to follow it would bring upon the metropolis far greater evils than those which were caused by this traffic; but there could be no harm in giving the Inspector of Police discretion which should enable him to prevent complaints such as had been made so numerously to the Home Office. He hoped the House would agree to the proposal contained in the Bill. MR. LOCKE said, he thought great inconvenience would result from adopting the proposal of the Government. If any costermonger wilfully obstructed the traffic, the police, under the law as it stood, had the right to move him on. What more was wanted? The law was much better as it stood than it would be with this alteration, which would impose upon the Chief Commissioner of Police the necessity of marking out spaces to be occupied by these itinerant dealers, whether other persons liked it or not. It would be better to adopt the course suggested by his hon. Friend, and to repeal the 6th clause altogether. MR. BENTINCK said, he could not help noticing that if any measure were proposed for reforming municipal institutions, it was never so heartily opposed as by the metropolitan Members. That had been the case with a measure which he had brought for ward with regard to street music-a measure opposed by, among others, the hon. Baronet (Sir George Bowyer), who lived in the Temple, and was spared any annoyance of that description. The present law which empowered the police to interfere when costermongers " wilfully obstructed the traffic, was not sufficient, for what construction was to be put upon the word "wilfully?" There was a necessity for the costermongers' traffic being better regulated than under the former law, and he thought the present Bill afforded the means of doing so. He thought the measure now proposed a reasonable one, and hoped the Committee would adopt it. SIR ROUNDELL PALMER said, that according to the right hon. Gentleman the Home Secretary, the 6th clause of the Act of last year was not intended to apply to costermongers and street hawkers. But the present Bill did not bring the law into conformity with that explanation of the purpose of the Act of last Session, but took advantage of the opportunity to place the costermongers entirely under the regulation and control of the police. Now the provisions of the Police Act gave the police sufficient power to interfere when there were wilful obstructions in the streets. In passing through streets frequented by these itinerant traders, he had been often interested in observing at once the total absence of disorder and the immense convenience which this trade appeared to be to a large number of poor persons. Would it be right to put the whole power of controlling such a trade into the hands of the police ? As the Bill proposed to put into the hands of the Commissioner of Police a power which might be seriously abused, he would vote for the Amendment. MR. DAVENPORT - BROMLEY asserted, from personal knowledge, that the police were not safe persons to be intrusted with discretionary powers in matters such as the Bill dealt with. In Westminster the police inflicted great hardships on the costermongers, who were the camp followers of the poor, supplying them with food at the lowest possible rate; indeed, it was hard to say what the poor would do without the costermonger at this time of year. As an unrepresented class, their interests should be carefully watched by the House; and he would remind the Home Secretary that there were such things as custom and vested rights, and that costermongers had for many years enjoyed certain rights of a much more substantial character than could be claimed for those processions which had passed through the London streets of late, and he hoped the right hon. Gentleman would see that they were not harshly treated. MR. LABOUCHERE said, that all the Representatives of the metropolis were united in hoping that the 6th clause of last Session's Act would be repealed. He thought the advantage of repealing the clause over the plan of the right hon. Gentleman was obvious. It would restore the law to what it was; and then if a householder did not object he might have a costermonger before his door; but if he did object he might have the costermonger removed. MR. GATHORNE HARDY said, that if the 6th clause were repealed he should withdraw the Bill. It seemed to be overlooked that the clause did not apply to costermongers only, but to all persons who placed goods on the street for sale, and thereby created a great hindrance to the public; and he could not help seeing that the interest which had been so suddenly displayed in behalf of the costermonger really arose from a desire to relieve the shopkeepers from a clause which inconve nienced them. The object of this Bill was I would not be wise therefore to repeal it. not to regulate the business of coster- What he would suggest was simply that mongers, but to declare that the Act of the two lines which related to street hawklast Session should not apply to them as ers and itinerant traders should be struck long as they carried on their business in out. This would leave those persons preaccordance with the rules of the police. cisely where they were before the passing SIR GEORGE BOWYER said, that of the Act of last Session, while all that was not an accurate description of the Bill, was good in the clause would then be because it gave uncontrolled power to the retained. Commissioner of Police to make any regulations he pleased with regard to the trading of costermongers. The Bill of last Session was evidently a mistake on this point; it did what the Legislature never intended, and the proper remedy was to bring things back to the state in which they were before the Act was passed. COLONEL KNOX said, that some regulations were absolutely necessary. The greatest complaints had been made by the Press and the public about the obstructions in our streets; but the moment an attempt was made to put things in order, up started the metropolitan Members and opposed it. It was almost impossible sometimes to get through the crowded streets. It was plain that somebody must be intrusted with power to make regulations, and he knew no better person to