Mr. Chamberlain, as President of the Board of Trade, has
received his first important deputation, and has sent it away a little puzzled, but much conciliated. The tradesmen of London sought him on Saturday to complain of the Civil Service Stores. They wanted the Committee of Inquiry reappointed, and the use of big names by the Stores suppressed, and Civil Servants, active or pensioned, forbidden to take part in their management. Mr. Chamberlain first hinted his own contempt for the Stores, with which he never dealt ; then observed that big names could be adopted even by individuals ; then promised the Committee ; and then gently suggested that Committees were slow, and if the tradesmen would give up that demand, he should .recommend his colleagues to prevent clerks in their Departments from taking an active part in the management of Stores. The tradesmen did not know which they desired, and asked time for deliberation, but went away quite believing in Mr. Chamberlain. The effect of the order inhibiting the Civil Servants from directing big shops will not be exactly what the tradesmen think. Single " Managers " will be ap- pointed, and will probably manage rather better than the present Committees.
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