GOVERNMENT OFFICES.
Sin—The very kind manner in which you were pleased to notice my letter in your paper of the 23rd instant, demands my grateful acknow- ledgments. I inn afraid, however, it has produced a result which you slid not anticipate in encouraging me to trouble you once more. In that letter, I alluded to what I considered a case of extreme hardship, occa- sioned by the reduction of a government officer's salary, when he had no reason to expect, and therefore could make no provision against such an event. Allow me now to call your attention to a case of a different com- plexion. I have, within the last year, known an instance in which a gentleman highly connected, who received a salary of about four hundred a year, acquired an addition to it of another hundred. The occasion of this augmentation was stated to be the additional duties imposed on him in consequence of the abolition of another similar office. On inquiry, I cannot discover that this gentleman's hours of attendance have been ex- tended ; and it appears to me, therefore, that the augmentation of his salary was unnecessary. If he can perform his duties notwithstanding the additional burden cast upon him, without an extension of his hours of attendance, it is quite clear that he had not sufficient business to em- ploy him previously to the alteration ; and the public have a right to find him full employment during the hours prescribed to Min, 'Without- allowing him any extra remuneration. But it is needless, Sir, to enu- merate abuses. So many disclosures have been made, that reform to some extent must be granted. Various reports indeed are already abroad of alterations which are shortly to be effected in the present system ; and there appears to me less occasion to fear that reduction will not be made, than that it will be diverted into an improper channel. It is rumoured that the revenue-officers are to be taxed fourteen and a half per cent. without reference to the amount of their salaries. To this plan it has been objected, that it would press too heavily on officers who possess but very small salaries ; and it has been suggested, that the tax ought to touch no salaries under one hundred and fifty pounds a year. There appears an obvious distinction, which ought to he attended to in imposing any tax of this nature. Some salaries are barely sufficient to afford a maintenance; others are ample enough to provide the comforts and su- perfluities of life. The former cannot be diminished without introduc- ing poverty and distress ; the latter admit of a deduction without inflicting any serious injury. It is somewhat difficult to ascertain the exact limit at which taxation might commence with the least possible injury to individuals. One man may confine his expenditure within limits which would not be permitted to another, who has the respects. bility of a higher situation to maintain, without a proportionably higher salary. Something must be sacrificed to appearances, and I am by no means certain that poverty does not frequently press as hard on officers with a salary of two hundred a year, as on any class whatever. It is from the higher situations and enormous salaries that any amount suffi-
, dent to ease the country must be raised ; and with respect to the inferior officers, the Government, by lightening the imposition on them, might prevent much distress, at an inconsiderable sacrifice.
That an income-tax of some kind will be imposed, appears vey pr o- bable. It is to be hoped, however, that it will not fall in an unjust pro- portion on a class of officers who have already experienced the severity of reduction. The attention of Government should first of all be devoted to those situations, the salaries attached to which are indeed a tangible magnitude, but the duties, like a mathematical point, exist only in idea. If such situations are allowed to escape, the poor officer will feel the hardship of reduction aggravated by injustice.
Should it be found necessary to dismiss any officers, whose services, owing to new arrangements, are no longer required, provision to some extent, it appears to me, ought if possible to be made for them. Govern- ment officers have been compared to clerks in private establishments ; and it has been contended that they are, justly, as liable to dismissal; but there are many circumstances which distinguish a Government clerk from any other. For years past a Government situation has been re- garded as a provision for life ; and if this opinion be a mistake, it is one which could scarcely be avoided. The Government itself has sanctioned the belief, by the system of superannuations, and by granting to officers dismissed from high situations, in almost every instance, a compensation allowance. Besides, when a clerk leaves any private establishment, there are numerous others of a similar nature open to receive him, if he is -properly qualified. But the Government officer has no similar refuge. Ile has no master to whom he may refer for a character, or whose con- nexions may assist him; and as his former situation was little calculated to improve his mind, or extend his knowledge of business, he is thrown upon the world, possibly at an advanced age, and burdened with a numes rous family, with scarcely any qualification that can recommend him to a different employment.
The observations I have ventured to offer, as far as I am able to judge, have reason to support them. I trust, Sir, that:they will obtain, through the medium of your highly respected paper, at least a slight share of attention ; and that your kind notice will rescue them from that con- tempt which is generally thrown upon the opinions of all those whom Fortune has left almost friendless and unknown.
I arn, Sir, your most obedient humble Servant,
A POOR REVENUE OFFICER.
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