The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-09-03 00:00:00

'SHE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

" CHEAPNESS."
THE TOWN COUNCIL AND THE CAR PROPRIE-

TORS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.
SlR,—Cheapness, when once imperially recognized, will
extend itself through all the ramifications of society: as I
showed in my letter last week, it knows no exceptions—
the pattern so approved will be imitated.
Locally there is no deficiency of proof that such will be
the case; aye, that such is the case ! We need not study
placards, stare at shop windows, or analyse newspaper ad-
vertisements, to show that " cheapness" has induced a
vicious feeling, and threatens to become, even in towns, a
giant monster ! a crying grievance ! ! Our own Town
Council will furnish us (curiously enough) with adequate
illustrations ! Fur a considerable time the Birkenhead
Ferry has been worked at a losing rate; new boats have
been purchased ; at every Council meeting some active
member has mouthed out " this way to Birkenhead, one
penny each," until at last the public found that they were
" paying the piper," and lustily protested against " this
wanton waste of PUBLIC MONEY !" It is likely enough
they would have bled a private individual to the death,
but they shrug their shoulders at the bare idea of them-
selves "keeping the steam up" at such a rate.
They promoters of this municipal cheapness received
three protests, derided the cowardice of the public, con-
fessed that they had been losers in the race of cheap fer-
ries, and promised to get out of " the fix" as soon as they
could. Not content with this, they are now about to try
another experiment But this time it is not with "pub-
lic money," (very cunning certainly;) it is to be still a
passenger conveyance, wheels only substituted for paddles
and blood for steam !
They think the carowners are too well paid for their
services, and they will reduce them something more than
one-half of their fares ! The proprietors have offered a
compromise ; so far it has not been accepted. They dis-
tinctly state that they cannot pay their expenses by the
new rates, and, consequently, if they are enforced, they
must withdraw in a body from the trade ! Here then is
proof that this " cheapness" has become a giant monster
and a crying crievance !
Now, sir, why have the Council thus interfered ? The
carowners of Liverpool have of late (as every one must
have seen) greatly improved their vehicles, must have been
at great expense in doing so, and suffer considerably from
the competition of cheap otnnibusses. Of all times then
one would suppose that this is the worst one that could be
selected for such a reduction of fares. The public do not
seem to be to blame in this matter; the Council has taken
upon itself to dictate thus nicely the charges which shall
be made. I don't know what power the Council has to
make these arrangements, but the morality of that power
is pernicious. The province of the Council I should take
to be the formation of such a system of rates as would
protect the public from imposition, leaving to a bartering
public and a relentless competition the power of reduc-
tion !

The effect of this fractional table which the Council has
adopted will be (as the owners in their address very justly
say) to deteriorate the character of the drivers, (I presume
by reduced wages,) and to establish an inferior set of
horses and conveyances. I would add, it will encourage
"sharp practices," the retention of lost parcels, cruelty to
horses, by quick driving and long days, to make them pay
expenses, extortion from strangers, and many other mat-
ters, which will, I fear, be soon felt to be a much greater
nuisance than the existing, or, I suppose, I must say, the
last book of rates.

But I protest with all my might against this "curse of
cheapness." Already the car drivers are threatened that
they must submit to work harder for less wages; horses
must do more work for leer money than will purchase
what they eat and destroy. The effect of all which will
be, saddlers, horse shoers, coach builders, blacksmiths,
provender dealers, farmers, who send hay and straw to the
market, horse dealers, wheelwrights, all must be content
with less nay for, perhaps, more wor'• --
for a car
which it ms work.
This is making business loathsome and life a burden,
and I see no reason why such a system should be forced
on those who spurn the bare idea of the hardship which
its execution involves, and who rather than be a party to
it at all, have determined on locking up their horses and
cars, (with all the attendant inconveniences and expense.)

:caner will be

every one working
n to the lowest price for

and remain inactive, in the operation of a decree evidently
at variance with feelings of human sympathy, opposed to
the just principle of protection to invested capital
• .

aus uy ally uemana oy toe puonc, and haying its
origin (although sanctioned by the Council) in the inge-
nious breasts of two or three members of our local parlia-
ment. Ido hope that with this a stop will be put to the
" progress" of such contemptible, mean regulations.
I am, sir, yours, &c.
A PROTECTIONIST.
August 31st, 1850.

The steam-ship Asia sailed f
being her first trip to that port
the shortest passage on record
A NEW " DODGE."