1822 March 9

Thoughts on Official Economy

How to secure attendance

Begin with confessing consciousness of ridiculousness.

Problem /Question 1/ How to force /oblige/ public functionaries to

prefer on all occasions the /universal/ interest of the greatest number to their own

particular and sinister interest?

Solution Order matters so that immediately or unimmediately they

shall be all of them placed and at short intervals displaceable by the greatest

number

Question In each official situation with the exception of that of

representative of the people in a body exercising in the highest shape the operative

power of government, what shall be the number of hands? /functionaries./

Answer. One only

Question. Why one only

Answer 1 That /For/ responsibility may /that it/ be entire.

2 For dispatch. One functionary suppose apt, every one added to him

with equal power, so far from expediting obstructs the business

Question. Is not mutiplicity useful for advice?

Answer. For the giving of advice no pen is necessary.

Question. What ought to be the /is the measure/ remuneration attached

in each situation to Official service?

Answer. A minimum: if any thing the least

quantity that a man competent to the situation will accept: if any such person will

serve in it gratis /without pecuniary recompense/ nothing.

What are the evils which this proposition seeks to exclude /by this

proposition may be excluded/.

Answer. 1. Waste: 2. Corruption: 3. Inaptitude

Question, how corruption?

Answer. If in the hands /disposal/ of one and the same person a mass

of power and /or/ controul remains for a certain length of time a small quantity will

suffice to enable him to purchase for the sinister sacrifice the assistance of a

majority of the members of the supreme legislative body, and to dispose them to

render it.

Question What mean you by /is/ the sinister sacrifice?

Answer. The sacrifice of the greatest happiness of the greatest

number to the less happiness of the less number.

Question. Can the quantum sufficient be determined?

Answer. No: and for that reason, /is the/ more care is necessary:

necessary on this account still more than on account of the burthen of the expence:

the more care, as to the keeping it at its minimum.