The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-07-24 00:00:00

MAILS ON RAILWAYS.

Mr. LABOUCHERE moved the further consideration of the
report on the Mails and Hallways Bill.
On the question that the Speaker do leave the chair,
Mr. W A LLACE objected to the bill, and moved as an amend-
ment, that it be committed that day six months. The hon.
member said be was a friend to railways, and wished to see
them extended to all parts of the kingdom, but he never could
consent to any measure which would give them a monopoly
in travelling. He wished some check to be put upon the
charges of different companies, and he thought parliament
ought to call upon every railway company to produce their
accounts once a year, in order to protect the pvblic against
imposition, and secure the cheapest mode of travelling to her
Majesty's subjects. He objected to the governrwent insisting
upon the mails being conveyed by railroads. He concluded
by moving, that the further consideration of the bill be post-
poned for six months.
The amendment of the hen. member not being seconded,
the house went into committee on the bill, Mr. Bernal in the
chair.

On the first clause being read,
Mr. Lam) CC HERE said, before any new principle of legis-
lation was attempted relating to railroads, he was anxious to
see how the present law would operate, and thus at a future
session if necessary, parliament might interfere_ He thought
this bill had provisions which would secure the service of the
Post-office being regularly performed by railroad companies.
It was his (Mr. Labouchere's) wish to make the best bargain
for the public with railroad companies be possibly could.
The expense of paying the mails by railroads at the present
time was much greater than when they were conveyed by
coaches. Since the day the mail was sent part of the way by
the London and Birmingham railway, there had been an in-
creased expense incurred by the Post-office, on that line
alone, of between £3,000 and £4,000 ; therefore, if the
house was not prepared to give up the revenue derived from
the Post-office, it was absolutely necessary to pass some
such bill as that under consideration. (Hear.)
Lord G. SOMERSET did not wish railroad. proprietors to be
paid extravagantly, but he wished them. to be fairly re-
munerated.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL considered railways as public
roads, and subject to the same kind of legislations as other
roads, Troops, baggage-waggons, &c., emaged in the public
service, did not pay toll on roads, and he did not think it
would be contended that parliamenthad notthe power to ex-
empt carriages in the public service from toll on railways.
(Hear.)
Sir J. GRAHAM had great objections to some of the strong
provisions in this bill. He considered there was a vast dif-
ference between railroads and other roads. It was true her
Majesty's troops did not pay turnpike tolls, but if they were
conveyed by canals, canal proprietors were paid for their
conveyance, and he thought railroad proprietors in such a
case were entitled to payment.
Lord SANDON differed with the learned Attorney-General
as to his opinion of the power and right of the crown relating
to railroads. He considered railroads as private property,
and therefore the house could not legislate respecting them
in the same manner as they could as to public roads. A fair
and reasonable remuneration ought to be paid for the con-
veyance of the mails.
After-a few abservations from Mr. BAINES,

The CHANCLILLOR of the EXCHEQUER condemned a par-
liamentary discussion of the kind which had taken place. It
would be much better to discuss each question as it rose, when
the different clauses came under consideration. _

After a desultory conversation, clauses up to 14 inclusive,
were agreed to without amendment.
On the 15 clause being read, which refers disputes to be
settled by arbitration.
Mr. WAR BURTON thought it would be much better to settle
a fixed payment. If a company were authorised to resort to
arbitration, disputes would be continually arising, which will
be attended with great expense.
Another (1,-siatory t ooversation ensued.
Sir J. GRAHAM said he had no interest in the railways,
direct or indirect, but he thought atilt the politic siiiinio have
the benefit of a quick transnaissioritf letters and papers. At
the same time the interest of railway proprietors ought to be
fully considered. The right hon. baronet concluded by moving
a proviso to the clause to the effect that the arbitrators
should be empowerad, when considering the amouut of re-
muneration to be paid for the conveyance of mails on rail-
roads, to make such compensation according to the original
cost of constructing the different lines of railroads.

Mr. LABOUCHRRE opposed the proviso. He was anxious
that the proprietors of railways should be fairly remunerated
for conveying the mails, but he objected to opening such a
wide field of inquiry as ascertaining the costs of construct-
ing any particular line of railway. (Hear.) In the dis-
charge of Lis official duty fie was bound to protect the interest
of the public (hear); and therefore he could not consent to
a maim, which was likely to take away the revenue derived
from tbe Post-office. (Here.)
Lord SAN DON and Mr. HAWES supported the proviso.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that it was the
wish of government to give the proprietors of railroads fair
remuneration for what services they might render to the state;
at the same time they were bound to protect the interests of
the public. (Hear.) He wished the whole question to be
left to the discretion of the arbitrators.

Sir R. PEEL said, when railroad bills were passed, they
had not been sufficiently considered. They had constituted
a monopoly which it would not be easy to break down. Par-
liament ought to have said, when a bill was applied for, if we
give you the right of taking possession of property, you shall
undertake, if necessary, to perform the business of the public
at a reasonable rate. (Hear.) He (Sir R. Peel) did not
think the proviso of his right hon. friend correctly worded ;
he did not think an arbitrator ought to be tied down as to the
exact mode of inquiry, and be thought the biltas it originally
stood was not uniqt. He thought the question of remuner-
ation ought to be igt to the unfettered judgment of the arbi-
trators, subject to revision by an umpire. He thought after
what had been said it would be better for his right honoura-
ble friend to withdraw his amendment, and allow the original
clause to pass in its present form.
Sir J. GRAHAM said, if the government would let it be on
derstood by the public, that the arbitrators were to be left en-
tirely to their unfettered opinion and judgment, he should have
no o,.jection to withdraw his amendment.
Mr. LA BOtie HERE could assure the light bon. baronet it
was the anxious wish of the government that the arbitrators
should be left to their free and unfettered judgment in deci-
ding the amount of remuneration. (Hear.) And great care
would be taken to appoint fit and proper persons to sit as ar-
bitrators.

