REORGANIZATION OF THE CIVIL SERVICE.
THERE has been a good deal of writing lately against the proposal made by the Commissioners under the Treasury for a reorganiza- tion of the Civil Service, explained in a previous number of our own journal ; and there has also been some writing on the other side ; but it appears to us that neither the opponents nor the advo- cates of the measure discriminate that which deserves substantial support, from some extraneous matters that are much more ques- tionable. It is only when we get the entire volume of papers con- nected with the subject that we understand how the scheme has grown up out of practical considerations and experiences, into this present form.t
The whole course began with a particular inquiry into "the es- tablishment of the Treasury, its arrangements and regulations for the distribution and conduct of the business," suggested by the First Lord and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and directed in a minute dated 3d November 1848. The Commissioners in this case were these,—Mr. Gibson Craig, a junior Lord ; Mr. Parker, one of the Joint Secretaries ; and Sir Charles Trevelyan, Assist- ant Secretary: Mr. Gibson Craig, Sir Charles Trevelyan, and Mr. Herman Merivale, were deputed, in December 1849, to examine in- to the Colonial Office. We next find a minute of the Treasury of September 1852, originating in a memorial of the clerks of the Chief Secretary's Office in Ireland, appointing Lord Chandos, Mr. John Wynne, and Mr. Broailey, to inquire into the Irish Offices ; in March 1853, Sir Charles Trevelyan Sir Stafford Northcote, and Mr. Booth, are reporting on the Trevelyan, of Trade ; in May, Sir Charles and Sir Stafford report on the Department of Practical Science and Art ; in July, Lord Courtenay, Mr. Sadleir, Sir Stafford Northeote, and Sir Charles Trevelyan, are reporting on the Poor-law Board ; the Privy Council Office Is examined by Mr. C. C. Greville, with Sir Stafford and Sir Charles; and Sir Charles and Sir Stafford ap- pear, either alone or with an offiLr of the department in • er inquiry, as the examiners into several ether of the public offices.. These in- quiries were undertaken for praetical objects. In some cases the pressure of work was eonsiderable; in some again, although the num- ber of persons is not insuffieient, a faulty distribution occasioned great pressure , irimn a few, while others were black of work. Sometimes the division of offices into different sections, with defective communication between,* sectiens, occasioned a wasteful
repetition of work. Fixed, rules un. -• ed promotion • and, while injuring zealous and meritorious o I. cars, ertoonraged that apathy Which is the curse of public departments. The same repetition of Work which occurs in one department is still more likery to occur ni two departments; and at the same time the departments are precluded from asking assistaime from peek& other :except as a fa- vour. In many cases these evils suggested the inquiry ; the in
Tarp established the existence of the defects; the Commissioners suggested practical remedies for the ascertained defects. On pur- suing the inquiry through several -offices, the same defiCiencies were found to exist, With varieties in the particular eirennistances. Sameness of defecte suggested uniformity of remedies, and out of the separate inquiries the idea of a general reorganization sprang by a-natural growth. No (tomb% there are signs that the Usual temptation has seized upon the minds of those who are making the inquirye, as it in- evitably does seize upon some active and suggestive minds. The true artist, surveying a great structure like 0104 our public ser- v*, Tid considering the improTements of which, it is .capable, must Inevitably be run away with by the ideas of new beauties that could be introdneed;, a keen sense Of capabilities will na- tani4ly fun into refinenientS, that become ,alinost!finciful in their ramifications and 'their, npnvolutions. So it is in the present in- stanae: the idea of consoiulatin,g, the ciyiliserviee—of setting free 14rometia4 fp:On mere sernontyef establishing, a certain yank in thedleryme asidistinct fronkideparieneaital rank, and permitting the transfer. of the officer from,,department.fo department-LIas Sug- gested the valuable idea elf_ admitting candidates for employment by examination. But then, the examination itself has suggested the idea of endeavouring to attain all the qualities that would be desirable in a civil servant-704 accomplished education, excellent character, great personal capacity, moral habits, and even bodily examination proposed by the Corn.
with their subject, is framed too much
• It poeeible that t Missionera, who ,had to attain such on aggregqjcsta of niceties as oould.seldom be found in., one man, and ooul _not .oertainly,the:foend in a body some thonsan]s strong. The Commissionrndeed, appear to have been almost dissatisfied with their work—fait ink that it would admit into the civil service peosans not sutien , tested in social stand- ing, : health, morals, genius, and attainments; ; and Sir 'Charles Trevelyan, who evidently has the enthusiast and artist Mind, has gone for a voucher to the Reverend 33, 3Owett, a distinguished member of Oxford University. It is to he feared that if $irailes Trevelyan's ideas were carried Out with the perfection conteniplated , • Spectator, January 21, 1854. t "Reports of Connnittem of-inquirx-iritoPublic Offices, end Papers con- nected therewith.. Presented to both lamina of parliament by command of her Majesty.7 An octave blue-book of .seme'368./ages containing:numer- ous reports on the Treasury, Colonial Ofte,e"-several offices in Ireland; the Board of ,Trade, 'Department of Praetieal &Whet' and Art, 'Poor-law Board, Privy Canada Office, 'Copyhold Enclosure and Tithe Conimission.' Laud and Xmigration Office, Board of Ordmwee, and Offiefis of Worlia;. be- aidea.the scheme for the .Organization of the Permanent Civil Service, which occupies about twenty-twp pages. Of the volume; and a letter oh that scheme from the Revdrend B. Jewat- Fellow SadTutor of-lialibi College, Oxford, to Sir Charles Trevelyan. To most of these reports, in each case is appended the Minute or Minutes of the Lords of the Treasury,. with :ether elucidatory papers.
by Mr. Jewett, the standard would be so high, and the examination so strict, that hardly anybody could enter the public service. It would be starved for want of gentlemen distinguished enough to gain admittance. Nay, if the same tests were applied to the most distinguished persons now in the public servioe, including the very highest officers, we doubt whether it would not be sufficient to drive away almost all our statesmen from the service of their country, as unfitted for so sacred a vocation.
But we have two remarks to make on the series of papers before us, which tend to correct the inevitable impressions created by the epistle with which the volume closes. In the first place, the great bulk of the volume-350 of its pages—relates to strictly practical matters, and involves suggestions arising from practical knowledge of practical wants. In the second place, good or bad, the proposi- tion involved in the closing chapter—we do not mean Mr. Jewett's letter—is still a proposition made by the same Commissioners who have been the staple of the previous Commissions submitting their reports to the Treasury ; and we find that the Lords of the Treasury, while adopting the larger part of the suggestions made by the Commissioners, have by no means regarded the suggestions as necessarily standing for adoption, but have deferred the order for the execution of some, and have set others entirely aside. The volume confirms our conviction that the reorganization of the civil service is possible and desirable; but we have no apprehension that it will be executed in a manner to satisfy the Reverend B. Jewett,
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