The Sun.
London, England, 1857-06-09 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONEON, TUESDAY EVENING, JUNE 9,

OATHS BILL.

On the motion for the second reading of this bill, three
petitions were presented from synagogues in favour of
the bill.

The bill was then read a second time without oppos
tion, and ordered to be committed on Monday next.

THE CIVIL SERVICE.

Viscount GODERICH on the motion for going into
committee of supply on the Civil Service Estimates
called the attention of the house to the last report of the
civil service commissioners, and to the present system of
admission to the civil service. The noble viscount referred
to the report of last year, to which he called their atten-
tion last session, as well as to the speech of the right
hon. gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer on that
occasion, which induced him (Viscount Goderich) to
withdraw his motion, from an impression that a great
change was to be effected in this branch of the service,
and said that, after reading the report laid on the table
of the house this year, he felt much disappointment to
find that no ad7ance had been made in the right direc-
tion, that of open competition. The noble viscount,
who was less audible thanusual, read avariety of extracts
from the reports in support of his views. In pass-
ing, he remarked that he found the examiners of the
nomination of the right hon. gentleman the member for
Wells (Slr. Hayter) in the Excise and Customs, ap-
peared to be less stringent than in other departments.
(Laughter.) He had no desire to urge the Government
to adopt hastily any extended system, but that they
should progress and not retrograde. He had no desire to
take the subject out of the hands of the Government,
but if he considered the answer of the Government
unsatisfactory, he should take an early opportunity of
again bringing the subject forward. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. BASS wished to know who had the power
of nominating or recommending persons for the civil
service, and on a former occasion when he asked for in-
formation, he was referred to the commissioners reports.
He had examined them very carefully, but ke had been
unable to find what he required, which was
of great interest to the public. He asked for an ex)la-
nation if offices were filled up by patronage as in for.ner
times, or by examination, and if so, what was the course
to be adopted ?

Mr. RICH supported the movement headed by Vis-
count Goderich, and expressed a belief that there must
be some insuperable objection that prevented the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer from carrying out competitive
examinations. Out of 376 vacancies that occurred last
year, 66 were given away on competitions. Of these 43
were given in the first six months, and but 23 in the last
6 months. The remaining 310 were given away on nomi-
nations. In the first 6 months the number of persons
competing was 41 to each appointment, and in the last 6
months the average competing only amounted to
three to each appointment.

Mr. MALINS said that a short time ago a young
gentleman applied to him for a nomination, stating that
he was desirous of submitting to an examination, and
that members of Parliament could nominate. He told the
young man that he did not understand what necessity
there was for a nomination if the examination was to be
open to the world. He however gave him a nomination,
which was returned in a few days, with the intimation
that it was of no use, and the young man then inquired
where he was to apply for a nomination. He told the
young man that he was unable to give him the least in-
formation upon the subject, and from that time to this
had been unable to ascertain how a nomination was to be
obtained. If a nomination could not be obtained without
Government influence, the result would be that there
would be no such thing as a real competitive examina-
tion. He trusted the restriction would be removed, and
that those who desired to submit to an examination
would be allowed to do so without having any such diffi-
culties thrown is their way.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
hon. and learned gentleman was so accomplished a law-
yer, was so well acquainted with all branches of civil
jurisprudence, and so well versed in acts of parliament
and all other sources of law, that he should have thought
it highly improbable to be asked by the hon. and learned
gentleman for information which ought to be within his
own knowledge. (A. laugh.) The order is council,
issued two years ago, regulating the examinations for
admission into the civil service, made no alteration in
the power of the crown with respect to nominations for
the civil service. When a proposition was made that all
situations in the gift of the crown in the civil service
should be open to competition it was explained that such
was not the effect of the order in council, but that
the power of nomination vested in the crown re-
mained (untouched—that it was part of the preroga-
tive of the crown to make the appointments and fix
the salaries, which were afterwards voted by parlia-
ment. With regard to the principal departments—
such as those of the Secretary of State and the Admi-
ralty—the nomination was by usage vested in the head of
the department. The nominations in the revenue depart-
ment, the audit board, and some other boards rested with
the heal of the Government for the time being. Such
was the usage with respect to the civil service, and he
should have thought the hon. and learned member re-
quired no information on that point. That would also
be a sufficient answer to the question put by the hon.
member for Derby (Mr. Bass) a few days ago. On a
former occasion he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer)
expressed an opinion that it was not desirable that em-
ployments in administrative departments should be
thrown open to public competition. Such a proposition
at one time received the approbation of the public, but
the Government thought it would not be an expedient
mode of filling up vacancies, and proposed that all per-
sons entering should be subjected to an examination,
to te-t their efficiency. That examination had been
conducted by efficient pereons, and the results were
embodied in the reports. It had been asserted that
the Government had pursued a retrogressive course,
and had lost a portion of the advantage they had at one
time gained. Now, so far as regarded the execution of the
order in coune,p, and the examination of candidates for
the civil service; there had been no retrogression, and the
system Lad been enforced with great strictness and re.u-
, larity. The number of candidates registered in the first'
half-ye.ar had been 29 per cent., and in the secood half-
year it amounted to as much as 38 per cent. What he had
stated was a proof that the system was efficient ; and the
answer which he bad given would aptly to the whole ofi
the system established under the order in council; The
Government had not only never probssed any intention
to ibtrodtwo a tlsteeu of open competition, but they Lai,