The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-03-08 00:00:00

tirely the reverse. He was exceedingly sorry that Mr. Rath-
bone should thus have looked OR it. ( Hear.) He hadthougist that
if be then entered into any explanation it wouldappear to inter-
fere with the argument He intended to have expressed his
sorrow then as he now did of the great sorrow he felt that Mr.
Rathbone should have felt it.
Mr. Councillor RATHBONE said, being himself apt to give of-
fence unintentionally lie was not willing to take offence. He
would now go on. He was authorised to state by that report,
that, after mature deliberation, they had arrived at the conclu-
sion to recommend that there should be a salary of £2,500 given
to the town-clerk, and £lOOO for the assistant. lit consistency
with that report he therefore moved that the salary of the as-
sistant should be £lOOO per annum. But one word about h im-
self; he found some members of that committee came and voted
against their own determination. Mr. Maxwell and 31r. Hey-
worth, who were on that committee, (according to the reports,)
had done so. He was sure that the fault was not theirs but his;
and that he had not been a competent chairman of that com-
mittee, to obtain an unanimous opinion, and, therefore, it was
his duty not to fill a situation for which he was not competent.
• He should therefore after this resign his office as chairman' of
that committee into the hands of the Mayor, who was chairman
ex officio, to summon them for all further meetings. He did as-
sure them that he was speaking this in the simplicity which had
ever characterised his feelings both there and elsewhere. He
had no feelings of pique from personal considerations, and as a
proof of that, he would do what he could under an abler chair-
man; he should be happy to give his most cheerful and ready
assistance to aid him in getting through his arduous duties.
After those votes given in the council he never could, and he
never would be the chairman of a committee where he had not
been able to draw from them a deliberate opinion. He was sure
it would very much interfere with the business of the councilif
such a course was pursued as members of committees voting
contrary to the decisions of their own committee. He could
easily believe that the council could attach no weight to that
report if it was not the deliberate opinion of the committee.
Every member of a committee was responsible for a report
whether he attended his committee or not; they ought to feel
that the rhiirmau was not to take the responsibility on himself.
He felt that in moving £lOOO a year as the salary of the assist-
ant town-clerk, that he was doing it in consistency with the in-
structions he had received from that committee. He had no
doubt a much smaller sum would be proposed by that council.
But he hoped the council would not think this sum too much,
to use the hackneyed phrase, as a matter of pounds, shillings,
and pence. He would not go over the duties of the assistant
town-clerk. They were of a multifarious nature, requiring
great talents, and, if he might use the term, physical capabtli-
ties. He would only rest his argument on one ground, that
was, they must have a man of conciliatory habits and legal ca-
pabilities in order to secure the canfidence of the public; be-
cause from the arrangements they had made he was to conduct
the prosecutions. But this was not compulsory, and if he was
not a man possessing the confidence of the public they should
lose the £l5OO a year they expected to gain by those prosecu-
tions. Let them not then for a saving of a few pounds select
an incompetent person; one who was not from his situation in
society and his attainments calculated to secure the confidence
of the public, If they did so, they would he penny wise and
pound foolish indeed. He should move in consistency with the
report " that the salary of the assistant be £lOOO a year.
The MAYOR said it might assist the council to tell them that
he bad an application before him from a gentleman who pro-
posed to fill the situation for £5OO. It was right that that should
be known before they proceeded,
Mr. Councillor MAXWELL felt it necessary, after what had
been said by Mr. Rathbone, to address a few words to them.
He not deliberated very maturely on this subject, and he
had not known that he belonged to the committee of which Mr.
Rathbone was chairman; he was not aware till the day that re-
port was read in the committee that the late town-clerk's com-
mittee, of which he was a member, and that committee were
consolidated. After having been in the room several hours, Mr.
