The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-08-08 00:00:00

ATTACK ON MR. PARKER,

Mr. PARKER said it would be recollected that Mr.
Cooper, upon the last day, had accused him of squan-
dering thousands of the public money.
The MAYOR.—Nobody, I am sure, would accuse Mr.
Parker of anything of the kind.
Mr. PARKER.—What Mr. Cooper may say, sir, may be
of very little weight, but I call upon him to substantiate
what he has said, or I shall move for a committee to in-
quire and report. I shall not have my private character
taken away, because a worthy and bulky alderman
(loud laughter) may choose to attack me ; and I call
upon him to retract, or I shall move for a committee to
investigate.
Mr. COOPER.—I should :be exceedingly sorry, sir, to
cast any reflection on Mr. Parker, for every one knows
that he has done all in his power to press down expendi-
ture ; but I was under the impression that the street
cleansing contract might have been taken for £2,000 or
£3,000 less. I hove no hesitation in saying that I made
no charge against Mr. Parker. He did the best for the
public, and with the very best motives. (Hear.)
The MAYOR.—I do not. think that Mr. Cooper imputed
the slightest improper motives. (Hear, hear.)

THE RATING OF THE DOCKS AND CORPORATE ESTATE.

The TOWN-CLERK read the report of the Special Com-
mittee on local rates. The following are the principal
features :

" That it appeared to the Committee from the statements
of the deputation of the Select Vestry, that the Poor-rate
then in course of collection for the parish of Liverpool was
three shillings in the pound, and the Church-rate one
penny, and that upon the whole assessment about 75 per
cent. is collected, but that no attemptis made, except un-
der special eircumstances, to recover the rates upon pro-
perty valued at and under £l2 per annum.
" That of the local rates levied by the Council and col-
lected by their own officers, about the same per centage
upon the whole assessment is collected.
" The Committee make the following recommenda-
tions to the Council :

" 1. That all private property should bear its fair pro-
portion of the local taxation, and, to effect this object,
that the owners of all such property should be rated, care
being taken, by suitable provisions, to preserve the elec-
tive franchise, where that franchise depends upon rating
and payment of rates.
" 2. That the principle of rating the property of Muni-
cipal Corporations has been already recognised by the Le-
gislature by the passing of the General Act, 4th and sth
Victoria, cap. 48, and that, in the opinion of the com-
mittee, no sufficient reason exists in this borough for the
application of the proviso contained in that act; containing
the exemption from rateability of municipal property
within the parish of Liverpool. That all municipal pro-
perty should, in the opinion of this committee, be liable to
local rates so long as the corporate income is more than
sufficient to meet the obligatory expenditure.
" 3. That in the opinion of the committee, all property
vested in the Trustees of the Liverpool Docks, or used,
or occupied by them, should likewise be rated to and pay
local taxation.

" 4. That in the opinion of this committee, application
should be made to Parliament in the next session, for the
purpose of securing the foregoing objects ; and that the
necessary bill or bills should be promoted at the joint ex-
pense of the Council, and of the parochial authorities
within the borough.
"5. That in the bill or bills so to be promoted, pro-
vision should be made for correcting and adjusting seve-
ral objections and difficulties which have arisen, relative
to the various powers contained in the existing general
and local acts, for laying and recovering rates.
" That should these recommendations be approved by
the Council, a committee be appointed for the purpose of
conferring with the several parochial authorities, and pre-
paring the necessary bill or bills to be submitted to Par-
liament in the next session,

WILLIAM EARLE, Chairman."

