Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-03-18
THE COST OF ROYALTY.

In these practical days, when people are
in the habit of counting the cost of every
thing, it is not surprising that even the cost
of royalty in Europe is beginning to attract
attention, aud is being talked about by the
subjects of the many monarchs there with
tolerated. This is particularly the case in
England, where Ministers are growing more
and more reluctant TO face Parliament with
resolutions for increasing the royal expend-
tures. The royal families of Europe cost
the people close upon 65,0O0,000 year in
direct expenditure for their maintenance
but no man can calculate what they cost
indirectly, in the shape of increased naval
and military expenditure, to say nothing of
occasional wars brought about by the ambi-
tion of kings.
Germany stands at the head Of all Euro
pean nations in the matter of royal expend-
iture. That empire, with q population of
not more than 100000, has to support %
royal, princely and ducal families, and the
direct cost Of their maintenance is Sl6,500,-
900. In Prussia and several other Of the
German States the reigning family, besides
it's public income, possesses very large pri-
States the princes are the chief landowners.
In ecklenberg-Strelitz, for instance, which
is nearly as large as the State of Rhode IS
land, the reigning family owns three.ffths
of the land, and the Grand Duke governs
without the aid of any representative insti-
tutions whatever. This perhaps accounts
for the fact that the population of this mod
crn principality is decreasing.
Turkey comes next to Germany initsroy.
al expenditures, the total amount absorbed
by the Sultan and his family being about
Sl6,250,00O. The imperial family of Russia
costs that country $l2, ,25000O, the greater
part of which comes in the shape of rents
from the crown domains, which consist of
more than million square miles of land,
besides gold and silver mines, The Austri-
an imperial family is tolarably we'll off, hav-
ing a revenue of Sd $50, 900. all Of which
comes directly from the public revenue of
the country. The British royal family
comes next, with a cost to the country Of
$4,5OO,OOO. This sum includes the revenue
derived from the Duchies of Lancaster and
Cornwall, which amounts to about $780,
600 yearly. The sum expended on ac-
count Of the British Royal family
will soon be increased by $4,000 q
year in the marriage Of the Princess Be-
atrice, and it is expected that there will
shortly be call for an income for the old
est sou Of the Prince of Wales. These con-
slant calls on the British taxpayer are not
prumbles, out still he pays. These royal
personages, who neither toll nor spin, and
have no cares like ordinary mortals, live
lopg-as the taxpayer knows TO his cost.
The old Duchess of Cambridge, now IS
years of age, continues to draw from the
British treasury 100000 n year, besides en-
ioying the royal palaces of ST. James and
Kew as herresidences. Her sou, the Queens
cousin, receives about $4,000 year from
the same source to compensate him for the
loss of the throne, which would have been
his had the Queen died without an heir, or
had never been born.
Italy pays her royal family So 100000
year, which is very large sum in proper
ton to the means Of the country, while
Spain disburses on the same account S2,OOO,-
600. This ends the list of European mon.
arches of large population. Bu: the minor
monarchies also pay their royal families
very large sums. Belgium, with about as
large population as the State of New York,
pays S660,000 q year to her King, and Por-
tugal, with three quarters or million less
population, pays $685., 900. Monarchy costs
Sweden and Norway, 1857 500 annually;
Denmark, $4,000; Holland, S3l5 900, Rou-
mania, $4,000, and Greece, $4,000. But
100000 of this last sum is paid by England,
France and Russia. Republican France
gives her President s1S0OOO, two thirds of
which is in the form of salary and one-third
for household expenses.
The Swiss Republic pays its President
$4,000 a wear, which is probably the small
est sum that the head of any civilized ma
tion in the world receives. All the expen-
ditures of Switzerland are on correspond
usy low scale 900 With population ap,
of the Confederation does not reach S10,oo0,-
600 annually.-N. Y. Sun.