The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-04-13

Considerable as are the powers of the
queen, they are not unlimited There are
some very curious restrictions on the royal
prerogative. The queen cannot, for in
stance communicate with her subjects as
can the most mental of her servants; nor
can she receive presents from her people
save through officers of state or friends
personally known to her majesty
The queen could sell give away the
royal navy declare war with Russia ;
but she could not spend d single farthing
of public money without the consent of
parliament. The queen has no power over
taxation, and could not create any new
office with fees attached to it, Neither can
she annex new fees to old offices She
could not increase the wages of one of her
footmen, unless she did it out of her pri-
waite funds or without exceeding the al
lowance made to her by parliament
curious curtailment of the royal pre-
negative is effected by an act of parlia-
nent passed in the reign of George Ill
This act deals with Sabbath breaking and
in it it is distinctly stated that the mon
arch cannot pardon offenders who have
been convicted of a certain form of Sab
bath breaking. Yet her ma esty could par
don 80 per cent of all the prisoners in the
land.
Though no act of parliament is complete
until it has been signed by the queen, her
majesty is subject to the laws that she
trary to law. If, for instance, it were the
law of England that no train should travel
at rate exceeding fifty miles an hour, the
queen could not issue a proclama ton
eXemptlng a certain train from the opera
ton of the law. Nor can, her mai esty issue
proclamation which would njure the
community, such as, for example, a pro-
clamation exempting a whole town or
nelghborhoOd from serving on a jury.
Though the queen cotTld recall any sub
ject from abroad, she cannot compel a sub
ject to leave this country. This disability
does not cease to operate even in time o.
war. and, though at such a time the queer
could call upon every able man to take III
arms. she could not force a single civilian
to leave the country, even to carry on nee
essary war.
Her majesty could not set up courts such
as the star chamber. the child of Henry
Wills misguided genius. nor could she in
vest spiritual court with temporal power
Though her decision is absolute after pris
oner has been sentenced. she could not in
terfere with the course of justice. nor coulG
she exert any influence over the Judges
Neither could she interfere in a case OF
private as opposed to public wrong.
The queen is the only person who cannot
arrest supected felon No action can be
taken against her for breaking
the law, and therefore she is
precluded from making arrest, as, sup
posing the suspected prisoner were limo
cent no action for false Imprisonment could
be taken against her majesty. The law
indeed, assumes that the queen can do nc
wrong. which seems about as absurd as the
legal assumption that the queen cannot
be under age, and cannot die.
The queen cannot exclude a member from
parliament after he has been duly elected
nor can she delegate the duty of signing
laws to any one.
The queens power Of disposing Of terri.
tory in time of peace has been disputed. II
time of her majesty could hand over
London to France to bring the war to ar
end. but it seems clear that in time OF
peace her majesty cannot subject any
part of the empire to the sway of foreign
pOwer.-I london Tit Bits,