The TOWN-CLERK also read memorials from the Select
Vestry and the National:Confederation, praying that paro-
chial rates might be imposed on the Corporate and Dock
Estates, and also from the Houseowners Guardian So-
ciety, praying that parochial rates might not be imposed
upon the owners of cottage property.
Mr. EARLE moved the adoption of the report. He held
in his hand a return of the amount of taxation imposed
upon different towns in the kingdom. Information had
been sought from 55 towns. 29 of these had replied,
and 13 of them were higher than Liverpool. The higher
towns were Bridgenorth, Blackburn, Cheltenham, Brad-
ford, Leeds, Preston, London, Whitechapel, Spitalfields,
Mile End, St. Pancras, Marylebone, and Bow. The rates
in Carlisle, Lancaster, Stockport, and Sheffield, were
within 2d. of those of Liverpool—so that, notwithstand-
ing all that was said about local rates, we were not worse
off here than our neighbours, and the inhabitants had not
much reason to complain.
Mr, PARKKER seconded the adoption of the report. He
believed it was the law of the British constitution that
every portion of the state should pay towards the support
of that state. It was the law in all the parishes of the
United Kingdom that all the property within those pa-
rishes should be chargable to the local rates ; and in advo-
cating this view 99 out of every 100 of the inhabitants of
Liverpool were on his side, and eventually the object
must be obtained. He asked why tradesmen employed
on one side of the dock estate should be compelled to
support the parochial burdens, and why Mr. Hartley and
others who were employed on the other side of it should
be exempted ? Was this fair ? Was it justice ? (Hear,
hear.) Why pay rates upon the dock property at Run-
corn, and upon the markets of Liverpool, and why refuse
to pay rates upon the docks of Liverpool, and upon the
corporate property situated in the various directions of the
town ?

Mr. G, H. LAWRENCE expressed a hope that he would
not lay himself open to the charge of advocating anything
like selfish interests when he opposed the motion, and
protested against the reception of the report. He objected
to it on two grounds. On account of its merits, or rather
of its demerits, and also because it involved the necessity
of another application to parliament. He assured the
Council that more money had been spent since the pass-
ing of the Municipal Act, in opposing and promoting Acts
of Parliament, than St. George's Hall had cost ; and he
asked whether it was not far more advisable to carry out
the Municipal Act than to proceed, session after session,
for private local acts? (Hear.) The first recommenda-
tion of the report was, that all descriptions of property
should be taxed alike. Now the cottage proprietor op-
posed this, nor was it a matter of surprise that he should.
In legislating upon such a subject there was great difficutly

in preserving the franchise to the occupier if the owner paid
the rates, because if the occupier's name were erased
from the books, and the owner's inserted, then nine-
tenths of the public would stand a chance of being dis-
franchised, Besides, a fatal blow would be struck at the
independence of the voter, who then would be placed at
the Influence of the landlord. This was his objection to
the first proposition. The next was, to subject-the Cor-
poration revenue or town dues of every class rat' corporate
property to the burden of the parochial raXes ; and he
asked them on what grounds could they possibly have
arrived at such a conclusion as this, to go to Parliament
to disable themselves, to tie their hands behind them, and
confess that they were unable, in the words of the Muni-
cipal Act, "to spend their money for the general
benefit of the inhabitants and the good of the bo-
rough." To consent to this would be to reduce them-
selves to the level of the Select Vestry, and to pre-
vent themselves from being able to meet any emergency.
If they had any money to spare, let them relieve the inha-
bitants from the pressure of the general rate, but let
them not commit such an unjust, absurd, and impolitic
act as to devote their funds to the payment of parochial
rates. He admitted that the markets paid poor rates, in
the same manner as a landlord paid those rates for his
tenant, but he would ever oppose the taxation of the
baths and washhouses of the Town hall. He also admitted
that the Corporation property at Runcorn paid
taxes ; but then he contended that there was a wide dif-
ference between property beyond and within the precincts
of the borough. He was as much opposed to the rating
of the docks as he was to the rating of any other portion
of the corporate estate; and he thought the Council ought
to he the last parties to come there and tax their own
property in any shape. (Hear.) It had been decided
over and over again, by the Court of Queen's Bench,
that where there was no beneficial interest no rates
should be imposed. If, then, they were now to tax every
ship, and cargo, and passenger, they would be establishing
something like a second Custom-house, and doing more
than the Chancellor of the Exchequer had ever attempted,
for he had never taxed every commodity. The policy now
proposed to be pursued was most short-sighted. It was
an attempt to plunder and rob the commerce of the coun-
try, for the Dock property did not belong to the people
alone, but appertained to the community at large. He
concluded by moving, as an amendment, that the Report
be met by a direct negative.

