The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-23
LAW HOLDS THE KING IN CHECK
Some Things the Sovereign of Great
 Britain is Forbidden to Do.

If the owner of the biggest nd most valuable business in Great Britain were to write to the King offering him a half ness for nothing 1t would be impossible for the occupant of the throne to accept this general proposal. Just as no clergy man nor officer may combine business with his profession, so the King must not become partner with a subject.
 Neither can he be a tenant nor hold anything ''in service" from one of his subjects. The old law on the subject declares this to be beneath the King 8 post of executor under will, but may not act. He must appoint some one to do! the work for him. for he is supposed to have his hands too full with State du- ties to attend to trivial private affairs.
 Although. as may be known. the mon arch may dispense with his Cabinet and most of his civil servants, yet he can not discharge the Privy Council, but is obliged to can their aid In deIberation. What is more, it is against the British Constitution for the King to preside over the Privy Council Queen Anne was the last occupant of the throne to do so. And, although the original appointment of members of the Privy Council is a royal privilege. vet the King may not select any foreigner-that is, one born out of the Kingdom and not or British parentage-to serve
 In the reign of George III the Privy Council discussed how far the King mandates must be obeyed by his sub iects, and came to the conclusion that the law of the land would not permit the King to prohibit new buildings be- ing erected in London nor his forbidding the making of starch from wheat.
 The King cannot exempt any class Of his subjects from duties imposed upon them by act of Parliament. This was proved when a charter was granted to a certain college of physicians exemptlng them from the militia tax. After a pig Iax ha iuAerneDt in tllS in- stance against the crown. Nor IS the King at liberty to compel anyone to iend him money. The petition of right wnich contained this stipulation meant 1t as strong hint that taxes were in future to be collected by the orders or ParIament' not of the crown.
 Although the King may pardon a male factor, he cannot send him or any other man to prison of his own authority, nor has he the power of life or death over any of his subjects. He has. In fact, no legal power. for he may not appoint a justice or any commission of the peace. The High Sheriff is the only funcuonary of the kind whom he personally ana uh- aided may appoint.
 The King may not quarter soldiers or sailors upon any subject. and though he may dismiss an army. may not raise one He may not interfere with elections or any kind, nor suspend any law, and all sorts of statutes guard against his med ding with the privileges Of parliament.
  from the House. nor in any way make them suffer for any utterance within its sacred precincts. Another peculiar hni- cation to the royal prerogative of pardon is that no pardon under the great seal is pleadable to an impeachment by the Commons. ~
 The King may make q will dealing with his private property, but though during life the crown jewels are ms property. he cannot will them away. If he marry a Roman Catholic a King of England is liable to lose his throne. It is necessary that he be 2 member ol the Established Church of England. and that ne do not evade any conditions Of the coroDation oath.
 Thourh the King himself cannot be sued without his own permission. yet he is not able to extend this protection to his representatives. the Governors of the various colonies. They have none of the legal responsibility of the sovereign Neither can the King extend his protec- ton to the members of the royal serV- ices. They are not only liable to mar tial but also to the civil law. so long as they are in the Kingdom and under it's Jurisdiction. Finally, even the King cannot in any way interfere with the Ambassadors of foreign powers resident in Great Britain. nor with d warshlp or any other country lying in British har- bor.