Chapter XIV

THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE UNIONS,
CURTAILS THE EXECUTIVE'S POWER TO DISMISS INCOMPETENT AND REDUNDANT
EMPLOYEES 245

The old practice of intervention by Members of Parliament on
behalf of individual civil servants with political influence
has given way to the new practice of intervention on behalf
of the individual civil servant because he is a member of a
civil service union. The new practice is the more insidious
and dangerous one, for it means class bribery. The doctrine
that entrance upon the State's service means "something very
nearly approaching to a freehold provision for life." Official
testimony of various prominent civil servants, especially of
Mr. (now Lord) Welby, Permanent Secretary to the Treasury
from 1885 to 1894; and Mr. T. H. Farrer, Permanent Secretary
to Board of Trade from 1867 to 1886. The costly practice of
giving pensions no solution of the problem of getting rid of
unsatisfactory public servants.

CHAPTER XV
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE UNIONS,
CURTAILS THE EXECUTIVE'S POWER TO PROMOTE EMPLOYEES ACCORDING TO
MERIT 267

The civil service unions oppose promotion by merit, and
demand promotion by seniority. Testimony presented before:
Select Committee on Civil Services Expenditure, 1873; Select
Committee on Post Office, 1876; Royal Commission to inquire
into the Civil Establishments, 1888; from statement made in
House of Commons, in 1887, by Mr. Raikes, Postmaster General;
and before the so-called Tweedmouth Committee, 1897. Instances
of intervention by Members of House of Commons on behalf of
civil servants who have not been promoted, or are afraid they
shall not be promoted.