The proposals of the Commissioners of 1834 were either formal "recommendations," exceptionally displayed in prominent type, or suggestions scattered among the pages which purport to summarise the evidence. For instance, the famous "principle" that the situation of the pauper should not be made "really or apparently so eligible as the situation of the independent labourer of the lowest class" is not a "recommendation," but occurs only as an assertion in the course of an argument.[6] We have therefore included, in the following statement of "the principles of 1834," all dogmatic assertions of this nature, as well as the formal recommendations. [6] p. 228 of the Report of 1834. The references are to the latest reprint (1905). _A._--_National Uniformity_ The most revolutionary principle of the Report of 1834--the fundamental basis alike of the Act of 1834 and of the policy of the Central Authority--was that of national uniformity in the treatment of each class of destitute persons. It was this principle that was in most marked contrast with the previous practice, under which each parish or union had pursued its own Poor Law policy. It was this principle that furnished the ground for the very existence of a Central Authority. The Commissioners recommended that there should be uniformity in the administration of relief in the different parts of the country, in order-- (_a_) To reduce the "perpetual shifting" from parish to parish; (_b_) To prevent discontent among paupers; and (_c_) To bring the management more effectually under the control of Parliament.[7] [7] pp. 279-280 of the Report of 1834. For this among other reasons the recommendation seemed to the Commissioners to follow, "as a necessary consequence, that the Legislature should divest the local authorities of all discretionary power in the administration of relief."[8] But they did not put this recommendation into large type. What they put into large type was the recommendation that there should be a Central Authority to control the administration, _directed_ to frame and enforce regulations, "as far as may be practicable ... uniform throughout the country."[9] [8] p. 294 of the Report of 1834. [9] p. 297 of the Report of 1834.