The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-26 00:00:00

century and a quarter immediately succeeding its
oundation. It is true that Greenwich has long
ceased to be that home of sinecurists into which it
had been converted in the time of Lord SandWich.
But although the shameless corruption which in
the reign of George the Third permitted the
revenues which were intended for the support of
those who had been disabled, or who had grown
decrepit, in the naval service of their coun-
try, to be shared amongst place-hunters, no
longer exists, still it has long been felt that,
owing to a vicious system of administration,
the results attained were far from being com-
mensurate with the means provided for their
production. To some it appears that the number
of the pensioners might be increased, that their posi-
tion might be sensibly improved, and that Green-
wich Hospital might, by the additional advantages
which it could hold out to our aged and disabled
seamen, become more attractive to those who would
be entitled to claim its shelter. Others, on the other
hand, whilst admitting that the funds might be more
judiciously administered, questioned the policy of
making thatwhich should merely be a home for those
who were really destitute, a place so attractive as to
invite inmates who would otherwise have resided
with their families or friends. Again and again the
matter was brought under the consideration of
Parliament, and at length in the course of last
session a motion was submitted to the House of
Commons for the appointment of a committee to
inquire into and report on the existing mode of
governing the hospital and administering its funds.
This motion was withdrawn on a pledge being given
by the Government that steps should be taken to
investigate the then system of administration, and
that a measure should subsequently be submitted to
Parliament for the reformation of such abuses as
should be found to exist. A committee was accord-
ingly appointed with this object, and its report was
submitted to the Government at the commencement
of the present year. The bill read in the House of Com-
mons for the first time last evening is substantially
founded on the suggestions contained in that report.
The aggregate revenues of Greenwich Hospital
from landed and funded property are very large,
amounting to somewhat in excess of £154,000
annually. This sum, it is now proposed, shall be
considered distinct from the ordinary income of
the country, whilst the control of the expenditure
of the hospital shall be directly vested in the
House of Commons, the votes being annually pre-
sented to Parliament, similarly to those of the
other branches of the public service. In order
still further to avoid the possibility of the mis-
application of the funds of the hospital, it is pro-
vided that the Commissioners of Audit shall be
empowered to examine the accounts and balance-
sheets of that institution, which at present they
cannot do. Having thus provided for the due ap-
propriation of the revenues of Greenwich Hospital,
the Government next suggest the manner in which
those funds should be applied. Acting in accord-
ance with the views which he enunciated last session
when the subject was brought under the considera-
tion of the House of Commons, Mr. Childers pro-
poses that the number of the inmates of the hospital
should be reduced, and those of the out-pensioners
increased, or, in other words, that inducements
should be held out to seamen availing themselves of
the benefits of the institution to live outside its pre-
cincts. The number of, pensioners in Greenwich
Hospital in June last was fifteen hundred, and this
number it is now proposed shall be reduced to six
hundred. With this object the admission will hence-
forth be limited to those seamen who are absolutely
infirm or helpless, or are in want of medical assist-
ance. It is estimated that the annual cost of these
six hundred indoorpensioners will be about £45,000;
and as the cost of the school will remain at its pre-
sent figure of £23,000, the total amount of the cost
of the internal administration of the hospital will be
about £68,000. In respect to the out-pensioners it
is suggested that the allowances to them shall be in-
creased, and that they shall be entitled to an exten-
sion of their pensions on attaining certain prescribed
ages. The scale according to which these pensions
shall be apportioned was specified by Mr. Childers,
and the estimated annual cost of the out-pensioners
was set down at £48,000. One of the most impor-
tant questions submitted for the consideration of
the committee regarded the advisability of per-
mitting commissioned officers to be eligible to re-
ceive pensions out of the revenues of the hospital ;
and on this point we are glad to find that the de-
cision was in the affirmative. There certainly seems
no good reason why a seaman, because he happens
to bear the rank of an officer, should therefore be
disqualified from availing himself of the advan-
tages held out by such an institution as Green-
wich Hospital. The Government propose to make
some slight additions to the number of naval officers
at present entitled to be recipients of . the hospital
funds, and henceforth the estimated annual expen-
diture on this head will be about £4,500. It is also
suggested that the Seamen's Widows' Fund shall
be increased. After adding together these several
items of expenditure, Mr. Childers calculates that
an annual surplus of £13,000 will remain, which lie
suggests should be allowed to accumulate: In
respect to the existing system of administration, we
may observe that the new bill will abolish that
double government which all parties have unani-
mously concurred in condemning. The so-called
military element will be eradicated, and compensa-
tion will be made to those officers who will thus be
deprived of the posts they at present hold. Such
are the leading features of the measure which has
now been submitted for the approval of Parliament.
It is unusual to discuss the merits of a bill on the
evening of its introduction, and that of Mr. Childers
was consequently read a first time without comment.
It is not improbable that it will undergo some modi-
fication before it becomes law, but the object which
it has in view has been so long and so universally
recognised, that no doubt can exist of its receiving
the sanction of the Legislature.