Sir J. GRAHAM said, after this assurance he would with-
draw his motion. _

The proviso was then withdrawn, and after a few words
from Mr. WALLACE, the original clause was agreed to.
The remaining clauses were agreed to without amendment,
and the house resumed.

Mr. F. MAuLE moved the third reading of the prisons bill.
Mr. LANGDALE moved a clause, by way of rider, empower-
ing magistrates, when a number of prisoners in any gaol for
three years amounted to 50, professing the same religion, to
appoint teachers or clergymen of the same religion if they
think fit.

On the clauses being put from the chair,
Mr. PARKINSON moved that the house do adjourn.

Mr. ESTCO,URT supported the motion for adjournment.
After a few words from Mr. Ellis, Mr. Langdale, and Mr.
O'Connel.

Mr. F. MA VLE said he would not object to the debate being
adjourned until Monday.—Debate adjourned until Monday.
The Court of Chancery (Ireland) Bill was read a third time
and passed.
The other orders of the day were disposed of, and the house
adjourned at half-past four o'clock.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE AND
MONEY MARKET.

SATURDAY, TWELVE O'CLOCK

Consols for the Account opened 441 I Money 2411.
Exchequer Bills, 82 pm.; India Bonds, 811; Bank Stock,
2061 ; India Stock, 2641 2651. Spanish Active, 2214 ; Por-
tuguese. 361; Three per Cents. 211 ; Brazilian, 801 ; Mexi-
can, 251.; Colombian, 271; Dutch, 54 55k.
HALF-PAST ONE.

Consols for Account are at 943, Money 94i a ; Exchequer
Bills lower, 8.3 81 pm.; India Bonds higher, 80 82 prn. ;
Bank Stock higher, 206 207; India Stock, 2652. Spanish
Active,. 22k, with coupons ; Portuguese, 362 ; Three per
Cents., 241; Brazilian, 802; Mexican, 252; Colombian,
271; Belgian, 1024 3; Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cents.,
54 g ; Five per Cents., 10230
FOUR O'CLOCK.
Consols for Aug. 28-, 941 j 4; Spanish Bonds, 22i.
Portuguese New Bonds, 362.

(From the Morning Chronicle. )

FRIDAY EVENING.

Although the present abundance of mone
observed to drive up the general share market to the extent
which many of the frequenters of the Stock Exchange appear
to have expected, as the results of the late payment of the
half-yeart} dividends, yet a great deal of capital is going into
sound and useful employment in several companies for the
!.,I;laia.4. of steam shipping for various parts of the world.
these above 0,000 ton,/ are about to he laid (1000 for trt
I (torn lilagiand to New York, all to tl, boat at thi,
ti L0u.t.,1, where steam machinery is known it: ;,‘• touun more
economical and perfect than in the United States. A com-
pany is also in progress for steam navigation on a large scale
to the East Indies, by way of the Cape of Good Hope; and
another for the establishment of iron steamers in the Ganges
and its tributaries to the city of Agra, which will cover a
thousand miles of the presidency of Bengal. To Brazil there
are steam-vessels about to depart from Liverpool, for the
navigation of the coast from Rio de Janeiro to Bahia and
Pernambuco; and one iron vessel also is building at South-
ampton for the Rio Doce river; whilst a third company has
obtained an exclusive privilege for the navigation, by steam-
vessels, of the bay of Bahia for a certain nutnoer of years.
Ail these undertakings must absorb no inconsiderable amount
of capital, nor can English enterprise, perhaps, be directed
to auy more useful channel titan the extension of the advan-
tage of steam navigation to so many dietant quarters of the
world.

(From the official list, containing the business actually
%transacted.)
BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT THE CLOSE.
Bank Stock, 206 7 63., India Stock, 265,,,6
3 per Ct. Red., 94i 4 India Bonds, 80 2
3 per Ct. Con., 94 .1- South Sea Stock,
3i per Ct. Anns.lBlB, Bank Stock for Acct., 20634
334 per Ct. Red., 1021 ail Consols for 28th Aug. 94 1i a
New 33:4 per Cents., 10I:3, i i £lOOO Ex. Bills 83 81 83
Long Ans. 1860, 157-16 1 1 £5OO do. 81 83
Ditto, 30 yrs. 1859,15 i Small do 81 83
Ditto, 30 yrs, 1860, Ditto Commt.. 'al, —,
SHARES.

(The quotations give the actual price, without reference to
premium or discount.)
rcrr.z liar, St.Jchn Del Rey. 6 A:pl,alte, 'Liverpool,
Ilti!ish Iran, 10 Polonceau.
Cheltenham& Greatjklif estero, Asphalte (Cid,,dge's
71 I
Loudon and Greenwich, 154 Asphalte, British.
~ydon New Scrip, & Asphalt; United States,
Anti-Dryrot Company, 13 13 Asphalte, Netherlands,
Scotch, .Asphal,te, Swiss,

I •74':