The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-01-20

lean. One of his first acts was TO issue
a decree providing that only those Car
dinaIs who resided in Curia and who did
not enjoy the revenues of a diocese We're
to draw this allowance from the Papal
treasury. Under the present admins
tration, many other cconotmcai measures
have been introduced. The salaries OF
great number of prelates have been re-
duced: the number OF Vatican employees
greatly diminished and the contributions
for schools and colleges in the pontfflca!
States and in Rome reduced, FOR TINS
latter purpose Leo XIII. has commandea
the more wealthy religious orders to 1uf-
uish funds. 1t is for this reason that the
Carthusian monks pay 100000 Il year out
Of the income which they derive from the
sale of the famous Chartreuse for the
support of the French College of Santa
Clara in Rome, and the Benedlctlnes
nave been obliged to build and support
at their own expense the new University
of st. -Anse!mo, in the same city.
Leo Mi. has certainly succeeded IN
saving more money than Plus IN. left at
his death, and it is estimated that at the
close of the Holy Year the contingent
fund of the Holy See amounted to at
least $50 go This immense fortune IS
carefully protected against any claim that
might pe advanced by the family OF the
Pope after his death This is necessary,
lDf at TIE utitll VI Tie L oJC = ID St'-'N'-t1
airy for his nearest blood relatives to
take possession of all articles of value
found in his apartments. Another factor
is the Italian Government, which IS Sald
to be ready to lay hands upon whatever
pontilfcal property it can, even as 1t DID
upon the property of the religious ORDERS
SELLS JEWELRY.
The PoDe has, however, q personal for
tune. N5lich is derived from the gifts
presented personally to him by his adj
mfrers. Large additions to his private in
come are occasionally made by the sale
of all precious articles, which accumulate
from time TO time. In 1889, when Leo
IIlI. celebrated his episcopal Jubilee
many thousand dollars worth of jewelry
and other precious articles were present.
ed to him and shown to the public at
an exhibition in the Vatican. All the mag
nificent Church vestnents, chalices, mons
frances, pixies and sacred vessels OF SILVER
and gold have since found their way to
poor churches and converts, but the num-
erous articles Of jeWelry and loose gems
have been disposed of by Mousignor Mar
z0lini. the Pope's confidential secretary
at private sale.
The proceeds OF these sales went t
Increase the private fund of the Holy F
Their. 1t was formerly his custom to he
his personal money hidden in a wood
box behind the book shelves in his pr!VaI
study. but not long ago $4,000, whil
he had placed in this box, mysterious
disappeared. This led the Pope to reauz
that more modern methods for the car
of his money We're advisable, and a bufs
lar-rroof safe, Of which he alone knoH
the combination has recently been 1A
stalled in his apartments.
UNLIMITED POWER,
Although 1 have spoken only OF the ac
tual money that comes into the contrc
- yIp mt
represents the whole of his resources lie
XIII. is really the absolute master
ALI Catholic Church property all over IN
world In neutrality-suspicious. countries
church property in each diocese IS AetG
in the name of tie bishop, VINO mas 'Es
power TO sell, mortgage. exchange or Ge
whatever he wishes with 1t. However, he
dare not do anything without permission
from Rome, as he holds his position sole
Nv at the pleasure of the Pope whose
tand is actually the controlling one LII
catholic countries like Italy. Spain, France
aud Austria ecclesiastical property Is
generally held in the name OF the MUM
cipal corporation, but even in such places
the Holy Father exercises q power that
places aim at the real head OF affairs
The property of the religious orders IS
held. as a rule. in the name OF their
generals at Rome, but tue generals can
he, removed by the Pope, so that IN the
case OF the orders also. the Pope is the
real controller of the property. In this
way the present Pontiff is the master
and practical owner OF property worth
hI1 dreds of millions Of dollars, the legal
hoIGer. OF which he can appoint or re-
move at his pleasure It is therefore a
safe statement that no man in the world
controls so vast a property at Leo Nil.
and old man though he is, he wieids a
financial power that is unsurpassed