Mr. BRAMLEY-MOORE seconded the amendment. He
asked why seek to tax the dock estate now when that
estate had from time immemorial been exempted from
rates ? He expected to hear some arguments in support
of the motion, but the observations made on the subject
had convinced him more than ever of the non-necessity of
the measure. He observed that so far as the Dock Estate
was concerned there could be no surplus income, because
any surplus income which happened to arise, went in re-
duction of the dock dues. During the last 10 years the
public had enjoyed this reduction to the extent of
£400,000 ; and last year alone there had been a reduction
of £40,000. Had not this conferred benefit upon
Liverpool ? Would it not confer enormous benefit
upon the town if all dock rates were abolished ? Whence
came the source of all their wealth ? From the Mersey
and the docks of Liverpool, because the Mersey could not
accommodate the trade of the port without the docks.
Why had the port of Bristol been in a state of decadence
compared with Liverpool? Because Englishmen were
treated there as aliens, and because 3s. a ton had to be
paid for what only was charged Is. 3d. in Liverpool. He
warned the Council, then against increasing the dock
rates, and said that before any increase were made
the Dock bondholders had aright to be consulted, because
they had lent their money on the security of the existing
laws. He believed that if they went to Parliament to
impose additional rates on the Estate they would be de-
feated, and that any such attempt would be the signal for
transferring the trust to the bondholders.
After an ineffectual attempt upon the part of Mr,
Procter to adjourn the debate, in order that the public
might be afforded time to peruse it,
Mr. H. HORNBY defended the committee, and con-
tended that they were fully justified in submitting the
report.
Mr. EvANs and Mr. Anuw strongly opposed the recep-
tion of the report, and said that no time ought be lost in
lost in rejecting it.
Mr. S. HoLme opposed the rating of cottage and cor-
porate property, but was of opinion that the dock property
ought to be rated.
Mr. WOOtIROOFF thought that corporate and dock pro-
perty ought to be rated, and that cottage property ought
to be exempted.
Mr. J. B. LLOYD strongly supported the amendment,
upon the ground that his own interests, and those of the
public at large, were dependent upon the commerce of the
port
Alter a few words from Mr. Rathbone, Mr. Cooper,
and Mr. Harbord,
Mr. EARLE replied.
The Council divided, when there appeared—
For the amendment
Against it l6
The amendment was, consequently, carried. The follow-
ing gentlemen voted in the division :
For it :—Messrs. W. Rathbone, Eyre Evans, G. H.
Horsfall, J. Aikin, Thos. Rim rr: er, T. Boyden, J. A. Tobin,
J. B. Lloyd, J. Plumpton, G. H. Lawrence, R. Benn, W.
Mann, W. Nicol, J. Bramley-Moore, E. Molyneux, J. IL
Turner, T. Chilton, the Mayor.—Total, 18.
Against it : Messrs. W. Walthew, J. Thomson, J.
Woodruff, T. Littledale, jun., J. A. Tinne, R. S. Hender-
son, T. Robinson, G. H. Harbord. J. Rogers, S. Holme,
W. Earle, J. Parker, W. Watson, Thos Lloyd, J. Cooper,
J. Procter.—Total, 16.

Mr. TINNE and Mr. WOODRUFF both wished to move
amendments, but

The MAYOR iurimatect that, as Mr. Lawrenc..'a mena-
ment had been carried, no further amendments could be
put, and that the whole of the report of the committe9
was now rejected. •-
sipEczAt. IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE.

The TOWN-CLERK read the report of the Special Im.
provement Committee, which stated that, in compliance
with a request, the Borough Engineer and Surveyor had
forwarded the following letter, which the committee recom-
mended the Council to adopt :
Siu,—Having maturely considered the subject of the best
mode of improving the approaches to the town, we beg to re-
port the conclusion we have arrived at as follows, viz.
In a matter of such importance as the adjustment of leading
lines on which the future laying out of the land must be de
pendant, we consider that it would be well to obtain ideas front
as many sources as possible. With this view we beg to pro-
pose that an outline Plan (the cost of which will not be more
than 425 or 430) of the Borough and its environs,
with contour lines, should be prepared and lithographed,
and architects,engineers, and others, invited to send suggestions
as to the laying out of the whole district, offering for the best a
sum of Fifty Pounds, and for the second best Twenty-five
Pounds. As a guide to the competitors, we propose to discri-
minate on the Plan, by peculiar shading, the various classes of
property, in order that there may be as little interference as
possible with existing:rip:hts. We propose tostate in the adver-
tisement that the plan which may receive the premium may not
necessarily be adopted; all that is required being the sugges-
tions of the competitors.
We are, Sir, your obedient servants,
For Mr. NEWLANDS and SELF,
JOHN WEIGHTMAN.

