Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-26
THE ROYAL GRANTS
A SUBJECT OF DISCUSSION IN THE
HOUSE or COMMONS.
Mr.. Labouehere Makes Plain speech in
Opposition 60 the Committees Report
and suggests Retrenchment.
myAnslo- American cable TO The Diqp,,rn.l

rPyAnrlo- American cable to the Disp,trn.i
IsoNDov. July 25.-The report Of the Par
liameniary Committee on Royal Grants
WAS called up IN the House of Commons
this afternoon.
The Right Hon. ". II. Smith. Govern
ment leader. was questioned a. % the
amount of the Queens savings. lie de-
Clined to answer the question. and moved
that the report 81 the committee be adopt
ed. lie cOntcndcd that the principles ou
which the Government was acting had
been determined by compact between
the Crown and the people. u was not
the duty Of the Sovereign 10 pro
vide for members Of the ROYAL
family. No Minister Of the Crown du-
ring the Queens reign had ever veutured
such a suggestion. When the settlement
was made upon the Prince Of Wales 10 was
never contemplated that tine Prince would
bc called upon 80 provide for his family
ont Of his income. The Government could
not believe that any important section Of
the people grudgcd royalty the moderate
provision necessary 10 maintain its digni-
ty. II they examined the systems Of other
civilized countries they would find that
the English system was the most ecOnomi-
cal giving Invaluable stability while OBJ
tanning the respect of all the English
speaking peoples.
Mr. Laboucbere moved the adoption Of
his substitute for the committees report.
declaring that the sums gwen the royal
family are already amply sufficient, and
that Il further supplies are needed they
ought 10 be- provided through retreuch-
mcnt in the expenses of the royal house
hold and not boy fresh demands upon the
taxpayers He ridiculed Mr.. Smiths a.
/ eerti0n of economy in the English system,
calling attention TO the fact that while
the President OF the United Statcs
receives only $4,000 annually the
Queen and her family receive $1,000
0OO lie said the time had come 70 deal
finally with the grants 10 ROYALTY. The
supporters Of the amendment were deter
mined 20 oppose further grants - the
Junior members Of the royal family. tie
denied that the Queen had any sort OF title
10 tho Crown lands. II there was a talk
about bargain. his advice 20 the Crown
would be 10 take the Duchess Of Lancas-
ter and Cornwall altogether and maintain
the family households.
Lord Randolph Churchill I've should
make the worst Of the bargain
Mr.. Iabouchcrc: " No, the bargain would
be "a good one
Continuing. Mr.. Iahouchcrc said that
the Government admitted large savings
Of the Queen from the civil list. Doubt
less these savings were well invested. Even
If the Queen had given various sums 10 her
children enough was lettitO provide for the
others. The extreme limit of the nation s.
grants ought 10 be- the children Of
the sovereign. 10 was impossible for
the country 10 submit ID the bur
den of am ind finite number of grand
children of the sovereign. He dld not
complain Of Mr.. Gladstone supporting the
grants The Liberals understood Mr..
GladstOnc's peculiar and exceptional posi-
ton and were not surprised 700 hls action.
Mr.. LahOuisberc proceeded 10 explain that
tho reduction Of the expenses of the
Queens household would produce n sum
necessary to provide for junior royalty. II
the useless office of Lord Chamberlain,
Lord Steward. Master of Horse. Master of
Buckhounds. eight Lords in Waiting,
ci.ht Gr,ems iu Waiting, four Equcr-
ries. and q number of others We're
abolished an ample sum would be lett for
the purpose mentioned. There were gen
tlcmcn Who would zoe glad 20 do what work
these offices cntailed for nothing Nh;
Chamberlain. for instance. lLaughter.l
lie trusted the House, having regard for
the growing sense Of the people that these
grants ought not 10 be tolerated, would
support the amendment.
Mr.. Samuel Storey. the member for sun
derland, Radical, seconded the amend
mcut
Mr.. Gladstone briefly said he was ayerse
TO all measures of economy that impaired
the dignity and splendor of the Crown.
Therefore he supported the Government.
lle reioiced that al occasion was gwen
him 10 testify In his old age that he did not
forget the service he had borne for many
year, in connection with his office as repre-
sentative of the Crown.
John Morley attributed the fever that
had been excited 10y the question of the
royal grants 20 the Governments want Of
frankness. Their original proposals We're
SURVEYING and they had withdrawn from
an impossible and impracticable position
in agreeing to the grant of E36,OOO IN order
to prevent Il miscmcyous friction between
Parliament and the Crown. lie feared that
hc strained the pledge given 10y him 10 his
electors. but he did So on the understand
ing that no opening would be left for iu-
turc claims. Moreover, be was anxious TO
avoid parting company with leader to
whom he was bound 10y ties OF gratitude
and esteem.
The extravagant grants of former reigns
furnished no excuse for "a repetition of
them now. He could not support Mr.. La
bOuohcro because that gentleman implied
that the message from the Queen ought
never to have been presented, and he lMr.
MOrlev) desired 10 uphold the good forms
and traditions Of Parliament, but ON Mon
day he would move an amendment raising
the whole question in the broadcst posi-
bic form.
Sir John Gerst. defending the Govern
mcnt. conteudcd that there was no actual
difference between she original and present
proposals. lie complained of the waste of
time involving MI Morley's mode of pro-
ccdurc
Mr.. Bardlaugh adjourned the debate.
pBAIsE FROM THE pRtsi.
LoNnoN, July 25.-An the Conservative
newspapers laud Mr.. Gladstone for his
speech on the royal grants. The Tunes
says: cit is "a genuine pleasure TO ar-
knowledge the excellence Of hls grafton.
II was m accordance with the best tradi-
ton Of statcsmausinp. and was lighted
with the glow OF genuine feeling. per-
haps occasioned hv the pleasure incidents
attending his golden wedding