by the old council.
The subject then dropped.
The Deputy TOWN-CLERK then read a memorial from Lieut.
Low, emigration agent to the effect, than when he was ap-
pointed to the Office he held, iu May, 1833, it was with the un-
derstanding that arrangements had been made with the corpo-
ration to supply him with an office and lodgings at thecorpora-
Lion expense. This was also stated by Lord Stanley in his
place in the House of Commons, and though the memorialist
had uo means of ascertaining on what authority Lord Stanley
had made that statement, he presumed that the noble lord had
not made it without the best authority. The memorialist fur-
ther stated, that that arrangement was made during the mayor-
alty of Mr. Borstal!, who was ready to confirm his statement
respecting it; and he hoped that the council would take the
subject into consideiatien, that the arrangement might be pro-
perly adhered to.
The memorial was referred to the Finance committee.

POSTOFFICE REFORM.
The Deputy TOWN-CLERK then proceeded to read the follow-
ing memorial, brought up by Mr. Barclay, agreed on Ly the
committee on Postoflice reknit, to be presented by the council
to the government:—
" The memorial of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Common
Council of Liverpoo. in Council assembled,
" Sheweth—
" That the memorialists cannot doubt that your honourable
house will give the subject of Postutlice reform your most seri-
ous consideration, in consequence of the numerous petitions
that have been presented in its favour by 80 many important
public bodies, supported as they have been in both houses of
parliament by those members whose opinions are entitled to
every deference. At the same time, your memorialists conceive
that they should not discharge the duty which they owe to the
vast commercial community they represent, if they did not urge,
in the strongest terms, the expediency of a great and sensible
reduction in the present rates of the postage of letters; their
silence might otherwise be consti tied into indifference with
regard to a measure which they deem to be of the first import-
ance, not only to those who arc engaged in commerce, but to
the country at lar,re. The arguments in a pamphlet, recently
published by Mr. itutvland Hill, in favour of the plan for Post-
office reform which it advocates, appear to your memorialists
conclusive and incontrovertible, and they cannot figure to them-
selves any reasonable objection that can be urged against the
plans except the posSibility of a decrease in the revenue by its
adoption. Your memorialists concur in the prevailing sentt-
meta, that any tax which impedes the circulation of knowledge
through the country is highly impolitic, and they conceive that
nothing contributes more to do this than the present excessive
rates of postage.
" Your memorialists respectfully submit that in their opinion
no material reduction would occur in the revenue from the
adoption of a plan founded upon the suggestions of Mr. Hill,
provided that no partial experiments be made in it, as its suc-
cess seems wholly to depend upon its being fully and fairly
tried.
" Entertaining these opinions, your memorialists earnestly
hope that your honourable house will take immediate steps for
earning l'ustoffice reform into complete effect. They beg
further to add, that if any defalcation in the revenue should
arise, contrary to their expectaticns, by doing so, they are im-
pressed with the belief that the country would wil,ingly make
up the deficiency iu some other way, rather titan forego the in-
calculable advantages which your memorialists conceive are
likely to be derived from the proposed alterations.
And sotir memorialists will ever pray." •
The MAYOR inquired if the-council agreed in the petition,
and if any member would move that it be presented.
Mr. Councillor BARCLAY would move that the memorial be
presented to both houses of parliament.
Mr. Councillor HENRY Hoi.mEs seconded the motion.
Mr. COUOCiIIOr BOLToN thought the point about the diminu-
tion of the revenue too strongly put. He feared that they had
committed themselves in it, as it was not borne out by fact.
The MAYOR inquired if Mr. Bolton wished to move an
amendment ?
Mr. Councillor BOLTON, after having had the part he objected
to read over, said it appeared to lino too strong.
Mr. Councillor 1.1. LAWRENCE said, agieeing with a good
deal that Mr. Bolton had said, might not an arratigitis9lll
made for materially benefittiu t 6vi7--safar from beini
tSjillijiYeehl"tif 1116- -utility of Mr. Hill's plan.a Ile thought it
would materially injure the revenue.
The MA Yoe would suggest for the convenience of the coun-
cil, that if the memorial were not corrected in that point in the
council, the simpler way would be to refer it back to the com-
mittee.
The Deputy TO WN CLERK read the part objected to: "your
memorialists submit that no material reduction would occur if
Mr. Rowland Hill's plan were adopted."
Mr. Councillor BOLTON said he did not concur in that. He
begged that that part be referred back to the committee to pre-
pare a memorial less strongly expressed with regard to Mr. •
Hill's plan.
Mr. Councillor EARLE.—Don't you think it could be done
now the question is under discussion.
Mr. Alderman EVANS said he was on the committee, and had
expressed his dissent altogether to the tune of dictation and
peremptory announcement of the exclusive excellence of 111 r.
Hill's plan; and unquestionably if they looked at the wording
of the memorial, it excluded the remainder of the instructions
that were sent to the committee frotn 'the council. They had
"or some other plan." 'Theylbeaf td oeuxt
rlet
so,geedt hienr tthheeq
must
Isiticaathius :lute manner that nothing but
Mr. Rowland Hill's plan would succeed.
Mr. Councillor
No no; based on his plan."
The MA YOR.—WWIId Mr. Bolton prepare his alteration.
Mr. Councillor WALLACE CURR lE.—Pei haps the council
will authorise Mr. Bolton to retire into an adjoining Loom to
prepare the retition ? (A cry of the committee.)
Mr Alderman SuLit. did not see how the committee could
retire to make any alteration in the memorial till the council
had decided that the memorial required alteration. As a mem-
ber of the committee he did not think it was treating theta
fairly that because one or two gentlemen thought proper to
object to the particular wording of a memorial, drawn up with
considerable care and after a good deal of discussion, they
should be authorised to alter it. He was much surprised at the
exception of Mr. Evans, because that report came to the coun-
cil as the unanimous recommendation of the committee; lie
said ucanimous, because it was agreed to by every member pre-
sent.
Mr. Alderman Evsiss begged to say that he was not present.
Mr. Alderman SOEIL continued.—He believed it was an
understood rule in committees, that could not be departed from
without much inconvenience, that the member of a committee
should not oppose the derision of that committee unless he had
divided it ou the point to which he objected, leading the com-
mittee to understand that there would he opposition from one of
their own body. It was for the council to decide on any alte-
ration it might think proper to adopt. The committee could
do nothing more unless it bad a positive instruction to alter
any particular words. The committee could do no better than
the petition it had agreed to,
Mr. Alderman EVANS hoped for the indulgence of the council
for one moment, to make it evident that be did nut deserve the
lecture which he had received on the score of plopiietv from
his friend Mr. Shell. Before the committee met he spoke to
Mr. Ranisdeu on the subjeel, and mentioned his views; he
afterwards met him at the top of Hanover-street, and again ob-
jected to the decision of the committee. He was not absent
from the committee from neglect, but because another com-
mittee was sitting at the same hour, acid when he went to the
committee he found it had just adjourned. He then read the
report over and expressed•his dissent in the most decided man-
ner after hearing N, r. Earle's explanation.
Mr. Councillor EARLE Said •Al E. Evans had objected to the
petition. Their instructions were to discuss Mr. Hill's plan,
and Mr. Evans, as he uuderstuud him, was always opposed
to it. _ _ _