Rathbone entered, followed by Mr. Radcliffe and several other
gentlemen, and they (the late town-clerk's committee) were
about to retire, when Mr. Rathbone said, "No, no," you are on
this committee—remain." He was not before aware of it, and
bad never deliberated on it. Mr. Rathboneinunediately palled
out a report from his pocket, of which he (Mr. M.) knew no-
thing, and he (Mr. ' M.) made some observations on it which
were not very well received. But the salary being supported
by Mr. Morecroft and Mr. Rathbone, he did give Mr. Rath-
bone his confidence. He perhaps put too much confidence in
him, thinking that he had more information on the question
than he (Mr.- M.) had, for he had none. He conceived there
was no inconsistency on his part. He was perhaps to blame in
not protesting against £2,500; he was to blame in putting con-
fidence in Mr. Rathbone and Mr. Morecroft. When Mr.
Birch's amendment was put to the vote he was willing to give it
a fair trial, and it was carried; and, as it was carried, he con-
fessed that he was wrong in placing that confidence in Mr.
Rathbone that he was inclined to do, for Mr. Rathbone had
told him that the town clerk's emoluments were £2,:.',0J a-year,
and he would not take less as his salary, and the result had
proved otherwise.
Mr. Councillor L. HEYWORTH must, as one of that commit-
tee, beg to offer almost similar remarks. When he entered the
committe-room he supposed that they were entering on the bu-
siness of the late town-clerk, which appeared to him to be all
they had in view. Instead, however, of taking the course he
supposed they would take, the discussion turned upon the sa-
laries of the present town-clerk and his assistant. He could
not conceive then how this arose out of the discussion he was
prepared to expect, and as he entered the room rather late, and
as he thought Mr. Rathbone and Mr. Morecroft might know inure
about the matter, he did not say anything. He ought to blame
himself, and be did blame himself for giving his assent to that
report.
Mr. Councillor HENRY LAWRENCE said he was originally on
this committee, but had not been summoned; after a long in-
terval he was summoned to a meeting a fortnight ago; and he
did perhaps go further on that occasion than afterwards he
thought right. He thought the salary appointed for the town-
clerk not too much. But as to the drawing up of that report he
knew nothing at all of it—he had nothing to do with it.
The MAYOR would ask if these remarks bore on the subject
-under diicussion (hear, hear ;) or was it consistent with the dig-
nity and character of that council to go into this recrimination.
Ile did not conceive if, on the discussion of the report of a com-
mittee, the council alieted that report, that it implied any want
of confidence in the chairman of that committee. He hoped
the council would see that they were doing an injury to them-
selves in prosecuting this subject. (Cheers.)
Mr. Councillor RATHBONE rose amidst loud cries of " Order."
He begged to state in reply—(" Order," " Order," " Chair.")
If he were not perusitted to speak he would sit down. He
thought, under the peculiar circumstances under which he was
placed, that he ought to have a little forbearance. He seldom
got up without having something to say, and he did not so
very frequently trouble that council. There had been some-
thing said about recrimination, he did not-wish any recrimina-
tion ; but there had beets something said about the getting up
of that report. He did feel it his duty, as the chairman of that
committee, to work early and late in order to get the assistance
of the town-clerk when he was not engaged on other committees.
lie thought it important to do so, and be begged the committee
to remember why he thought it important—it was that proceed-
ings were going on likely to lead the town-clerk up to. London,
and that matter ought to be arranged before he went up. He
remembered exactly the words he made use of at the time, he
said, " this is the skeleton of a report for you to decide upon ;"
and he said, "if you are not prepared to come to some decision
on this report, and I give you the details on which it is founded,
it is better to adjourn then come to a hasty decision;" and that
report was read twice over, and the particulars of all the infor-
mation which he had collected were developed as the grounds
on which it was drawn up. He thought it was but his duty to
himself, as chairman of the committee, to furnish all the infor-
mation he could to arrive at a conclusion. (Hear.)
Mr. Councillor BOLTON considered the proposition for a sa-
lary of a £lOOO a year was now withdrawn; it had not been se-
conded.

—MT.Councillor MAXWELL said, the town-clerk had just re-
minded him that he did not enter the room with Mr. Rathbone.
On further reflection be believed that was not correct.