Upon the motion of Mr. EARLE, seconded by Mr. S.
HOLME, this report was adopted, and it was referred to
the committee to carry out.

MISCELLANEOUS.
The Coroner's Account, amounting to £45 Gs. Od. was
referred to the Finance Committee for consideration and
payment. _

- A letter from John Gibson, Esq., R.A., requesting the
Council to receive a Bust of Her Majesty the Queen, was
read. The bust, preparatory to its being placed in St.
George's Hall, was ordered to be placed in the Town
Hall ; and Mr. Gibson's letter was entered on the
minutes, and the thanks of the Council were tendered to
him.

A letter from the Rev. John Barclay, Vicar of Runcorn,
soliciting the aid of the Corporation towards re-building
the Parish Church of Runcorn, was read, and Mr. Bar-
clay is to be informed that:the Council have no powers to
comply with his request.
A memorial of Joseph Thomas, respecting his sign-
board ; a memorial of the inhabitants of Kirkciale, upon
the subject of the local rates ; and resolutions agreed to at
a public meeting of the ratepayers of West Derby, respect-
ing the paving and general rates of that ward, were all
read and referred.

The Council, having disposed of all the business before
them, adjourned at a quarter to five o'clock.

A WOMAN KILLED BY BM lirsnAND.—On Sunday,
the neighbourhood of Cow-heel-alley, St. Luke'3, Lon-
don, was thrown into a state of considerable ex-
citement in consequence of the following occurrence :—lt
appears that a man named William Merrick had been for
some time past residing with his wife, named Amelia
Merrick, in Maidenhead-court, Aldersgate-street. Owing
to their manner of living they frequently quarrelled, and
about two o'clock on Sunday Merrick met his unfortu-
nate wife in Cow-heel-alley, and having inquired the rea-
son of her not being at home cooking his dinner, he gave
her a blow under the left ear, which knocked her to the
ground. In falling, her head came in contact with the
palings facing one of the tenements in the court. The
poor woman died after making two or three convulsive
struggles. The husband, who obtains a living by jobbing
at the Post-office, was taken into custody. The only
excuse the man made for having struck and killed his
wife was, that she had been out spending his tn?ney at
the " tape shops" in Golden-lane, instead of cooking his
dinner.

PARIS NEWSPAPERS.—Among the many changes
which the republic has produced in Parisian manners,
that effected in the tone and habits of the lower classes,
by the inundation of these cheap prints, has been one of
the most striking. As those intended for the perusal of
the working classes exclusively, and written for party
purposes, to exercise an influence over the minds, and
prepare them for the approach of that millenium of the
new prophets of republicanism, which was so lately near
its fulfilment, popularly called the " Red Republic," or
in other terms, the republic of proscription, terror, and
blood,—are mostly at the price of one sou, and as none
exceed the price of two sous, or a penny, these new papers
easily fall into the hands of every good patriot, who de-
sires his own enlightenment for the good of his country.
The influence they exercised may be seen in the late in-
surrection. Long before its outbreak they had contrived
to work their will in souring that better spirit of decent
fraternity and conciliation, which marked the manners of
the Parisian ouvriers of the better class in the first days
of the Revolution. What the soi-disant patriotic clubs,
and the pretended friends of the people, with their violent
declamation and denunciation of all that possessed, did
not effect, was done by the frantic ultra-republican jour-
nals, that laboured so assiduously to install into the hearts
of the lower classes their venom and their spite, and that
hot poison of hatred and suspicion, that once admitted
into the body corporate, ran through every vein with the
maddest fever. What a wild delirium of carnage and
cruelty that fever produced, we have seen.—Bentley.