MAY" said this 'v" a verY irregular discussion. What-
ever Mr. Evans had said out of committee it did not at ail go
against the decision of the committee. What Mr. Steil had
said was perfectly current ( Hear, hear.) Therefore Mr. Al-
" t"king objection against the
Al-
derman Evans was out of order i
understood standing order. Would the council refer the peti-
tion back to the committee, or decide on it? It was very im-
portant that they should collie to an unanimous vote on this
subject.
Mr. Councillor BOLTON then, with the consent of his se-
conder. withdrew his former amendineut, he said he thought the
general tone of the memorial stronger than was warranted by
the instructions. The part which he „
particularly (injected to
was that which stated that no material reduction of the retenue
would eusue from the adoption of Mr. Rowland Hill's plan.
He would propose
as an amendment, that
"your memorialists
are of opinion that a plan might be adopted, which, without
any material reduction of the revenue, would of great fa-
cilities to the public in the circulation of letters."
Mr. Councillor Rotrosolitsi begged la sac
that he did not
agree in opinion with Mr. Bolton with respect to the instruc-
re
tious given to the committee. The instructions desired'a re
ence to Mr. Rowlaud Hill's plan or some similar plan ;
there-
fore he did not think, in accordance with these Instructious,
that the committee could have dime otherwise than it had done.
Besides the question was very fully argued whether Mr. Row.
land plan should be adopted or not ; and he thought that
if they were to speak on the subject :or many councils to come,
they could not bring such strong a ;_uments for the adoption of
the plan as Mr Roxfand :Jill had done.
Mr. Councillitr WA LIME Cunt:lE said there had been a
distinct objection in the youneil to tying the council up to Air.
Rowland II ill's plan, or if some other sinadar plan were intro-
duced. And if the coned', mu reading the Weworial found
that qualitieation was not included. there was no disrespect in
begging that these words "or some similar plan" were intro-
(bleed Imo the memorial now,.

sh„uhi have Ito objection to hum-
Mr. Councillor ItAmsnEN
duce those words.

After some further discussion the council went to the vote on
Mr. Bolton's amendment; when there appeared 28 fir the
amendment, yad 11 againSt
BLschTheN objected to the closing sentence of the me-
morial, that "thelliegged further to add that if any defalcation
of the revenue sb'ould arise, contrary to their expectatiorts, by
doing so, they were impressed with the belief that the couutr.v
would willingly make up the deficiency in some other way
rather than forego the inestimabl-e advantages of the.proposed
alterations." Now be thought they were not at all authorised
to say that the country would, under any circumstances sub-
mit -to another tax. (Hear.) He would therefore propose as an