The TowN-cLeRK.—Not only did he not enter the room, but he
was engaged at the time at a meeting with the Mayor on the
subject of the newspaper tax; and when he did enter the room
the committee were discussing on the terms on which the condi-
tions of the salary should be stated. When he first indulged the
expectation of his appointment being peimanent, he thought
that £2lOO per annum was a sufficient salary; but when he
found that he was to give up his private practice, he did think
that £2500 was not too much. He communicated with his
friends, and they thought that £2500 was the proper remunera-
tion. The question had been decided on by the council, as ar-
bitrator betwixt himself and the public. He thought their
judgment better than his own. He thought he was correct in
forming that opinion, and he thought he had proved what he
said when he come to the conclusion that £2(xoo was the proper
amount, and neither more nor less than the proper amount.
(Applause.)
Mr. Councillor Bot.TON.—lf no one seconded Mr. Rathbone's
proposition he should end with proposing a sum instead. He
was quite aware that the duties the deputy town-clerk would
have to perform were of a very difficult nature, and that it was
proper that the gentleman filling that situation should be of good
address, and be able to live in comfort and independence. At
the same time, he thought with propriety he might be a much
younger man than the gentleman who tilled the higher office
of town-clerk. There were advantages in having a young gen-
tleman in that situation; it gave him a knowledge of business,
and brought him into contact with others of the profession; and
he thought the salary was not altogether a question to be deter-
mined by the amount, as from its indirect advantages. With
this view of the subject, he believed that a competent person
would be happy to fill the office for a less sum than £,lOOO
a year. The amount of the sums it appeared to him, in the first
instance, ought to be £2OOO for the one and £6OO fur the other.
With reference to the person who would fill the office, lie had
taken the liberty of asking amongst a few of his friends, and
their impression was rather in favour of £70,) per annum, with
the prospect of placing himself afterwards more advantageously.
He would therefore move " that £7OO per annum be the salary
of the deputy town-clerk," and, if he was quite in order, he
would add, in the manner in which Mr. Birch had done with the
town-clerk, Mr. Crook's name for the appointment.
The MA yOli.—You are quite out of order in naming any in-
dividual.

Mr. Councillor Bor.ToN.—Then be would propose "that the
salary of the town-clerk be £7OO per annum, with the same re-
striCtions as to fees as the town-clerk."
Mr. Councillor EARLE was very sorry that the salary of COO
should be named, because it seemed fitted for an individual and
not for the office. (Cries of "order.") He did not know that
he was out of order; when he heard a gentleman named in con-
nection with the salary. If he was, the Mayor would perhaps
correct him.
The MAYOR.—You are not.
Mr. Councillor EAR LE.—He understood there was a very able
man in the office of the town-clerk, and as in their committees
they were extremely desirous of retaining those on the service
who were already there, if they could do it consistently with the
public good, he for one would never, for the sake of any private
friendship, do a public injustice. (Hear.) He was told that
there was a gentleman in the office who was quite as efficient as
Mr. Crook. He thought £5OO was quite ample payment, and
he should propose it.
Mr. Suter, would ask if the gentleman who solicited the situ-
ation for £5OO was in the service of the town-hall.
The TOWN-CLERK said that when he entered this office he
found clerks appointed and who had been paid by Mr. Foster.
(Hear, hear.) Itliecante necessary for him to make some ar-
-th• ae nge tne ts with those gentlemen, and the necessity of the case,
conceived, gave him authority to come to an understanding
with them thait,itlaaeitireton:finued in their officers: subject to re-
moval on the
Wou. the council, and that till that pleasure
was expressed they
as before. Id continue to receive the same emolu-
mentsr. Councillor RaTiinotsx-s,
oazthe gentleman who called out
order" when Mr. Earle e, said he did so in perfect
good humour. He must say% ndotleman who assumed to
himself independence and disinterestors assumed that others
heewxpense of the public,
were serving private friendships at
he was questioning motives of which as unconscious, and
was out of order. -Had he been in the situation of Mr Bolton be should have thought it a very unwarrantable imputation e,
Cause his friend Mr. Earle was a little too flippant in assuming
to himself exclusive independence.
The MAYOR.—Order! I call order, Mr. Rathbone.
Mr. Co
C ncittor n A Tit ONE.-1 beg pardon.
Mr. Councillor EA It LE. —1 ou are always offending audbegi
ging pardon.