The Press.
London, England, 1855-09-01 00:00:00

SErr. 1, 1855.

CIVIL SERVICE SUPERANNUATION.
CONSIDERABLE surprise was occasioned by an
announcement made on the 22nd of June, by
the CHANCELLOR Of the EXCHEQUER, to the
effect that the Bill for the better regulation of
civil superannuation pensions was to be post-
poned till the session of 1856. The impossi-
bility of passing it this year through the
various stages was assigned as the cause of
this unworthy conduct. In the month of
March previous Sir G. C. LEWIS had baulked
Mr. MACARTNEY'S motion on the subject, by the
assurance of a shortly-coming Government
measure. A similar statement had also been
made in the month of May, in answer to ques-
tions put by Sir STANFORD NORTHCOTE. We will
not, however, stigmatise as a breach of faith
this course of action on the part of Sir GEORGE
Lewis. We know that but few subjects are
sufficient to overload his contracted though
ponderous capacity ; and we will place a
charitable construction on his somewhat
astounding declaration, by assuming that the
mass of public affairs had thrown a denser
cloud than usual over his intellect. If the
word of a Minister is worthy of any credit,
another year cannot elapse without some legis-
lative enactment, to obviate the gross injustice
at present inflicted on the Civil Service. Mean-
while, we propose to show the severe loss
accruing to that service from the indolence of
the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, and to
point out some facts imperatively demanding
alteration and improvement.
It is unnecessary, as it would be tedious, to

_
enter into the history of the rise and progress
of the Civil Service Superannuation Fund.
Suffice it to say that from a return laid before
Parliament in 1853 it appeared that from the
year 1829, when the fund was established, to
1852, the enormous sum of 621,5391. had accu
mulated from the contributions of Civil
servants, while, during that period, the total
amount drawn for superannuation allowances
amounted to 36,413/. Thus, had this first-
named sum been funded, the interest alone
would have been sufficient to pay treble the
amount of the actual superannuation allow-
ances. This large capital, however, has been
scandalously appropriated to pay the retiring
pensions of officers appointed to the service
previous to the establishment of the so•called
superannuation fund. These, without any
annual contribution, are entitled to higher
rates of pension than their juniors, thus taxed
to pay off previously-contracted engagements
of the country. The annual amount collected
amounts to 64,0001. At the commencement of
this year, when Mr. MACARTNEY proposed to
bring forward the subject, the balance in the
books of the Treasury had reached a total of
something like 700,0001. The inactivity and
folly of Sir GEORGE CORNEWALL LEWIS will add
another 64,0001. to this overgrown extortion.
Our readers will at once see the fearful injus-
tice committed, when they recollect that, in
addition to the double income tax, the Civil
servant of the Crown has to pay live per cent.
on his salary, if exceeding one hundred pounds
per annum. Thus, the delay caused by Sir
GEORGE LEWIS will take from every member of
the Civil Service drawing a salary of 5001. the
sum of 251. in addition to the enormous taxes

levied on the whole community. It is needless to
point out the weight of the pressure occasioned
by these unjust regulations, on men of small
incomes and large families. Sir GEORGE
Lewis, not subject himself to such calls, has
selfishly disregarded, instead of endeavouring
to mitigate, the evil. But the evil must be miti-
gated in two ways. The contribution must
be diminished—the advantages given in re-
turn for it increased. At present the contri-
bution is compulsory. Thus let it remain.
But we do not wish to see a clerk dying at his
desk lose all the benefit of the contributions of
years. He cannot retire before reaching the
age of sixty-five unless physically or mentally
incapacitated from work ; and even then the
Treasury consider themselves authorised to
dock the pension nominally secured by his
subscriptions. It is to this last point that we
particularly wish to call the attention of our
readers.