On Saturday Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Lowe received a deputation
from the Metropolitan Board of Works, sent to ask their help in freeing the London Bridges. This work will cost 21,500,000, and the Board purpose to accomplish it by continuing the coal and wine dues. These dues, of which the only important one is the coal duty of thirteenpence a ton, produce /309,000 a year, of which /219,000 goes to the Board and the rest to the City. The Board's share is pledged for certain improvements till 1889, but the Board think if the dues were continued till 1899 they could buy up the bridges. They prefer that scheme, avowedly because it prevents new taxation and gives them a long day ; but Mr. Gladstone does not quite see matters in that light. He says the London manufacturers who use the coal suffer—which is true— and wants the Board to propose some other way of raising the money. Mr. Lowe, again, wants to know why people who live fifteen miles off from London should be taxed for those who use the bridges. Just because the prosperity of London, to which free locomotion is essential, quadruples their incomes. It is evident that Mr. Gladstone dislikes the scheme, but with twenty metro- politan Members we suppose the bridges will be freed, though we should like some impartial arbitrator to look closely into the price. Have bridge shares risen or fallen lately ?
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