The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-31
HOW MUCH ROYALTY COSTS.

Queen Victoria and her interesting family
every member Of which. men ana wcincn
receives an annuity in cash and the use Q
a palace TO live In. : 1t costs the people
the United States about $4,000 ia matntsti
their ruler. This includes his salary. I'M
salary OF his clerks and the other axpanse'
Of maintaining the White House. In Urea
Britain the total runs UP beyond $4'6uV,ov'
year. The Princess Of Wales alone re-
ceiyes as pin money for her wardrobe sne
personal expenses an amount equal 10 the
salary Of the president Of the United states
and this does not include the expenses o.
the Marlborough house, In which she lives
Her husband has just four times as muen
and her sons and daughters nearly fouI
times as much more.
theoretically the queen of Great Britain
receives no compensation. but is entitled
to what are known as ''the hereditary rev.
| enues of the crown" According to law che
| is free from all taxes, rates. ASSESSMENTS
| and charges" but in 1912, during the crisis
over the income tax, Sir Robert Peel an
| nounced in parliament that her majesty bad
been graciously pleased to declare her vol
/
| should be subject to the same deduction
that was suffered by all officials and SER
wants of the government in lieu Of the In
| come and property tax. This procla-
nation was received with hearty applause
| ard most complimentary comments by the
newspapers, but Sir Robert either had no
| authority for making 1t or else her majesty
| on second thought was graciously pleased
\ to change her mind, for she did not carry
MI no 90 nj Ia a
per into the treasury as taxes since she
| was crowned.
"The hereditary revenues Of the crown"
| makes curious inventory. In early times
| almost everybody had to pay 6 royalty upon
the proceeds of his industry or Lis Irop-
erty hence the origin Of that word which
is in common use all over the world to-
day. A percentage of all private incomes
went to the sovereign. the first fruits OF
the fields and onetenth of all they pro-
duced. These taxes were first levied by
the pope 1000 years ago to carry on the
crusade. After the reformation Horny VIII
required them to be paid TO lin as the
head Of the church. In 1704 Queen Anne
surrendered them to the church to increase
the stipends OF the clergy; hence they are
now known as Queen Anne's bounty" and
under that name are collected and applied
to this day.
In early times the king granted Ill IL
censes for whatever occupation or purpose
they were required, and the fees went into
his own pocket The receipts OF the post
Office were royal perquisite until 1887,
and even now the sovereign of England is
entitled to all contraband goods seized all
hR rtu of FOIL
outlaws and persons executed, all ship
wrecks all jetsam and flotsam, all waits
and strays, all abandoned property, all ami
mails wandering unclaimed, all lands that
are forfeited by their owners or to which
no proper title can be proved, and all es-
tates that are without heirs; and up 10 the
time of Queen Victoria the revenue of the
crown from these sources would average
$1,000, 900 yearly
queen Victoria is entitled by law to all
whales and surgeons captured by British
fishermen, for they are known MS royal
nsh." The "droits of admiralty" which
We're the proceeds of prizes captured by
the navy at sea always wsat to the scv-
erelgn. and In twenty-five years d, ring
the reign OF George III they arr, ,,ted 10
49,562.614, which Is nearly $50, 900 900. The
crown Is also entitled to the fees received
Tor tho attachment of the great seal of
state to legal documents, commissions.
grants and patents, which are called the
Receipts of the Hamper" and amount to
several millions year. The queen enjoys
another valuable perquiste in the revenue,
of the Island of Burbadoes. which we're
granted to the crown in 1868 and amoupt
10 about S250,OOO a year. She also inherlts
from Henry w the title of Duchess of
Lancaster and the revenues of that county
which she still actually receives. They
amount TO about S2l5.O00 year. The SOW
ereign OF England also receiveg the reve-
nues of the Duchy OF Cornwall until the
birth Of son, who then becomes entitled
10 them as long as he is prince of Wales.
me helds. forest, orchards, vineyards.
parks, gardens. mines and fisheries be
longing to her majesty amount TO several
hundred thousand acres. Her forests a!cne |
cover an area of 114,520. and the net RIVE |
nue. derived from the crown lands averages |
about $2,5o0.0OO annually.
In 1880 William " made an arranpe-
ment with parliament. which was con-
hrmed by Queen Victoria upon her acces.
SION IN 1887, under which all Of the hered-
tary revenues of the crown and the pro-
ceeds OF the royal estates were surrendered
N exchange for a permanent civil list
amounting to 940S,000. 1t was ,ery good
-rade on both sides. The proper and legi-
innate revenues of the queen at the present
lay would largely exceed this sum. but
there would be Infinite confusion and
'ery large expense attending their collec
lon- On the other hand, she is relieved
'ntirely from responsibility, and not only
continues to receive this fixed allowance
'ut liberal appropriations have been made |,
y parliament for all the members of her
an my ana have been Increased from time
Q llme until the annuitles now amonnt m
ooS;ooO or over s2,75o.OoO. The following
ire the general items: ,
ier malesty's privy purse. ....., ESQ 0o0 h
salaries OF household .. 10, Sco n
expenses OF household 40 src r
inns and special services o. ,o ,
'ensions granted by her majesty. % 200 q
rSta, - a., ------------ q
AZ uie queen .......... C 40S, 022
'ietoria, dowager German ornrss. 80
'rincess of Wales .. .S,oo00
'rineess OF Wales .. 1"'oVo |.
'hildren of Prince of Wales a ac'o0o
luke Of Edinburgh ..'' 9o'ooo
rineess Christian ,. ic'oco 0