The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-09-15 00:00:00


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RETRENCHMENT.

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EXTZACT OP TAXASURI MINUTZ, DATSD AUG. 10, 1821.
REDUCTION AND
LISH ALTERATION IN THE ESTAB-
MENT.

" My Lords, in calling upon the beads of the other
Departments of his Majesty's Civil Government to enter
upon a revision of their respective Establishments, with
a view to such economical reductions as may fulfil the
intentions of his Majesty, expressed in his answers to
the addresses of both Houses of Parliament, think it
right to state the principles upon which they have pro-
ceeded, and the course they have followed in the revi-
sion of the establishment of the Treasury under their
immediate direction.
• They have thought that they should best carry into
Par• k
the intentiols expressed in the addresses of
Parliament, by keeping in view the following general
rules :-
Ist. That every office was to be restored to the situa-
tion in respect to the number of persons employed, and
of their respective emoluments, in which it stood in
1797, unless some adequate cause continued to exist
sillich rendered some alteration necessary in future, and
iliat the mode of regulation which seems in all respects
most eligible, is, to require that the individuals them-
- pelves who may beteafter enjoy the benefit of superan-
nuation allowances, should be called upon to contribute
to a superannuation fund, to be administered under the
directions of their Lordships, and according to the fol-
hiving regulations, viz.:-
Ist. All persons holding offices, the salaries or pecu-
niary emoluments of which, after revision, amount
together to 1001. a-year, or upwards, and who are
entitled to superannuation under the Act 50 Geo. 111.
c. 117, to contribute 5 per cent. of such salaries or
emoluments, to a fund to be called, " The General
Superannuation Fund."—(My Lords will have under
further consideration what directions shall be given
with respect to offices not amounting to 1001. a year.)
2d. My Lords are of opinion, that in addition to the
above rate, whick,way be considered as a fair contribu-
tion to be required from the individuals who may he en-
titled to superannuation under the Act of the 59th Geo.
111. c. 117, in aid of the charge incurred by the public
in respect thereof, a father contribution may justly be
required from those who are in possession of emoluments
which have been increased since 1797. and which are
greater than it isintended hereafter permanently to at-
tach tolheir respective situations. They therefore think
that persons holding offices, the salaries of which are
hereafter to be reduced, should be called upon to pay an
additional contribution of two and a half per cent. upon
all offices exceeding 100/. a-year, and not exceeding 5001.
Five per cent. from 5001. and not exceeding 10001.—
And ten per cent. exceeding 1,0001. Provided that the
increase of such respective salaries since 1797 shall have
been not less than double the amount of the additional
contribution hereby required. Such additional contri-
butions respectively to cease whenever the parties pay-
ing the same shall be promoted to a situation entitled,
under the new regulations, to a salary equal to that
which they now possess.
3d. This contribution to be collected as often as the
salaries are payable, and to be paid within seven days
after such collection into the National Debt Office, by
which the amount shall be forth With vested in Bee be-
quer Bills, or such other security as their Lordships may
from time to done direct.
4th. The annual aitoust of superannuation payable
to retired tenants of the public who may contribute to
this Fund, at no time to exceed 10 per cent. of the ag-
gregase amount of the salaries and pecuniary emolu-
ments of all the officers so contributing.
sth. One half of every superannuation allowance
granted to such contributors to be assigned Upon this
Fund, and the other half to be paid by the public, and
to be charged to the contingent Fund of the Depart-
ment, to which the contributor belonged prior to his
superannuation.
• 6th. No stiperaonuatiou to be granted to any such
coutributor, except by the Treasury, and by that
Board only, at four periods to be fixed its each year
(except in case of immediate urgency,) when a Special
Board or Boards shall be held for the purpose of con-
sidering all applications received in the preceding quar-
ter; police of whisk Board will be given to the Heads,
of the Departments, recommending such applications,l
hoe each of which some proper officer shall, if requir-
ed, attend to answer all such qaeetiowe as the Board
of Treasury may put, ',order to enable them to decide
open the fitness, or relative urgency of each applica-
tion; and to distribute the disposable amount of the
fund, or so much of it, as may be requisite, in such
manner as, upon an examination of all the cases before
them. may appear most conducive to justice and the
public interest.
7th. The interest accruing upon the contributions
to be applied is the first instance to the expense of
niasageinent of the fund, and the remainder to accu-
mulate for the benefit of it.
Bth. If the aggregate sum now paid in superan-
unation allowances to public servants who hold offices
Coming within the description of the first artiele,shall
be found to exceed one-tenth of the aggregate amount
of the salaries and pecuniary emoluments of all the
said offices, the new superannuations to be granted in
any oats year shall not exceed *as half of the seeing
arising from such of those allowances as may have
lapsed in the preceding year. until the whole sum so
granted shall be reduced to ten per cent. or under that
_amount. in conformity to the 4th article.
, My Lords are further of opinion, that it will be
proper to propose to Parliament to repel the am-
yid rates of allowance enacted by the 50th Cleo.
cap. 117, and to substitute the following in lieu
thereof, vis.—
Above ten years' service, and not exceeding 15,
4-12 tbs of the salary; above 16, and not exceeding
20, 5-12th ; above 20. and not exceeding 25, 6.l2ths ;
.above 25, and not exceeding 30, 7.l2ths; above 30,
and not exceeding 35, 8-12thss above 35. and not ex-
ceeding 40,11-12ths; above 40, and not exceeding 45,
10-12ths; above 45, and sot exceeding 50, 11-12ths ;
and exceeding 50. the whole. Such respective allow-
suites to be calculated upon the salary and pecuniary
'emoluments of the office, as charged to the payment
• made to the Contribution Fund : and in n) case to ex-
ceed the net sum received by the officer after the de-
flection of such payment.
My Lords are aware that notwithstanding the ex-
treme Importance of adhering to this scale as mach as
vomits* there may arise special eases which it would
lie difficult to Lorene or eauaerate, with respect to
'which some &porters from this scale may become In-
diapeniable, sad that anthedtiolprevide accordingly
%Seed! be isms* to their bike; they are of
4eimi, however, that it should he enacted, that in
nil sash 111•811/110011 OS eases eitesld he Lid before Par-
lament, topdhsr withnecizet of the circumstances
*kirk bum led their ipe to make the exception.