New-York tribune., 1909-02-14
ORGANIZATION OF INDIA OFFICE

Ihis being the case. brief sketch of the So
calieo lnaia Office in London, from which India
rs now ruled by Lord Morley, may be of timely
interest, the more because relatively little is
known, even in England. of its constitution It
may be said to be the result of an evolution
frlor TO the Indian Mutiny India was admin
istered in trust for the Crown by the chartered
concern known the Honorable East India
company. The authority in those days was
vested in the board of directors supervised by
the so-caled board of control, created by Pitts
Dill of 1874. The board of control was supposed
to represent the Crown in connection with the
directorate of the East India Company and con-
sisted of a president (who only subsequent to
1911 was member of the Cabnet) and Of GER
tain other members of the administration who
held their seats ex-oficio.
There is no record, however of their having
exercised their duties controllers. and they
apparently relied upon the president of the
board of control TO do all that was necessary.
Pitts law gave the president of the board OF
control the power TO override the board of direc-
tors If he chose to exert 1t; but IL also pre-
scribed that the initiative should rest with the
board, and in public affairs it is the man who
initiates who has the real power The directors,
by their superior knowledge and experience,
were able in routine matters TO exercise seri-
Gus check on the minister. After the great mu-
tiny OF 1857. which almost completely wrecked
British sovereignty in India, the chartered East
India Company legisated out Of existence
and its authority and powers transferred to the
newly created Department for India. the former
presidency Of the board Of control developing
into the secretaryship Of State for India
This was accomplished by a law enacted by
Parliament in 1858. The latter provided for the
establishment OF Council of India. composed
Of fifteen members. who receive their appoint
he Of Cfafo bol5 off, ar
his pleasure and receive a salary of $4,000 or
$1,000 year. AS they are always retired Off
cials Of the Indian government, and stand to
lose not only their well paid seat at the council
but likewise their pension if they displease the
Secretary of State. their advice is not charac-
terized by very much independence, nor can
they be considered any useful check upon
the minister The Secretary. president Of
the Council Of India. has the power to decide
questions on which its members may differ, and
moreover has the right 10 veto the decision of
the majority. It is true that theoretically he
cannot make any grant appropriation Of the
revenues Of India without the concurrence Of
the majority OF the council. and cannot save
with the authority Of the council apply Indian
revenues to defray the cost Of military opera
tions beyond the frontiers of India.
There are. however, a number of exceptions to
these stipulations-so many exceptions. indeed
as TO render the provisions in question nuga-
tory, for in q matter Of urgency the Secretary
Of State may act alone" And he may or may
not afterward take the council into his conf
dence. The Secretary is, therefore. though nom
inally controlled by the Council Of India, in no
way hampered thereby. He If he makes a
mistake compel them to shoulder the RESPONSE
bility, on the ground that they his advisers.
But they check upon him whatsoever.
This is unfortunate, for il has the effect of
verting the Minister for India into something