§ On the Motion of Mr. Alderman Wood, the House went into Committee on this Bill.
§ Several Clauses were agreed to.
§ On Clause 6 being read (a money clause) regulating the licences to be taken out by hackney coachmen and their watermen,
§ Mr. Potterconsidered the proposed duty of 20s. for drivers, and 12s. for watermen, too high, and suggested the substitution respectively of 5s. and 2s. 6d.
§ Sir John Wrottesleysaid, he conceived that in point of form it was not competent in the House to proceed at all with these money clauses in the absence of any declared assent to them on the part of the Government.
Alderman Woodsaid, that it was very hard, that the progress of so important a measure should be impeded. The Committee up stairs, after they had framed the Bill, had submitted it to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Home Secretary, who had assented to the whole Bill, except the clause relating to the appointment of Commissioners. It had in consequence been proposed by the supporters of the 949 measure that these Commissioners should consist of one magistrate from each of the eight police-offices. This suggestion entirely obviated the objection previously taken by Government, and he (Alderman Wood) had confidently expected that the Chancellor of the Exchequer would have come clown to the House this morning for the purpose of sanctioning the Rill. As the right hon. Gentleman, however, was not in his place, the House could at all events proceed with the other clauses of the Bill, leaving the money clauses to he taken into consideration when the Chancellor of the Exchequer should have given his assent to them. In reference to the duty proposed upon licences, it was the express desire of the hackney-coach and other proprietors that their servants should he registered: the amount of duty was altogether a matter of indifference. The hon. Alderman proceeded to complain, that after the result of the interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and after both the Stamp-office and the Commissioners of Woods and Forests had given their consent, he should now be turned round upon with the objection that this Bill could not be proceeded with because the Chancellor of the Exchequer was not present. It was to be feared, that if the measure were not proceeded with to-day, it would not be passed at all this Session, a result which would create very general disappointment. The measure was a most important one both for London and Westminster, and the necessity for it was proved beyond a doubt by the number of petitions which had been from all quarters presented, grievously complaining of the great danger to life and property caused by the existence of the nuisance.
§ Sir John Wrottesleysaid, that if the hon. Alderman had kept the Bill within the limits which it had been understood should be adhered to, and had confined its operation to the City of London, he (Sir J. Wrottesley) should have supported it; but the Bill came out of Committee so altered and enlarged, that he thought it was impossible for the House to assent to it, as he found it to be himself. The Bill, as it now stood, went to re-establish the old Board of Commissioners, and all their attendant mischiefs; and this in itself was an overwhelming objection. No doubt very great inconvenience was sustained in the city from a want of due regulation of these carriages; and he should support any measure which tended effectually to re- 950 move this inconvenience. There was however, no such inconvenience experienced in Westminster, where the police were found amply competent to the effectual removal of all street obstructions. If the hon. Alderman would consent to the withdrawal of the objectionable clauses in the Bill, and limit it to the city, he (Sir J. Wrottesley) would support it.
§ Mr. Robert Steuartsaid, that both the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Home Secretary, were in attendance till two o'clock on the former morning sitting, when this Bill was fixed to come on; this morning, neither of them had any idea that it would come on. He thought, however, that it would not be competent in the House to proceed with this Bill at present.
Alderman Woodsaid, that for his own part, he had limited the operation of the Bill to London. Its extension to Westminster was determined upon by the Committee.
§ The House resumed. Committee to sit again.