THE PETTY OFFICIAL.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] Sin,—The multiplication of permanent officials, petty and grand, is an inevitable outcome of a policy under which the State undertakes to regulate everything and provide for everybody. Such a system is open to objection on various grounds ; but the accusations brought against the officials who administer it in your article of September 30th, and in the letter of " A Privy Councillor," seem to me to be hardly fair. Potty officials have assuredly not the power, even if they had the will, to obstruct measures of reform. As regards theheads of Depart- ments, it is alleged that a good many of them " are always trying to find more work," with a view to increasing the number of the staff under them, and thereby obtaining increased pay and importance for themselves. This charge I believe to be wholly unfounded. The great increase of public business in recent years is fully accounted for by (1) Acts of Parliament extending the functions of the State in all directions, and instituting what has been called legislation by Departmental rules and orders ; and (2) the continuous growth of the population and the wealth of the country. It would be no easy matter for the most ambitious Department to invent or to annex a new sphere of activity at its own will and pleasure, and without legal authority for its proceedings. " A Privy Councillor" writes with severity about " the rivalry between Government offices." Friction arising from this cause is happily rare, the boundary-lines between the operations of the several Departments being for the most part clearly drawn. When a conflict occurs, it is usually because both offices represent opinions or interests which are powerful in the outside world and which deserve consideration. Failing agreement between the rival Departments, it becomes the duty of the supreme executive authority—i.e., the Cabinet—to decide the matter in dispute. In appealing to Lord Cromer to take up this question, your correspondent virtually asks his Lordship to assume the functions of the Prime Minister, which, I fear, is impossible. Whether the precautions hitherto taken in the Army Clothing Department and elsewhere to prevent fraud have been too elaborate, or not stringent enough, I- do not know. In time of war special methods are probably called for. But that any one should suppose that in ordinary times public business, and especially business involving money transactions, can be successfully conducted without insisting on strict compliance with prescribed
regulations is surprising.—I am, Sir, &o., A Civil. Sicsvaxr.
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