The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-07-26
MASTERS OF HORSE AND BUCKHOUNDs
Labouchere on the Expenses of Roy
atty and Its Accessories.
American Economy Contrasted With
the System of Great Britain.
Radical Objection to Supporting Al
Of victoria's Grandchildren.

LONDON, July 25.-The report Of the par
liamentary committee on royal grants was
called up in the House of Commons this af-
ternoon. Right Hon. W. II. Smith, the gov
ernment leader, was questioned as to the
amount Of the Queens savings, and declined
to answer the question. He moved that the
report of the committee be adopted, and con-
tended that the principles on which the gov
ernment was acting were determined by the
compact between the crown and the people.
1t was not the duty Of the sovereign to pro-
vide for the members Of the royal family.
No minister of the crown during the Queens
reign ever ventured such suggestion. When
the settlement was made upon the Prince of
Wales 1t was never contemplated that the
Prince would be called upon to provide for
his family out Of his income. The govern
ment could not believe any important Sec
tion of the people grudged to royalty the
moderate provision necessary to maintain its
dignity. III they examined the systems OF
other civilized countries. they would find the
English system the most economical.
Mr.. Labouchere move the adoption of his
substitute for the committees report, declar-
ing that the sums given the royal family al
ready were andy sufficient and that IL fur
ther supplies were needed they ought to be
provided through retrenchment in the ex-
penses Of the royal household and not by
fresh demands upon the tax payers. He
ridiculed Mr.. Smiths assertion of economy,
calling attention to the fact that the Presi-
dent Of the United States received only $780,
900 annually, while the Queen and her fami-
lxrr In oof1 thn tff,na hnH
come to deal finally with grants to royalty.
He denied that the Queen had any sort Of
title to the crown lands. III there was any
talk about bargain, his advice to the crown
would be: Take the duchies OF Lancaster
and Cornwall altogether and maintain your
family and households.
Lord Randolph Churchill-''We would
make the worst of the bargain"
Mr.. Labouehere-"No, the bargain would
be good one."
ernment admitted large savings Of the
Queen from the civil list. Doubtless these
savings were well invested. Even II the
Queen had given various sums to her chill
dren. enough was left to provide for others,
The extreme limit of the nations grants
ought to be to the children of the sovereign.
Ii was impossible for the country to submit
to the burden Of an indefinite number of
grandchildren. He did not complain of Mr..
Gladstone's peculiar and exceptional posi-
ti0n and was not surprised at his action.
Mr.. Lab0uchere proceeded to explain that
ii the useless offices of lord chamberlain,
lord steward, master of the horse, master OF
the buckhounds, eight lords In waiting, eight
grooms in waiting. four equerries and a
number of others were abolished, an ample
sum would be left for the purpose mentioned.
There were gentlemen who would be glad to
do the work these officers entailed for moth
ing, the chamberlain for instance. Laugh
ter.
Samuel Story, member for Sunderland,
Radical, seconded the amendment.
Mr.. Gladstone briefly said he was adverse
to all measures of economy that impaired
the dignity and splendor of the crown.
Therefore he supported the government. He
rej0iced that occasion was given to him to
/. testify in his old age that he did not forget
services he had borne many years in con-
nection with his Office as representative of
the crown.
Mr.. John Morley said that the excitement
caused by the question of royal grants was
due to the governments want Of frankness.
Their original proposals were Supplying.
They had withdrawn from an impossible
and impracticoble position. In agreeing to
grant $4,000 in order to prevent mischievous
friction between parliament and the crown,
he feared he strained the pledge given by
him to his electors. He did so, understand
ing that no opening would be left for future
claims. He was anxious to avoid parting
company with a leader to whom he was
bound by ties OF the greatest esteem. The
extravagant grants of former reigns furnish
ed no excuse for repetition. He could not
support Mr.. Labouchere because that gentle
man implied that the message from the
Queen ought never TO have been presented.
He Mr.. Morley desired to uphold the good
forms and traditions Of Parliament. On
M0ndayshe would move an amendment rails
ing the whole question in the broadest posi-
BILE form.
Mr.. Bradlaugh adjourned the debate.