The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-11-16
English Pensions.

The English often complain of the
heavy expense with which their Govern
ment is carried on, and the large taxes
which rich and poor have to pay to slls-
tain it.
One of the largest items of this expense
is created by the pensions which are year
ly paid out of the treasury.
The custom of awarding pensions to q
great variety of persons, and for great
variety OF reasons, is very ancient one in
England, and is so firmly rooted that it
would be very difficult to abolish or even
to curtail it. Yet that it has grown to be
great burden and evil, is seen and con-
fessed by most Englishmen.
In this country, pensions are only given
to the soldiers and sailors who have fought
in defense of the Nation; in England they
are given not only to soldiers, but to states.
men and officials, to writers, artists and
sculptOrs. 10 inventors, travellers and dis.
cOvererS.
The largest pensions, or annual in
comes, that are paid from the English
treasury are those awarded to the royal
family. Besides the enormous income of
about $4,000 900 received by the Queen,
for instance, Prince Albert had an annu.
ity of $3.50, 600 a year. When the Queen's
oldest daughter was married, Parliament
voted her a dowry of 500, 900, and an
annual income of $40, 900 besides.
The Prince of Wales receives about
$500 900 year in the same way.
The whole amount taken every year
from the treasury to pay the annuities OF
the royal family reaches $2,SOO,OOO. Ev.
cry otficehOlder under the British Gov.
eminent, after serving for certain period
is entitled t. retire upon pension for life
The same is the case with army and navy
officers.
Some of the pensions paid to the high
dignitaries on their withdrawal from Of
flee are very large. For example, the
Lord. Chancellor, the highest law officer
who also presides over the House of Lords
and takes rank above the highest Duke
gets $4,000 year for life on retiring
He may only have held the office for sia
months, or even less. The mere fact thai
he has been Chancellor entities him to 6
pension.
Besides these pensions to public officials
large number is given for great varie
ty of reasons. The House Mininter ha.
every year the sum of 81 200 at his dis
posal for life pensions, to be given to PEG
pie who have claims upon the roya
bounty, who have done some personal serv
ice to the Crown, who have made usefu
discoveries, or have done something in lit
erature or art.
Other pensions are given for sometime
that ancestors or relatives of the persons
receiving them have done in the past
Some OF the reasons for giving these ar,
| very curious.
For example, there are now living tw,
gentlemen who receive $4,000 year TO
life, because their ancestors aided Charlie
ii. to escape from the battle of Worcester
two centuries ago. A German baroness
gets the same sum for having faithful,
served Queen Victoria for eighteen years
| All those who instructed the Queen IL
her early years-her French, dancing an(
singing masters, draw $500 year for life
| The daughters of Sir HUDSON Lowe
who treated Napoleon so cruelty when b,
was prisoner at st. Helena, get $3.50 ,
year for their fathers services in that re
spect; and the daughters of Sir Georg,
Cathcart get 81 $50 year for that officer
gallant conduct at Inkerman.
Many writer's receive comfortable pen
sions, which they are sure of having t.
the end of their lives. Tennyson, who a
Poet Laureate is expected to write an cd,
when a prince or princess gets married
draws 81 600 year for this slight and no
frequent service. The widows of Ton
Hood and Douglas Jerrold, and some 9th
ers, have $500 a year.
You can easily see that all these pen
sions, the number of which, of course, i
constantly increasing, make up an enor
nous expense. Very many of them ar
given without any good reason; and Their
is a vast deal of grumbling about them i,
England. But it will probably be Ion,
before they are done away with.-Youtt'
Companion.