§ MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)asked the Under Secretary for India whether he was aware that, during the period Sir Lepel Griffin was agent to the Governor General for the Central Indian States, the civil establishment in the State of Gwalior was greatly augmented and the salaries of certain officers increased, in one case from Rs.100 per month to Rs.1,200, in another from Rs.400 to Rs.2,000, and in a third from Rs.500 to Rs.1,500, and whether these instances were samples of a great number of like character; 703 whether, prior to the appointment of Sir Lepel Griffin as agent in Central India, and before his interference in the affairs of Gwalior, the annual revenue of that state was 1 crore and 10 laths, and the expenditure 99 lakhs, showing an annual surplus of 11 lakhs; whether, at the present time, although the revenue had been increased by 11 lakhs, being the interest on 3½ crores of the late Ruler's savings invested after his death in Indian Government stock, there was an annual deficit of 7 lakhs, the revenue being 1 crore and 21 lakhs, and the expenditure 1 crore and 28 lakhs; and whether the Secretary of State would make inquiries as to the circumstances under which this state of things had occurred, and would lay upon the Table the result of such inquiries?
§ *THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Sir J. GORST,) ChathamThe official information in the possession of the Secretary of State does not contradict the facts suggested in the question; but the Secretary of State does not perceive in them any evidence of maladministration, and he sees no reason to suggest to the Government of India any interference with the present Council of Regency in the Gwalior State.