The Sun.
London, England, 1860-06-06 00:00:00

CAVALRY COMMISSIONS.

Captain D. O'CONNELL asked the Secretary of State
for War if he was aware that, since the reduction in the
price of commissions in the cavalry, the amount paid over
regulation had increased : And if it was the intention of
her Majesty's Government to enforce the act of George the
Third, which makes it illegal to give or receive any amount
in excess'of the regulation price for commissions in the
army ?

Mr. S. HERBERT said he was not aware that any such
increase in the prices of commissions had taken place.
With respect to the second question, he considered that
government were bound to adopt steps to reduce the pre-
sent 'price of commissions, but he doubted whether the act
of George 111. gave them the power necessary to do 10.
CLERK OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL.

Mr. GRIFFITH asked the First Lord of the Treasury
whether, in case of any appointment of a successor to the
office of Clerk to the Privy Council, he will suspend the
decision of the salary to be allowed to the office until the
house has had the opportunity of considering the subject
in the Ci►il Service Estimates ?

Lord PALMERSTON said that Mr. Helps was to
succeed the present clerk, who was about to retire,
and that his salary would be continued at £1,200 a year,
but the duties of another office would be transferred to him,
which would effect a saving to the country of £5OO a year.

SURVEY OF THE NORTMERN SEAS.

In reply to Mr. WYLD,

Lord PALMERSTON said that the Lords of the Admi
rah), would have no objection to furnish ships for a portion
of the survey, but they would not undertake to supply ves-
sels for the whole of the survey that was proposed.

TRANSPORT SERVICE. -
Mr. LINDSAY moved for a select committee to inquire
into theormaization and management of those branches of
the Admiralty, War Office, India Office, and Emigra-
tion Board, by which the business of transporting,
by means of shipping, troops, convicts, emigrants,
materials of war, stores, and any other similar ser-
viees, is now performed, with a view of adopting
some uniform system by which such services may be
economically and efficiently conducted under the authority
of , one consolidated and responsible department.
He said he understood there would be no opposition to his
motion.. By the present system they had different depart-
ments of Government competing for ships, and when there
were rumours of war with Russia there was no responsible
department of Government to attend to the important ques-
tion of the transport of troops. The transport of soldiers to
the Crimea in one year cost £5,000,000, and the whele cost
no less than , £15,000,000. (Rear, ;
The
Duke of Newcastle suggested that. • the. Minister
of war should be responsible for the transport of troops,
and in 1854 a transport board. was organised ; but that board
was not established permanently. In consequence of want
of proper organisation, at the breaking out of the war, our
men were dying for want of food. When the transport
bosit! came' Into operation, the expense of vessels em-
ployed in the transport
service was considerably re-:
,
(1264 which, showed the benefit of proyse
orgauiAtition in a platter of - this description,