The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-09 00:00:00

ItrIPERIAL PARLIAMENT,

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(This Day.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at 3 o'clock.
Mr. HADFIELD presentcda petition from the inha-
bitants of Sheffield, complaining of the manner in which
the misunderstanding with the United States had been
caused.

CIVIL SERVICE SUPERANNUATION.
Ou the motion for going into committee,
THE CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER made
an explanation with reference to the civil service, before
the Speaker left the chair, which he hoped would in-
duce Viscount Goderich not to proceed with the
motion in committee on which he had given notice rela-
tive to the mode of making appointments in the
civil service. In the early part of the ses-
sion his noble friend moved a resolution with
a view of making more general the practice for ad-
mission into the civil service by open competition, but
though a discussion took place, followed by a
division, the house had not yet come to any
ultimate decision upon the point. Since that
discussion the system then in forte had been acted.° i,
and a considerable number of appointments bad
taken place. That system was introduced in May,
1855, and the following was the result of its opera-
tion up to the 30th June in the present year.
There were 2,309 candidates, and out of that number
there were examined 1,055 in London and 693 in the
provinces, making a total of 1,748. There were 564
certificates granted in London, 445 on the provincial exa-
mination, and on the reports from heads of depart-
ments 61, making the total number of certificates
granted 1,070. The number of certificates refused
amounted in London to 318, and on the provincial ex-
amination to 233, making the total number of certifi-
cates refused 556. It would be obvious that these
examinations were not a mere matter of form, and that
they had the effect of separating the worthy from the
unworthy candidates, who sought admission into the
publieservice. His noble friend (Lord Goderich) proposed
to carry the system further for the purpose of enabling
Persons to offer themselves as candidates without any
qualification, except that which appeared by their exa-
mination, and he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer)
would state to the house the views entsrtained
by the Government with respect to the system which ,
his noble friend wished to render universal. In the ,
superior departments, such as the Secretary of State's
office, or the Treasury, or any of the principal depart-
ments, the a; peintmerts were made by the hetei of the
office, the candidates having been subjected to an exami-
nation to test their capacities. Although the heads of
the department might not be engaged for a lengthened
period in the public service in that department, it
was still his interest to procure efficient personS, and
they were able in this manner to make a selection of per-
sons who were capable of performing the duties they
were called upon to discharge. Hs would go to the op-
posite end of the scale, and refer to the numerous class
of persons who were engaged in the Customs as tide-
waiters, Sec., and in the Post-office department as letter
carriers, &c., and in his opinion a system of competitive
literary examination would be an unusualmadeofteeting
the qualification of persons seeking appointments as civil
servants in that class. Then came an intermediate class,
consi-ting of excise of eers and the officials in other
public departments, who were at present appointed on
the nomination of the Treasury, and with reference. to
whom the pi inciple suggested by his noble
friend bad great receurnendations. He bad
communicated on the subject with the Civil
Service Commissioners—two most excellent public s r-
vante, Sir E. Ryan and Mr. Ltfevre—and the result of
their experience showed that examination by competition,
where the number of candidates was not considerable,
on the whole led to a more satisfactory result than any
other class of examination, and he thought their experi-
ence was in favour of the judicial and cautious exten-
sion of the principle of making appointments in that
class by competitive examination. The question
was by what means, to what extent, and in what
form the principle should be extended. The
house must see the difficulty of laying down a universal
rule that all candidates for office in the public service
should be brought up to L mdon, in order to un-
dergo a competitive exam.natiou. (Hear, hear.) '
If all the candidates had to come to Lon-
don, or to go to E linburgh, or to Dublin to
undergo an examination great advantages would thereby
,be conferred on the candidates who lived in the neigh-
bourhood of the three capitals. Means might be found,
however, to have examinations in different partd of the
country, and facilities thus afforded to all candidates
to come forward ; but he did net think it would be fair
to lay down a universal regulation imposing upon the
candidate the necessity of coming up to London or going
to Edinburgh or Dublin. Mr. Lefevre was in favour of
establishing the principle which he recommended by
kraduel means, so that they should feel their way
as they proceeded, and avoid 'the difficulties which, ac-
cording to experience, exist. The Government would
give as much attention as possible, consistent with
safety and propriety, to the principle recommended, and
he trusted that the explanation he had given would be
satisfactory to the house.
Sir S. NORTHCOTE expressed bis satisfaction at the
statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and said
he was willing to leave the matter in the hands of the
Government and the civil commissioners.
Viscount GODERICH, after the satisfactory state-
ments of the Chancellor of he Exchequer, would with-
draw his motion.

After a few remarks from Mr. Trril and Mr. RICH,
the motion was withdrawn.
TENANT-RIGHT (IRELAND) BILL.
On the order of the day for going into committee of
supply,
Mr. MOORE said that in consequence of the ob-
stacles that had impeded the progress of the measure
and had delayed it till this late period of the session, he
would not proceed further with the measure. After de-
nying the statements put for %ard on a late occasion by
Mr. Horsinan, the hon. and learned member moved that.
the order be discharged.
Sir J. WALSH protested against the assumption
that because the house bad been taken by surprise, and
the bill read a second time, that therefore the opinion
of the house had been expressed in its favour.
Mr. MAGUIRE said the promoters of the bill never
considered they would carry it, but, nevertheless, it was
their duty to introduce it. It was the duty of the Go-
vernmont to legislate on this subject.
After some remarks from Mr. M‘MailloN and Mr.
POLLARD-URQUHART,
Lord PALMERSTON said that the coarse which the
Government had pursued was sufficiently clear, and his
opinion upon the landlord and tenant question had never
been concealed, and it was clearly expressed in a committee,
of which he was a member, which sat some years ago,
and it had also been expressed in that house. In general
he thought it was highly desirable that Parliament
should not interfere between buyers and sellers, and
that was in fact the relative position of landlord and
tenant. But the present condition was so peculiar that
ial , Government undertook last year the charge of the
bill of M. Sergeant Shee, with respect_to tenant right,
but they found that its provisions were very different
from the bill which was proposedon the same subject in
1854, and they felt it their duty to withhold their sup-
port from it. That bill of Sergeant Shee's failed, but the
bill now before the house was still more disagreeable
than that of Sergeant Shee, and very different from
the bill of 1854, and he therefore thought it ought not to
pass into a law. The bill had now arrived at a stage—
Mr. HORSMAN said the bill had been withdrawn.
(Laughter )
Lord PALMERSTON said he was not present at
the earlier part of the debate ; but, as he found the bill
bad been withdrawn, be thought the discussion ought
now to cease—de mortius nil nisi bonum.
Mr. HORSMAN intimated to the noble lord that
ihe gentleman opposite wished to know what was the
course to be pursued next session
Lord PALMERSTON said he could not really say
what would he the intentions of Government next year.
He could only say that the course would be such as he
had stated. He did not think in the present temper of
Parliament of a tenant right bill being passed into a
law. But if any lion. member fe't disposed to propose
another bill next session, it would be the duty of the
Government to give that measure its respectful conside
ration. (Laughter.)
The bill was then withdrawn.
JUDGMENTS EXECUTION, &c. BILL.
Mr. CRAUFURD moved that the house go into
committee on this bill. _

Mr. FRENCH moved as an amendment that the
house go into committee this day three months. He
(Mr. French) hoped the hon. member (air. Craufurd)
would withdraw the bill.

After a !Alit diaouesioF„ in which Mr, Fitzgerald, Mr,