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145
of the Board into the position of being their own judges upon
serious charges and accusations against them. So ill-balanced
and ill-guided are some of the Members sitting on this Committee,
that one of them proposed a criminal prosecution for libel against
a person who had written a letter containing serious allegations
against the Board, and who had declined to appear before such a
Committee.
The public Press, the people, a very large section of the
Metropolitan Board itself, many of the Metropolitan Yestries and
District Boards, together with your suppliants, believe that the
Committee so appointed is wholly inadequate either for ascertaining
the guilt of the parties accused, or for establishing the innocence
of many Members and officials.
Your suppliants believe that nothing short of a Royal Commission
(with the mercy that Your Most Gracious Majesty finds
the indulgence to accord to wrong doers, who truthfully disclose
all the facts for the general benefit of the community) will have
the result of unearthing and bringing to light the corruption
which is charged against the Metropolitan Board of Works and
its Officers, and of establishing the innocence of those now unjustly
under the cloud of suspicion. Numerous persons have refused to
give evidence before the Board's Committee, whilst they have
expressed their willingness to appear before a Royal Commission.
The importance of the enquiry will appear from a few
figures. Last year, the Board received from about four millions
of taxpayers, and a few other sources emanating from the people,
the enormous sum of about £1,500,000. Since its incorporation,
the Board has from time to time borrowed £36,000,000 of which
about £30,000,000 is still owing.
Putting the inhabitants of the United Kingdom at about
40,000,000 and the Imperial Budget at about £80,000,000 it