The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-03-17

ana dignity.
BRITONS FOND OF PAGEANTS.
But 1 know that this would not find
favor with the majority. The Romans
Briton seems to love pageants even more
than bread. If he Is to have court page
antry he must pay for it. A court is
kept up far more for him than for any
pleasure that the sovereign can derive
from it, The question, therefore, in con-
siderfng the amount Of the civil list to be
voted, is what is required for court
such as that to which the country has
been accustomed under Queen Victoria,
and what is a fair sum for the personal
expenditure of sovereign who is ex-
pected to spend somewhat lavishly?
For this the civil list of Queen Victo-
ria would suffice That list was divided
into five classes, and, as read the acf.
if there was a surplus during any year IN
one class and no deficit in any other.
this surplus remained In the treasury un-
drawn. But the legal advisers of the
queen read the act otherwise, ana re.
turn Of 1889 shows that at that date
G824, OPS had been transferred during the
late queens reign from surpluses in 9TH
er classes to the priyy purse. This is
conclusive evidence that the amount al
located in the civil list of Queen Victoria
to maintain the state and dignity of her
court was more than sufficient for that
purpose. 1t is true that the late queen
aid not reside in London, but the cost
of her court must have been much the
same as If she had. There were drawing
rooms. levees, concerts and balls at
Buckingham palace. and royalties visit
ing the country enjoyed her hospitality.
/ do not well see what more than this
can be wanted in a court. With respect
to her privy purse 1t consisted OF ESQ, 900
from the civil list and the revenues Of
the duchy of Lancaster These latter
amounted to ego $50 when the estimate of
what was needed for the privy purse was
made. but they have Increased to &c.,
600. The queens priyy purse. therefore
amounted to 9120.0O0 per annum.
SUGGESTED CHANGES IN LIST
But accepting the amount of the Vic
torian civil list and of the revenues of
the duchy Of Lancaster as a fair proyi-
sion for King Edward VII, there are
several changes in it's incidence that are
/ venture to think. desirable.
1. / would do away with all the spe-
cial ALLEGATIONS Of money to separate
classes of expenditure, with the excep-
ton Of that for the royal bounty fund,
the distribution of which is in the prov
ince of the first lord Of the treasury. If
transfers of SURPRISES may be made to
the priyy purse. it Is obvious that these
ALLEGATIONS are without meaning. ! would
vote for the 1855, 600 for the new civil
list and leave the sovereign to spend it
and the revenues Of the Duchy of Lam
caster as seems good to him.
2. The committee that sat to consider
the amount Of the civil list Of Queen
Victoria laid down the salaries of the
great officers (Lord Chamberlain, Lord
Steward, etc., Of lords waiting, and
of many ether court officials occupying
more or less honorary posts These cour-
tiers change with a change of ministry,
! the idea being that, If the sovereign is
surrounded by Liberals when a Tory
minister is In Office or vice versa, the
sovereign's mind might be politically
prejudiced against his ministers. This is
mere bugbear. The monarch who is
famous as the uncle Of Hamlet, should
fancy, did not listen to the lucubrations
of Polonius on state matters, and there
Is very little probability Of modern
English soyereigns consulting on such
! matters the Polonii OF his court. The
truth is that these salaried posts are
used to reward party services and to Sc
cure the fidelity of party supporters
mainly those Of peers. II this outlay be
deemed desirable, then the funds for
such services should be voted in the es-
Inmates. There ougnt not TO TURK, under
the shelter Of the civil list, secret fund
| outside the control Of parliament for the