The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-04 00:00:00

NATIONAL ECONOMY.

That an annual sum, equal to half as much again as
the proceeds of the Income-tax, and amounting to about
an eighth of the entire revenue, should, for all these
unassumingroof how
exterior. an b u emi
lae
years, have been expended at the pleasure of official
Why
ile
gain
clothing in lon longevity Colonels by
and a an
personages, and without Parliamentary control, is a
p
eawnl
ttoihwr e
fif for
expense
vigorousf
osramr cearssm, beraeeetvneanfnauovemo uiasrl iywt eitthshuadbtrj
ae
twcht
nes
the gains of the Grand Falconer, by the opening they
collecting thl eat ve
:hg
from all supervision, and that, in fact, the official world
help themselves to their salaries, and then pay over the
balance to the public, has never gained much popularity
as a grievance. But it has long engaged the attention of
all who seriously consider if greater economy might not
be united with equal efficiency in the public service ;
and, whether or not it be the case that the expenditure
is excessive, and the duties laxly performed, at any
rate it seems reasonable to demand that the authority
of the Commons should extend to the cost and manner
of collecting the imposts which they sanction. It
must be evident to all who reflect on the tendency
to extravagance and inertness which characterizes
executive functions, that there is no fitter remedy
than the supervision of an independent and watch-
ful Legislature. It is hardly likely that the Customs
or Excise will reform themselves. Each individual
employed has, or fancies he has, an interest in the sys-
tem as it is ; his ease is furthered by a superfluity of
hands, his inefficiency is screened by a negligent con-
trol, his funds are benefitted by an extravagant pay.
Besides this, it is generally found that men accustomed
to an incessant round of routine duties come to look
upon every petty detail of procedure as hardly less ne-
cessary than the laws of light or gravitation. Nor can
a Minister, without external pressure, effect much.
Overwhelmed with the discharge of indispensable duties,
he cannot be expected to go out of his way to alter what
is not popularly complained of, and what every man
connected with the department is ready to assure him
works uncommonly well. It is to the House of Corn-
, mons and its independent members that the nation must
look for bringing to notice the anomalies that may pre-
vail ; and, as long as direct means of interference are
withheld from that assembly, and no opportunity arises
for the discussion of so important a subject, except by a
formal motion, it is plain that the whole of these large
establishments are shielded from that healthy control
and criticism which are necessary for their efficiency.
Mr. Gladstone's announcement that this state of things
is about to cease will be received with pleasure, and taken
in connexion with the other reforms of the civil service,
seems to promise a system of internal administration
which while it opens a useful and honourable career to
hundreds, will benefit the country by an efficient dis-
charge of public dutiee, and confer the means of periodi-
cally dealing with the abuses that may arise. In the
present session three principal departments of the re-
venue are to be dealt with—the Inland Revenue, the
Customs, and the Post-office. To master the details of
these great establishments requires much time and
attention ; but that general feeling, which is seldom far
wrong, has long inclined to the belief that the two
former, at least, are conducted on a system far from
enlightened or economical ; or, at any rate, that the
great changes in our financial system are reasons for an
inquiry as to whether these establishments may not re-
ceive corresponding improvements. Mr. Gladstone
has also taken the opportunity of dealing with other
charges which are now paid out of the revenue before
it has reached the Exchange. Numerous pensions are,
by Royal or Parliamentary authority, charged upon
these branches ; and these it is proposed to buy up, or,
unless that be done, to place them on the Consolidated
Fund. As they are to be paid, it is of little use making
them the subject of an annual grant ; and their con-
nexion with the particular source of revenue to which
they were attached at the time of their being granted
has now become inconvenient and undesirable. When
this has been done, the nation is promised an approach
to "A perfectly clear, comprehensive, and accurate
system of public accounts.
It is impossible to estimate too highly the importance
of these changes. It is the misfortune of a profuse ex_
penditure, and consequent indebtedness, that the nation
has only to provide the means of meeting the charges
entailed, but must a;. so support a large productive class
to collect them. The existence of such an official class,
so numerous, and necessarily appointed by the Execu-
tive, has a tendency to lower the tone of poltical imont-
lity through every grade d life. The householder soli-
cits his M.P., the M.P. b.
elieits the Minister, the
Minister, in turn, expects the sup:lort of the M.P., and
the M.P. looks for the allegiance (2.f the constituent.
One of these evils it is proposed to lesst.7l as far as pos-
sible ; the other 'wholly to eradicate, or even to turn
into a benefit. If the intentions of GoverniZ'ent be
carried out, it will rest with the people and their reprt,=
sentatives to see that the necessary waste be as small as
possible ; and on the institution of such a system of exa-
mination and probation as we lately announced, there
will be an end of the jobbery whicirnow taints political
life, and frcnn which we firmly believe the dispensers of
patronage are anxious to be delivered. The encourage.
ment of talent to seek an official career must be looked upon
as a means not only of purity and efficiency, but even of
organic
improvement. The introduction of men of cul-
tivated mind and superior acquirements to an acquaint-
ance with the public establishments will lead to many
suggestions, and in some instances to a change of system.
The working of such vast machinery must afford scope
for inventive and constructive powers of the highest
order ; and the revolution which one man has made in
the postal system of this country and of the world is
enough to show what may be the result of an encourage-
ment to rise superior to ordinary routine. At present,
it is notorious that the affairs of commercial companies,
rivalling in vastness of proportions and complexity of
detail the establishments of the nation, are managed with
a skill and economy which Government cannot insure.
If men of scientific acquirements were accustomed to
look to the public service as they now do to the patron-
age of private enterprise, the country would soon reap
the benefit. With a House of Commons ready to criti-
cise every expensive and clumsy process, and with men
in their respective departments capable of originality,
and with worldly success depending on their exertions,
there would soon be a closer investigation of principles
and a better arrangement of details. The two contem-
plated changes are closely connected, and each will tend
to advance the other. If carried out fully, and wi9
that perseverance which is necessary for success in
ameliorations which must be gradual, they will compose
a reform second to none that has illustrated the presentd
and will advance the material, intellectual, and
moral etu
moral interests of the country, by alley
iing its
purifying its pobrde ns,
litics.—
extending its education, and purl
Times.

---- --
is 2s.
5 d .THE LUNATIC ASYLUM RATE.—The Middlesex ma-
gistrates have issued their precepts to the various
parishes of the county for the amount of the rate of one
halfpenny in the pound, made under the Lunatic Asy-
lum Act of last session, to defray the moneys, costs, and
expenses payable under the act. They estimate the
expenditure for the maintenance of pauper lunatics for
the present quarter at 2,7001. ; the repairs of the two
county lunatic asylums 2,500/. ; and interest payable on
money borrowed 9,3191. 2s. sd. • total, 143,521891.1.
ionucnodm
oenf from c the
oun
county
r ecountyrental
al rate'of o7f,
705n1e, halfpenny in
esti-
matedTthheep at 16,1541. 175., leaving a surplus on the quarter
of 1,635/. 14s, 7d.