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TUESDAY, FEBURARY 28, 1905.

We return to our review of the report of the Railway Commission and, as promised in our last, we proceed to the consideration of the different departments, their constitution, and their requirements. In the former, the preponderance of and dependence upon the native element occupy so important a place in every department that they claim passing attention, and the fact is emphasised by the opinion expressed by the Commission that many Egyptians are fit to be trained for higher posts thau they now occupy. There is no disguising the tact that training, in the sense intended, has not hitherto been forth-coming in Egypt generally. It never has been possible to introduce the required quantity and quality of experience to educate the people for many of the positions they even now hold in the Government service, and in a case like the one under consideration, a course of education has to be begun, which, under other circumstances, would by this time have been completed and be working automatically. To this want of training of the subordinate staff and consequent pressure of work upon superiors we attribute, in some measure, the praise accorded by Lord Cromer to the handful of officers who have to do the work of the country, and the condemnation, by the Commission, of responsible railway officers for being too little out and about their scattered charges. The cause is one and the same, its removal is necessary in the inte-rests of ail concerned, and we welcome the already visible signs of it in one department of the Railways.

In our former article we described the recommendations of the Commission, as we understand them, and accepted, as a necessary conclusion, that if circumstances permit of their being adopted, the necessary efficiency of the Railways and the staff can, in due course, be easily and satisfactorily secured, but in the other event, which deliberately forces itself upon us, we seek for a modified and sufficiently suitable solution where possible. We feel that we can dispose of the management by repeating that it must be the work of one man, and he must be the right one for the position, with all the freedom and power that can be given to him, with full appreciation of his responsibilities, and no misconception as to what he can or cannot do : strong and independent up to the point where he becomes subordinate to higher authority, and not beyond it. Among successes and failures alike, in corresponding but easier positions elsewhere, we know of soldiers, at least one sailor, civil engineers, locomotive, traffic, and accounts railway men, solicitors, and others. Evidently inherent qualities, rather than early training, make the railway manager ; as is the case in so many important administrative positions, opportunity often finds him out. Luck indeed may play its part, but in this case the authorities cannot afford to incur a risk.

We will now take up the departments of the Railways in the order given by the Commission—presumably their order of importance in the eyes of railway men. If we interpret correctly what is contained both in the report and its appendices about the Traffic Department, we are forced to the conclusion that it is wanting both in numbersexcept in its subordinate staff—and in experience. The subordinate staff is probably "excessive" because it is ''inefficient," and this because of the absence of the necessary number of trained superiors. It is safe to say that this sufficiency has never existed, and the present position is due to this long standing fact. The subject of proper traffic management-which includes both "operating" and "commercial -is too important a one to be dropped when shown to be thus wanting. The requirements of safety to the travelling public, the conveniences of trade, and even the development of the country (apart) from that of the Railways) are matters which require immediate attention.

As already stated by us, if all other circumstances can be disregarded in securing the necessary standard of efficiency (which probably need not be ' first class European" any more thau the road itself) the proposals made care certainly secure it, but we think there exists here an alternative worthy of consideration. In the Accounts Department, which we have next to refer to, the plan has been already adopted of temporarily employing an Adviser and the desired reforms seem to be throughly in hand and in course of complete execution. However great the difficulty might be securing the continuous service of a superior traffic officer of proved ability, we are greatly inclined to believe that there would be little or none in finding a Traffic Adviser. Then are many men who, having relinquished active service either at home or abroad, are now sufficiently free, and would, doubtless, be equally ready and fit to accept a similar position to that of the existing Accounts Adviser, and we firmly believe that the Traffic Department could be thus dealt with as readily and completely as the Audit and Accounts, it might be necessary to pay such a man a good salary, and he should, from time to time, be allowed to employ or import whatever officers or subordinates he might require for the special of general education of the staff. Some of these assistants might even have to be brought to the staff for a time, and the Adviser himself might have to return at intervals, but we feel sure that the work could be more throughly, more safely, and with less disturbances, under taken on these lines than upon any others.

The Accounts Department has received severe criticism, and in more complete detail than any other. A worse state than existed, or a better method of reform could not well have been described. The absence of any comment by the Commission points to the fact that everything necessary is being provided for, yet we have heard of no disturbance or great changes, and we are glad to see au expression of appreciation of the services of the chief of the Department even when such an unsatisfactory state affairs existed. In the successful treatment of this matter we find sufficient reason suggest its application to the traffic. The Way and Works Department has been condemned in plain terms. We presume it deserves it for is said to possess more than a sufficiency of superior staff. There may have been circumstances which have led to the existing state of affairs, but these the same as in a department which has been starved in the important of improvising staff, and the principle of schooling'' becomes inapplicable. That are excellent men in the Engineering Department is well known, that thoroughly efficient men with railway experience are not to obtain is equally so. The Department evidently has to he thoroughly reorganised, and the sooner the better m view ot the importance expenditure to be entrusted to it. It cannot be a difficult task to any one unconnected with the past. The Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon and Stores Departments escape comment of any serious nature, and under the circumstances they must take it as a compliment. It is quite possible they have been favored by circumstances and that, enabled to possess themselves of the necessary amount of technical experience the right sort, they have been able to second proper organisation and working. But has been done probably in the face of difficulties and to a sufficient extent to escape from the shower of condemnation. Our concluding notice of this report will deal with the recommendations for the expenditure to be increased and the separation of the Port of Alexandria from its present connection with the Railway Administration.

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