The Bee-Hive. — 1872-02-03 (London, England)

TOLLS ON METROPOLITAN BRIDGES.  On Wednesday night a meeting, convened by the Metropolitan Free Bridge Association, the object of which is to abolish the tolls upon traffic crossing each of the bridges within the metropolitan area, was held at the Lambeth Baths. Amongst those present were Mr. W. ,McArthur, M.P., who presided; Sir J. C. Lawrence, M.P.; Sir R. liaggallay, M.P.; Mr. W. T. Charley, M.P., and Mr. Edward Jenkins. The attendance was numerous.  The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, said it was disgraceful. that London should be the only capital in the world in which there were still tolls on bridges. Yew things were more desirable than that Waterloo Bridge should be free. Amongst other considerations, it was near the 4ite of the New Law Courts and other important and much-frequented. localities. During the last six years, 5,000,000 foot passengers per annum passed through the turn-stiles of Waterloo Bridge, bringing in to the company a revenue of over £20,000 a year. If the bridge were Made free, he ventured to say that 50,000,000 instead of 5,000,000 would pass over it yearly. If the object they aimed at were attained, the Waterlooroad might become as respectable as the Westminster-road or the Borough ugh-street. Many poor people who would otherwise pass over Waterloo Bridge pass over those of Blackfriars and Westminster. The morality of the Waterloo-road district was, questionable; but if the toll were done away with that state of things would be entirely altered. He • was glad to be able to compliment the Metropolitan Board and the Corporation of London on their efforts to make the bridges on which tolls were still paid free from that tax on the people. Mr. It. Applegarth, secretary, read the names of several gentlemen from whom letters of apology and subscriptions had been received, to the amount of £l2O.  Sir James Clark Lawrence, M.P., proposed the first resolution, which was to the effect that the toll On Waterloo-bridge and the other bridges of London is a heavy tax on the community, highly• injurious to thb value of property, and detrimental to commercial intercourse, presenting .an anomaly not to be found in any other city. of Europe or America; and this meeting is of opinion that the time has at length arrived when such tolls should be abolished. He - Urged that Lambeth was shut in, as it were, by several toll bridges, and contended that Hungerford.bridge should be first made free; then. the number of passengers over Waterloo-bridge would be less, so that in a few years less money would be required for the purchase of it.  The motion was seconded by Mr. W. T. Charley, M.P., who said that there should be no taxation without representation, and there was no representation in the case of bridges on which tolls were paid. The proposition having been supported by Mr. C. S. Barker, representative of Newington in the Metropolitan Board of Works, was carried unanimously. Mr. Edward Jenkins 'proposed the second resolution' which urged on the Metropolitan Board of Works and the Corporation of the City. of London, the necessity of conferring with the Government and the Bridge Companies to deal at once with the subject of free bridges. In the course of a brief speech, ho said that he never saw the "red horse," as be designated the penny omnibus, crossing the Waterloo-bridge daily without investing it with a sort of angelic beauty. It bad often racked his not very large brains to discover what could be the reason for such a toll as that at present existing on Waterloo Bridge, and ho could never find any except that some unfortunate wretch might at some time or other be prevented from committing suicide 'by not being able to pay the toll.  Sir R. Baggallay, M.P. for Mid-Surrey, seconded the motion, and was supported by the Rev. G. M. Murphy. Before the resolution was put, the Chairman said that those who had promoted the meeting had nothing disparaging to say of the Waterloo Bridge Company. That body, when the bridge was built, had met a great public want by private enterprise. There were besides, several annuitants to be considered in this matter. lie quoted the opinion of the Duke of Wellington, that, if bridges were to be free, the Government should ootnmunieato with the, proprietors of the bridges. The motion was then adopted. Some formal resolutions were then passed, after which the proceedings terminated.  The first measion on which the Prince of Wales was 'ablo to exercise his returning powers by a walk in the open air was last Thursday. The weather for a few hours was fine and, enjoyable, and his Royal Highness proceeded on foot from Sandringham House up the gentle acclivity to the westward, and honoured General- Sir Wm. Knollys, with a visit, at his residence, Park House, the distance being slightly under a quarter of a mile, After a sufficient interval of rest, the Prince eturned home in lii basket carriage.