To thei Editor of the President de la Munici-its ise & dit an cours de la seance apéciale tenne Londi dernier que lo Conseil résorvait—apres avoir accompli toutes les-formolites legales @'une enqudte administrative—de statuer en dernier resort sur la demande faite par la compagnie des tramways, Cette declaration est des plus correctes mais j'Avoue ne pas comprendre, & premiere vue, comment lo Conseil en raison des conditions speciales on il so troupe, peut dans lo-cas present, prendre une decision déGnitive et rester dans la légalité.
De bult members nammes en Janvier, trois, MIN Bettembourg, Reiners et Vouillemont out quitté "Shanghai; un quatrieme member, M. Gouilloud, ayant cease de resider sur la Concession depuis lo premier Juin et n'y ayant plus d'impét nia titre de location ni A titre de propristaire a perdu en droit, La quality Cons La commission municipal se compose done anjourd'hui do MIN, Brunat, Cumine; Artindale of Myburgh. Mais' comme M. Myburgh et Attindale font partie clu comité provisoire de la compagnie clu tramway, (North-China Daily News, Municipal notification, 30 Juin, 1881) un scrupula fort natural les fora so recuser en portu clu veil adage que nul ne peut tre inge en so propre cause. Lo Conseil réduit do la sort & deux members, aura-t-il lo pouvoir de prendre une deliberation valable Vouillez agreer, Monsieur, Mes salutations empresses, Exzcrevr. Shanghai, 9 Adut, 1881.
[Translation.} right, after having fulfilled the necessary legal requirements, to decide definitely upon the application made by the Tramway Company.
This conclusion seems a wise one, but I must confess.that I fail to understand clearly how the Council, in consequence of its exceptional position, can in the present case come to any definite decision snd got keep within the law, the eight members elected in January last, Messrs. Bottombourg, Reiners and Vouillemont have left Shanghai; a fourth member, Mr. Gouilloud, having ceased to be a resident on the Concession since last Tune; and paying no tax, either as tenant or proprietor, has lost all'claim to the title of Councillor.
The Municipal Commission is therefore at present. composed of Messrs, Brunat, Cumine, Artindale and Myburgh.
But.as Messrs, Mybargh and Artindale are members of the Provisional Committee of the Tramway Company, (see North-China" Daily News, Municipal Council Notification, 30th June, 1881), a delicacy, tite natural, will induce them to with in virtue of the old adage that no one can: be judge in his own case.
The "Council. thus reduced to two members;"-would it have the power to arrive at a legal decision Yours, Aw Exzctor.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.