DRAFT.
208
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Bd and
living would have justified, it must be remembered that owing to my predecessor's refusal to fix the salaries on a sterling basis the Civil Servants are, through the fall in exchange now losing some of the advantage which, it was thought, on the spot, that the settlement would give them. I am prepared indeed to admit that they were treated with liberality and the settlement of 1890-1 should (unless in the case of some change at present totally unforeseen) be deemed to exclude the consideration of any further claims which may be advanced on the ground of increased cost of living, fall of exchange, or other similar causes.
12.
Whatever the merits of that settlement may be, I think I am entitled to point out that the Secretary of State, who pushes it, has, in fact, been a restraining force in the matter of adding to salaries; and it therefore seems to me a matter of surprise, or hardly fair where a Secretary of State has