'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [‎9v] (23/502)

nlinistration on a footing to entitle it to the confidence and support of the British
Government, and the loyal and willing- obedience of all its subjects.
13 Nor however well-disposed His Highness might himself be to concur
in the adoption of the measures necessary to this object, could they, in our opinion,
be attempted with any prospect of success with the aid of his present Minister
and principal Officials, most of whom, so far as we can judge, are by no means of
the class of men that should fill such responsible and important posts.
14. Tb obtain such a result, we deem it to be essential that the Minister of
the Baroda State shall be selected with reference to his administrative experience,
and personal and other special qualifications for the post, and—while enjoined to
secure the Chief's good-will and confidence, and to work in respectful subordina
tion to him, never forgetting their relative [positions,—that he shall have such
support from the Resident, as may be necessary to enable him to carry out,
efficiently and satisfactorily, the important functions of his office, and that he
,cili all not be liable to removal without the special orders of the British Government.
We are further of opinion that the Resident should, for a time at least, be vestrd
with special authority to intervene, if necessary, between the Maharaja and the
Minister.
15. With regard to the unsatisfactory character of many of the pie sent
Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). Officials, and the bad reputation in which they appear to the Commissic n
to be held by a large proportion of the people, the first duty that would devolve
on the new Minister, if appointed as above proposed, would be a careful elimina
tion and dismissal of such of them as are unfit to be continued in the public
service under the new arrangement, and he would probably require the assistanc e
of the Resident in obtaining, under the sanction of Government, the services of
an adequate number of competent and qualified men from the British provinces
or elsewhere, who can be induced to take employment in the Gaekwar's service.
On this point, we will only observe that, while we should deprecate any
needless introduction of other than Baroda subjects into the service of the State,
the employment of a few carefully selected men, who have already received an
adequate training in the British public service, will, so far as we can judge, be
absolutely necessary to enable the Minister to carry out the changes so urgently
called for. We understand that the Maharaja is not averse to the entertain
ment of any needful number of men of this class that can be obtained for the
purpose.
16. In thus submitting, as directed, for the consideration of His Excellency
in Council, our views as to the measures that should be adopted to bring about
and maintain for the future a more satisfactory state of affairs in Baroda, without
entailing a minute and vexatious interference on the part of the British Govern
ment, we would beg to add that we are not unmindful of the objections that
naturally suggest themselves to such an arrangement as that proposed, or to the
delicate nature of the task that will devolve on the Minister and the Eesident, in
making that arrangement, if carried out, work successfully.
17. But we are fully convinced that the defects of the Baroda Administra
tion are of such a nature, that no lesser interference than that suggested, can,,
under the peculiar circumstances of the case, be of any avail. There can be no
doubt that, during the last 6 or 7 years of His Highness Khauderao's life, the
system qf government, bad as it appears always to have been, underwen- a serious
decadence : the proceedings of the Chief were more arbitrary than previously ;
• As Oi, Of 10 per cert, on th, new* cesses and levies were imposed, without
revmme of all State lands for one consideration of the previously heavy assessment
year for the construction of a new to which the ryots were subject, and the collec-
Palape, another of smaller amount tion of the Government dues was enforced bv the
Wdar&? ami acture 0f a golden local officials, by harsh and compulsory measures,
, ' of the charactertliat have been deposed to by many
witnesses who have appeared before the Commission ; while complaints were
not heard, and there was no redress for such grievances.
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