CUSTOMS REFORM.
London, 17th July 1852. Sin—It being generally admitted that some alteration in the constitution of the Board of Customs is imperatively called for, I trust a few suggestions on the subject will not be considered either intrusive or inopportune. So long ago as the year 1832 (or thereabouts) I addressed some letters to you on the same subject, and I am proud to remember they were noticed with ap- probation. My object at that period was to show, that the Board of Cus- toms was so constituted that the efficient working of such a Board could be regarded (when it happened) only as "a great marvel." It was notorious beyond cavil, that the Commissioners were appointed merely through in- terest, and without regard to the qualifications requisite to enable the person appointed to perform his duties with advantage to the service and the public or with credit to himself. Men could no more reasonably expect from the inexperienced young offshoots of nobility thrust into such offices, a due knowledge of mercantile affairs, experience, tact, and skilful management i in business of great extent and importance, than they could look "to gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles." I suggested, that- if the system must be continued for the sake of the "patronage" it afforded, an improve- ment might at any rate be readily introduced, by requiring the Commission- ers themselves to visit the outports, and make themselves acquainted with the state of the business at each, and the characters of the officers. This suggestion has been since, on the recommendation of others of more weight, carried into full effect; doubtless not 'without benefit, but certainly with much less benefit than was anticipated. I can hardly help smiling when I recall to my recollection some of the fruits of the newly-stimulated zeal and energy of certain members of the Board, roused in this way almost all at once to exercise their talents and ingenuity as coblers of the system. To speak metaphorically, the "nature of the soil" or the atmosphere of the Board-lnam seems to be unfavourable for the growth or the development of the qualities required. But, Sir, I made, in the letters before referred to, another suggestion of much greater importance ; and one which recent events, and changes "looming in the future," induce me again to bring under your notice, with the hope that it may under present circumstances obtain the degree of consideration which to me it seems to deserve. I believe no one will deny that an alteration in the Board of Customs must take place in a short time. The Report of the Committee of Customs Inquiry hits drawn attention to the subject, and has strongly recommended some alteration. The expression of a direct censure and condemnation, indeed, was only reluctantly converted by one vote into as strong a censure and con- demnation by implication. Plans for such an alteration, suggested by per- sons not unacquainted with the service, will, I trust, be as readily enter- tained as would be the plans of different architects if the question related to the erection of a new and improved Customhouse. In drawing up my plan,
I have regarded the principles of simplicity, inclined to and efficiency; and I
venture,to add, that I have heard of no other plan to which I am nclined to allow-any superior claims to• attention. In explanation of.it, r beg leave first to advert to what are called " Cabi- net Councils." We find they are attended by the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretaries of State, and all the other heads of the great departments of Government. On a somewhat similar arrange- ment I propose to establish a Board of Customs. The materials for such a Board are ample, and ought to be of the best quality for the purpose. There is no occasion for the Earl of Derby to open any "new mine" for the pur- poee introducing "new ore" ; the mine has been long open, but the t ore in it has been hitherto neglected. First, there are four gurveyors- General, men chosen (I do not say always well chosen) professedly on ac- count of their general knowledge, practical and theoretical, of all the re- quirements of the service • there are two Bench officers of reputed equal ef- ficiency; there is a Comptroller-General and an assistant, a Solicitor and an assistant, a Receiver-General, and an Inspector-General of Imports. To name no more, we have here a list of twelve functionaries who all are (or ought to be) well qualified for the office of Commissioners. But to none of them, would I (unless, in some particular case, the metal on assay should be found to be of very superior fineness) allot the office of Chairman. That office r would still leave to be filled by some eminent individual, whose ideas have never been trammelled by prejudices and habits contracted in passing through the subordinate offices and practical labours of the service ; and whose education, disposition, and previous occupations, have endowed him with the necessary qualifications,—a considerable acquaintance with com- mercial laws and transactions ; a power of taking general views of all sub- jects submitted to his decision ; tact, courtesy, and management in the con- duct of business matters ; a liberal inclination to receive information and to hear all parties as far as possible ; strict impartiality and disinterestedness ; and last but not least, a firm reliance on himself. Such should be the Chair- man I would select—if such a one could be found. It may be objected, that the parties of whom I propose to form a Board could not be spared from their proper departments : but such an objection can possess no real weight. There are in every department senior clerks able to act efficiently (and who do occasionally so act) in the temporary absence of the principals. Besides, much of the business transacted at the Board would be the very same which now occupies a great portion of the time and attention of the heads of de- partments under more circuitous and unsatisfactory arrangements ; and so far, no additional load of business would be laid upon their shoulders. For instance, if a question of law is brought-before the Board, the papers are re- ferred at once to the Solicitor and Bench officers ; if it concerns practice,. the reference is then made to the Bench officers, Surveyors-General, or Landing- Surveyors ; if any expenditure is in question, it becomes the peculiar busi- ness of the Comptroller-General ; and so on with the remaining depart- inents. Of course, all these references require much writing, occupy much time, and give employment to many clerks. The labour of replying to them is not alight. Is it not clearly apparent, then, that all this parade and trouble, all these forms and ceremonies, would be rendered unnecessary, if the parties, without whose advice and report no decision can be come to, sat them- selves at the Board ? particularly as m nineteen cases out of twenty the minute of the Board, under the existing system, is nothing more than a mere echo of the report received on the reference made as before mentioned. Of course, under the arrangement proposed, there would be always at the Board one POrty, at least, conversant with the matter in question, and able to instruct his coadjutors ; or if time to consider were requisite, he would at once take charge of the papers, and reproduce them when he had fully. formed his opinion. Now, mark the economy of such a system. The salaries of all but one of the Commissioners would be saved ; and the present " standing army" of secretaries and their clerks might be disbanded, not only with a vast saving to the public, but, as I firmly believe, to the greatjoy of the service iu general. At present a strong suspicion is entertained that much "back- stairs" influence is exercised by some of the "old bands" in the Secretary's office ; and it seems not improbable that green and inexperienced Commis- sioners, to whom the very rudiments of business are new, may be led by the nose by, "old stagers," hacknied in all the schemes, contrivances, "artful dodges," and corruptions of a complicated, not over pure, confused, and somewhat antiquated system. That some evil influence has been in opera- tion, seems to be proved by the contempt into which the Customhouse has fallen, by the universal grumblings of the public, and by the fear and trem- bling of the officers. Truly, in more senses than one the system needs a
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