The Sun.
London, England, 1828-07-03 00:00:00

ment,s the-Committee feel convinced that it is es-
sentially necessary, in order to give full effect to
efforts, that what they may have to propose
shall enibrace nieasuresfor securing, Ist, A clear and
uniform System of Accounts in all the Offices; 2d,
a principle of Simplification and Consolidation in the
transaction of publiii sbusineSs; 3d, an effectual con-
trol in the Treasury over the departments; and
lastly, a strict adjustment of the Numbers of our
Military and Naval Forces, so as not to exceed what
is really necessary for the peace and security of the
Empire.
With respect to the first of these objects, the
Committee, in :order ;to lose as little time as pos-
sible in. Requiring :the `means of proposing to the
House a plari.focreforming the mode of keeping 4C-
counts, took this' branch into consideration very
soon after their appointment; but theyl found they
could not make any progress in it, from their not
being sufficiently acquainted with the details of the
existing systems of Accounts. This difficulty is
new, however, in the way of being removed, in
consequence of the Treasury having appointed a
Commission to examine into the practice which
prevails in each public office,' and to report the't
opinion upon such a plan as may seem to them the
best adapted for keeping the accounts of the Public
Expenditure.
With respect to the second object, the Commit-
tee confidently expect that some departments, or
branches of departments, will be found to admit of
being so consolidated as to relieve the public service
from the disadvantages Which arise from their having
been constituted at a period when the principles of
banking were unknown as well .as other modern
modes of carrying on public business ; they also her
chat some Beards and checks which were originally
framed to restrain the practice of making an im-
proper use of the public money, and which are no
longer necessary, may be discontinued; improved
regulations, an increased vigilance on the part of
Parliament; And the general publicity of official pro-
ceedings, having introduced more correct principles
of conduct in the public departments of the State,
and repressed this abuse.
With respect to the next great object to be se-
cured, namely, the establishment of an effectual
control in the hands of the Treasury, this is
nothing more than the restoration to the 'rrea,
sury of its ancient authority: It is necessary that
this control should be constantly exercised in deter-
mining the amonnt of expenditure to be incurred by
each department, in securing the application of each .
sum voted in the Annual Estimates to the service
for which it has been voted; in regulating any ex-
traordinary expenditure, which, upon an emergency,
may be deemed necessary within the year, although
not included in the Estimates ; arid in preventing
any increase of salary or extra allowance, or any other
emoluments, being granted, without a minute, ex.:
pressive of the approbation of the Board of Treasury.
The Committee have further to observe, that it is
expedient, not only to restore, this control, but to
secure it from being again set aside; which cannot
be effected except by the House of Commons con-
stantly enforcing its application, by holding the
Treasury responsible for every act of expenditure in
each Department. But when the Committee thus
mention the House of Com:irons as the last resort
for protecting-the' public from profusion, they can-
not, consistently with their dety, refrain from saying
that some striking instances have .of late taken place
of the House itself having very unfortunately inters
fered when the Government had proposed very wise'
and salutary measures of. retrenchment, to prevent
their .being carried into effect. The -Committee
allude to the repeal of the law for making a deduc-
tion from the salaries of all Civil Officers, to form a
'Superannuation Fund; and to the House having
relaxed the restrictions respecting the Pensions of
Widows of Officers, and Half-pay Officers receiving
their Half-pay when appointed to civil employments.
As to the fourth and last object, which has been
stated as necessary to be Attained, in order to an
efficient reform in the Expenditure, namely, the re-
gulation of the Amount of our Military and Naval .
Forces by the real wants and necessities of the
State, the Committee at.? strongly of opinion that
this is a principle that ought not on any account
to begiven up to speculative apprehensions. As the
Army and Navy are the great sources' of' expense,
it is only by keeping them within proper limits that
any great saving can be effected; and therefore it is
particularly necessary. carefully to examine the rea-
sonings and statements of those individuals, who
being qualified, from their official stations, to give
full information on these subjects, are liable to be led
by professional feelings to recommend a higher
standard of preparation for war, than a less biassed
view of circumstances might suggest.
The Committee, after full consideration, adopt
the opinion expressed by the Select Committee of
Finance of 1819, that —" It is difficult to deteimine
the proper mean to be preserved between a position
of complete preparatiOn for defence, and- that state
of economical reduction which may prudently be
conceded to the resources of the country." But,
during. a period of peace; the Committee must ad-
vert, as that Committee did, "to the necessity of
turning times of tranquillity to the improvement of
the revenue by retrenchment and economy—with-
out which the best means of defence may be render-
ed incapable of exertion in moments of alarm and
danger." They beg earnestly to press this ob-
servation upon the serious attention of the House.
The powers and duties of the Ordnance Depart-
ment are minutely described in the Twelfth Report
of the Commissioners of Public Accornits; in the
Twenty-first Report of the Select Committee of
Finance of 1797; in the Thirteenth Report of the
Commissioners of Military Inquiry; in the Third
Report of .the Select Committee of Finance of
1817; and in the documents contained in the Ap-
pendix to this Report.
The information Which is contained in these Re-
ports makes it unnecessary to give any elaborate
statements of these powers and duties. The-Com-
mittee, therefore, will do no more than bring 'them
Shortly under the notice of the House, by quotations
from the evidence of Sir Henry Hardinge, and the
Duke of Wellington.