The Great Struggle in England for Honest Government: Considered in Two Lectures with Reference to Civil Service Reform in the United States

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Houghton, Osgood, 1878 - Civil service - 51 pages

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Page 35 - That the influence of the Crown has increased, is increasing, and ought to be diminished"?
Page 35 - But what, I confess, was uppermost with me, what I bent the whole force of my mind to, was the reduction of that corrupt influence which is itself the perennial spring of all prodigality and of all disorder, — which loads us more than millions of debt, — which takes away vigor from our arms, wisdom from our councils, and every shadow of authority and credit from the most venerable parts of our Constitution.
Page 36 - ... debates in Parliament, suggested what motions should be made or opposed, and how measures should be carried. He reserved...
Page 47 - He was not only not prepared to bring forward any measure of this nature ; but he would at once declare that, as far as he was concerned, as long as he held any station in the government of the country, he should always feel it his duty to resist such measures, when proposed by others.
Page 37 - If you mean there should not be a Government by departments, I agree with you ; I think it a very bad system. There should be one man, or a Cabinet, to govern the whole, and direct every measure. Government by departments was not brought in by me. I found it so, and had not vigour and resolution to put an end to it. The King ought to be treated with all sort of respect and attention, but the appearance of power is all that a king of this country can have.
Page 13 - Thus much is certain, that neither the present nor any other first lord of the treasury, has been ever able to take a survey, or to make even a tolerable guess, of the expenses of government for any one year...
Page 50 - Majesty's commands to acquaint your lordship, that all difficulties to the arrangements in progress will be obviated by a declaration in the House to-night from a sufficient number of peers, that in consequence of the present state of affairs, they have come to the resolution of dropping their further opposition to the Reform Bill, so that it may pass without delay, and as nearly as possible in its present shape.
Page 35 - That it is the duty of this House, to provide, as far as may be, an immediate and effectual redress of the abuses complained of in the petitions presented to this House...
Page 11 - That no person who has an office or place of profit under the King, or receives a pension from the Crown, shall be capable of serving as a Member of the House of Commons.
Page 36 - that the country was governed by clerks, — each minister confining himself to his own office, — and consequently, instead' of responsibility, union of opinion, and concerted measures, nothing was displayed but dissension, weakness, and corruption.

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