whom the duty could be committed than the Commissioner of Police, under the control of the Secretary of State. He hoped the Committee would support the right hon. Gentleman in carrying this clause, which was simply intended to remedy an oversight. MR. AYRTON said, what the metropolitan Members were anxious about was that the legislation for the metropolis. should not be crude and irrational. material point was this:-There was a clause in the Act of Parliament which all admitted to be wrong; but the provision proposed by the Government was not a clear one. He quite concurred with the principle of the clause, that a tradesman should not avail himself of the privilege of loading or unloading his goods on the footway for the purpose of exposing his goods for sale. There was already a provision to deal with such cases. To pass a particular clause entitling costermongers to a privilege not possessed by others would be unjust. He was content to leave the matter under the general police law against obstructions. The simple mode of dealing with the matter was to repeal this clause and bring up a new one. The MR. CANDLISH said, it was generally admitted that there was much good in the 6th clause of the Bill of last year; it Question put," That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Clause." The Committee divided :-Ayes [63]; Noes 30: Majority 33. MR. GOSCHEN asked, whether the Home Secretary would consent to introduce a provision requiring the regulations framed by the police authorities to be laid before Parliament? MR. GATHORNE HARDY replied, that this would be unnecessary, since Parliament would always have a check upon them. SIR GEORGE BOWYER contended that the regulations should be subject to appeal to the Home Secretary, and should be laid before Parliament. MR. ALDERMAN SALOMONS said, a notion prevailed that costermongers would not be able to carry on their business without a license. MR. GATHORNE HARDY said, he had never heard of any such notion. On submitting the Bill to the friends of the costermongers they did not offer a single objection to it. Clause agreed to. Clause 2 (Regulations as to Lamps to Hackney Carriages). MR. ALDERMAN LAWRENCE proposed an additional clause repealing the 17th and 26th sections of the Act of last Session, being the clauses which referred to hackney carriages. These sections required cabs to be provided with a lamp at night, and fixed 1s. as the lowest fare for a cab hired from a standing. Since the Act of 1853 the prices of horses, provender, stabling, and harness had largely increased, and it was therefore unfair to require the cabowners to provide lamps, which it was estimated would cost £7 a year. His object was to have the whole cab question taken into consideration by the Home Secretary and a comprehensive measure passed. Throughout England and Scotland, with the exception of London, the tax paid for one cab was £5 per annum, and for fifty cabs £170 per annum ; while in London the amount levied for one cab | in a four-wheeled cab. The dash-board was £19 58. per annum, and for fifty had been suggested, but there it came in cabs £962 108. per annum. Sir Richard contact with the horse's tail. It could not Mayne had admitted the fact that the be put under the cab. If it were placed London cabs were the cheapest in the in front of the window it would not be country, and yet the Legislature imposed seen for the driver; and if it were put on a higher tax upon them than upon any the top it was in the way of the luggage others. The London cab proprietors were on the roof. The lamp was thus not only at the present moment starving each other a great expense, but a great inconvenience. out of existence, and it was not now the The taxation on the London cabdrivers and fitting time to impose upon them fresh proprietors was enormous-higher, indeed, charges and fresh duties. They had to com- than upon any other class of tradespeople pete with the "Underground" Railway, in this country. The Legislature did not with omnibuses, and steamboats, and were call upon omnibuses, waggons, or any other yet more heavily taxed than any of the description of vehicles to carry a lamp, three. As an instance of the public spirit and why should cabs be an exception? He of the cab drivers, an instance which showed hoped the Committee would strike out the that they were deserving of better treat- 17th clause. ment, he need only mention the fact that during the snow of last winter, when all the omnibuses ceased to run, the cabs were at the service of the public. Moved, To insert the following Clause: ("Repeal of Sections 17 and 26 of The Metropolitan Streets Act, 1867.'") Sections seventeen and twenty-six of the Act 30th & 31st Victoria, c. 134, shall be and are hereby repealed.”—(Mr. Alderman Lawrence.) SIR JAMES FERGUSSON reminded the House that they were not now engaged in legislating on the subject of cabs. The House last Session determined upon the postponement of the question relating to fares, and retained only those clauses in the Bill which facilitated the traffic of the metropolis, and it was shown that the absence of lamps in the cabs had occasioned many of the accidents which had occurred in the streets of London. It was last Session considered necessary for the safety of the public that the street cabs should carry a lamp; and one cab proprietor said that this was also desirable for the safety of the vehicles. He therefore hoped the Committee would not consent to repeal these clauses. There had been a great deal of exaggeration as to the cost of one lamp. He was informed it might be burned for 1d. a night; and this was not a great expense when it was considered that the cabs received by the same Act a great boon, in obtaining 1s. for the first mile when they were called off the rank. The Hansom cabs used always to carry a lamp, and he hoped the drivers would restore it. MR. LOCKE said, that a maker of cabs told him there was no place to put a light MR. GATHORNE HARDY said, that the 17th clause contained a great deal more than the regulation about the lamp. It authorized the Commissioners of Police to affix a plate or mark to show that a hackney-carriage was in a condition for public use, and to remove such plate when necessary. MR. ALDERMAN LAWRENCE assured the right hon. Gentleman that the Commissioner of Police had the power to remove the plate independently of this clause. Motion negatived. Colonel TAYLOR and Mr. LOCKE, two of the Tellers in the last Division, having come to the Table, acquainted the Chairman that they had by mistake reported the numbers of the Ayes as 63, instead of 73. Ordered, That the said numbers be corrected accordingly. Bill reported; as amended, to be considered To-morrow. GRAND JURY CESS (IRELAND) BILL. On Motion of Mr. STACPOOLE, Bill to provide for the apportionment of Grand Jury Cess between Landlord and Tenant in Ireland, ordered to be brought in by Mr. STACPOOLE, Mr. CORBALLY, and The O'CONOR DON. Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 14.] SALE OF LIQUORS ON SUNDAY BILL. further regulating the Sale of fermented and dis- Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 12.] MINUTES.]- NEW MEMBER SWORN Jacob Bright, esquire [Affirmation], for Manchester. WAYS AND MEANS-Resolutions [November 28] reported-Income Tax; Consolidated Fund. PUBLIC BILLS-Ordered-Income Tax*; Consolidated Fund (£2,000,000); Local Officers Superannuation (Ireland); Religious, &c. Buildings (Sites); Life Policies Nomination.* First Reading-Local Officers Superannuation (Ireland) [17]; Religious, &c. Buildings (Sites) [18]; Life Policies Nomination [19]; Income Tax * [16]; Consolidated Fund (£2,000,000).* * Second Reading-East London Museum Site* [7]. Referred to Select Committee-East London Museum Site [7]. Report of Select Committee-East London Museum Site [7]. Committee-Sales of Reversions** [8]. Report-Sales of Reversions [8]. present. The circumstances of the case were as follows:-The Act of Parliament directed that the plans should be determined upon by the Treasury with the advice and concurrence of the Commissioners. Before the change of Government the late Treasury thought that the best way of arriving at the concurrence of the Commissioners was to join with them in the appointment of a Committee of Judges of Design. The Commissioners accordingly appointed certain Members of that Committee of Judges and the Treasury appointed others. Shortly before the House adjourned for the Recess the Treasury received a communication from those gentlemen, stating that they had been unable to arrive at a decision that any one design was the best, and that they therefore had arrived at the conclusion that two gentlemen ought to be appointed to prepare a final plan jointly. The reply of the Treasury was to the effect that a communication of that kind was not such an award as the Treasury expected the Judges would have made, and the matter was referred back to them in the hope that they would agree upon some one architect. Only yesterday a further reply was received from the Judges of Design, stating that tion. Under these circumstances, the Treathey adhered to their original recommendasury proposed to do what the Act of Parliament laid down, and to seek the advice of the Commissioners. As soon as any course had been determined upon he should be most happy, if his hon. Friend would put a Question on the subject, to give him any further information in his power. POST OFFICE-CUNARD MAIL MR. MAGUIRE asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether it is true that when Considered as amended - Metropolitan Streets the Cunard Contract ceases, at the end of Act (1867) Amendment * [2]. NEW COURTS OF JUSTICE. MR. BERESFORD HOPE asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether the Treasury has arrived at any determination as to the appointment of architect for the new Courts of Justice, and whether he will object to state that determination to the House? MR. HUNT answered, that the Treasury had not arrived at any determination at VOL. CXC. [THIRD SERIES. ] this year, no arrangement has been made whereby the steamers of that Company will call at Queenstown? MR. HUNT said, he had already made a statement to the House with regard to the arrangement to be made with the Cunard Company at the termination of their present contract. That arrangement, as he had stated, had not yet taken a formal shape, and was at present only a verbal one. The arrangement was that there should be a weekly service to New York for one year, the steamers calling at Queenstown, as at present. Р LORD ROBERT MONTAGU said, that the Reports received on the subject were rather conflicting. On the 18th instant, information was received from the local inspector stating that cattle plague existed at Langrigg, near Dunse, in Berwickshire, and that the place had been provisionally viously expressed as to the disease not being cattle plague. Another telegram confirmatory of that opinion was received from Professor Simonds on the following day, and on the 28th he handed in this Report "I am of opinion that the animals are not the subjects of plague, but of the disease known as This disease gastro-enteritis, or enteric fever. owes its origin to common causes, not to special or specific ones, as the cattle plague; and such causes, I consider, have been in full operation in the present instance." He felt confident, therefore, that the disease ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION-RETURN MR. YOUNG asked the First Lord of MR. CORRY said, he had no objection. to lay upon the table of the House the Return asked for by the hon. Gentleman, as far as the Admiralty could furnish it. Information could be given respecting the eighteen ships taken up by the Admiralty here; but he did not know how many had been taken up at Bombay. As to the last part of the Question, he could only say that no Member of that House could enter into a contract with the Government without forfeiting his seat. declared to be infected. Particulars were at ARMY-CONVEYANCE OF TROOPSDETENTION OF SOLDIERS' BAGGAGE. QUESTION. MR. CHILDERS asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is true that the baggage of the regiment which landed at Portsmouth on Saturday last from the Crocodile was not delivered at Plymouth till Wednesday, being four days after the arrival of the regiment at the latter garri |