One of the most extraordinary of the numerous astounding episodes in connection with the nationalization of the telegraphs was the fact that in the debates in the House of Commons was not even raised the question of possible danger arising from increasing enormously the number of civil servants. That is the more astounding, since, in 1867 and 1868, prominent men in both political parties had grave misgivings as to the future relations between the State and its employees, even though those employees who were in the Customs Department, the Inland Revenue Department, and the Post Office were at the time disfranchised. [Sidenote: _Mr. Disraeli on Civil Servants_] In July, 1867, while the House of Commons was passing the "Representation of the People Bill," Sir Harry Verney, a private member, moved the addition of a clause to enable public officers connected with the collection of the revenue to vote at elections.[70] The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Disraeli, asked the House not to accept the Amendment. He said: "He wished also to recall to the recollection of the committee a Treasury Minute which had been placed on the table, in which Minute the Government had drawn attention to the impropriety and impolicy of officers in those branches of the public service to which the honorable baronet [Sir Harry Verney] had referred, exercising their influence over Members of Parliament, in order to urge upon the Government an increase of their salaries. Even at the present time an influence was exerted which must be viewed with great jealousy, and every Government, however constituted, would find it necessary to use its utmost influence in restricting overtures of that description. But what would be the position of affairs if these persons--so numerous a body--were invested with the franchise. From the experience of what was passing in this city--and he wished merely to intimate, and not to dwell upon the circumstance--he was led to believe the result would be that there would be an organization illegitimately to increase the remuneration they received for their services--a remuneration which, in his opinion, was based upon a just estimate. He did not deny that the class referred to by the honorable baronet were entirely worthy of public confidence, but the conferring the franchise upon them would place them in a new position, and would introduce into public life new influences which would not be of a beneficial character. He trusted therefore that the committee would not sanction the proposal of the honorable baronet." The amendment was lost; and in the following year, 1868, Mr. Monk, a private member, carried against the Government of the day, a bill to enfranchise the revenue officers.[71] [Sidenote: _The Chancellor of the Exchequer on Civil Servants_]