The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1872.

Evening Star, Issue 3031, 6 November 1872, Page 2

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1872.

The telegraphic information to hand respecting the course intended to bo pursued by the Government in dealing with the Civil Service of the Colony, will be satisfactory to all, except the most senseless screamers for “ Retrenchment ! ” altogether irrespective of right principle, and utterly indifferent to injustice to individuals, and serious injury to the State. There are among almost every constituency a large proportion of electors of this stamp ; men in whose estimation a servant of the State would seem to be a thing to be kicked ; if possible got rid of, but if not, to be “ cut down, ” as tiro expressive phrase goes, to the lowest possible level above starvation point. Hence at every general election candidates thrust themselves forward, and are often pitchforked into legislative bodies by a simple pandering to this senseless prejudice. Men without souls above a tailor’s button; ignorant of the first principles of political enconomy, and inocent of all experience or other qualification of legislators, by simply daunting the red rag of retrenchment, often succeed in provoking a “ rush ” about as devoid of real common sense as that of an infuriated bull, but not so harmless in its results, for the rush

of electors to the poll on such occasions, and under such incentives, frequently produces irreparable injury, alike to the Civil Service and the country at large. It will not for a moment be inferred from the foregoing that retrenchment in itself considered is to be regarded with disfavor. The time has doubtless arrived when a considerable saving may and should bo effected upon the very largo amounts annually voted, as the cost of Government ; and hence, while we advocate retrench incut, we hold, as we have always done, that any system of retrenchment, to be really effective, must be one that is well-timed, wisely conceived, judiciciously, impartially, and considerately applied. It is on these grounds that we regard with satisfaction the intimation of the course intended to he taken by the Government in this matter. The time is opportune; the principle is a sound one; and unless we arc greatly mistaken, the men now in office may be thoroughly relied on to carry it into execution with due consideration and complete impartiality. Doubtless there will not be wanting those who would rather have seen the cut and slash, rough and ready principle adopted, of an indiscriminate reduction of salaries, and an increase of the hours of employment. Such a course, however, as lias been abundantly proved both in this Province and elsewhere, would have resulted in little or no lasting good to the Colony, while it would in all probability have been the means of inflicting a vast amount of unnecessary hardship, and not a little positive injustice. The principle of indiscriminate pro rata reductions assumes that ail salaries prior to the reductions have been strictly and equitably fixed as fair remuneration for the duties performed ; while nothing is more notorious than the ease witli which some favored members of the service can influence from time to time some friend at Court, and thus secure a succession of rises to his personal advantage only. Then comes the pro rata reduction, and the modest and undemonstrative officer who has not received a rise of a single fraction in eight or nine years, is subjected to the same “cutting down” process as his move fortunate confreres, and that altogether irrespective of the nature or amount of service rendered by each one respectively. The course proposed of dispensing with the services of as many of those at present employed as can really be done without, retaining and well and fairly remunerate those only whoso services are really indisponsible, will not only be the readiest and most effectual method of benefiting the country, but also tend most directly to elevate the Civil Service in public estimation, and to produce satisfaction and hearty goodwill among the members of it themselves.