The Press.
London, England, 1856-03-29 00:00:00

Volitital.

THE ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMERS held a public
meeting on Tuesday evening "To consider the
necessity of a vigorous effort to counteract existing
abuses in the administration of the affairs of the
country, to expose corrupt influence and favoritism
in Government appointments, the consequent ineffi-
ciency of the public service, and the enormous in-
crease of taxation." Mr. Smedley, the High Bailiff
of Westminster, was in the chair; and amongst the
gentlemen on the platform were Sir J. V. Shelley,
M.P., Mr. Jacob Bell, Mr. Buckton, Mr. H. G.
Robinson, Mr. Whitehurst, and others ; but the hall
was not half filled. Mr. Jacob Bell moved the first
resolution, condemning the corrupt political
influence used in obtaining appointments to respon-
sible situations under Government, and adduced as
an instance of the effects of the present vicious
system the case of an exciseman detected in receiving
bribes, and discharged from his post, but, "nominated
by some great nobleman, be was appointed, within a
week after he had been discharged for the offence, to
a better place, with a higher salary, in a distant part
of the country ; nevertheless, his character followed
him thither, until the place became too hot to hold
him, and he finally was driven to jump off a cliff into
the sea, and so he VMS drowned." Mr. Bell then
touched upon the board of inquiry on the conduct
of officers in the Crimea, as well as to the impending
inquiry into the circumstances of the fall of Kars, and
the investigation which must soon be made into the
system of' Government contracts, as matters to which
the Reform Association should direct Its attention.
Sir J. V. Shelley, M. P., said that, although en
Administrative Reformer, he was not a member of the
Administrative Reform Association. Still, he had
nothing to say against that association, and if they
had done nothing more than originate that admir-
able phrase, " The right man in the right place,"
they had not lived for nothing. It appeared to him,
however, that they had always omitted in their ad-
dresses the primary and most important reform
which should be aimed at, and that was Parliament-
ary Reform. He thought they had put the cart be-
fore the horse. To carry out administrative reform
it should begin by reforming the House of Commons,
and with a view to setting forth this principle he
should move the following addition to Mr. Bell's
resolution :

That, inasmuch as the Commons House of Parliament
does not, except in name, represent the people, no appeal
for redress to that house as at present constituted is likely
to be attended with a satisfactory result, and that a com-
plete and permanent removal of existing abases can only
he expected as the result of a reform of the House of Com-
mons, including the vote by ballot.
It was two years since Lord John Russell introduced
his Reform Bill, and, now the war was at an end, be
hoped the Liberal electors would decle.re in favour of
a reform in Parliament. This ought to be made the
primary matter. The clause was then added to the
resolution. In reply to certain questions, Mr. Bell
explained that the first object of the Reform Associa-
tion was to obtain the recognition of merit as the
first condition of employment under Government.
Mr. Finlen, a Chartist, thought that this was not
definite. What the country wanted was something
palpable—something which could be seen, felt, and
valtieJ :
The chairman had toll them that there was a " spicy"
bill of fare before them, but the Administrative Reform
Association had failed to give to the people that which
they really wanted, and which they had so often in vain
demanded. (Cheers.) The Administrative Reform As-
sooiation could scarcely be considered a popular ascot•
tion, when on snob an occasion it was only able to muster
some 200 or SOO persona. But he did not think that was
sarpriring, when theT remembered that i 4 objeote wets

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