The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1904-03-23
PENsEONED ARIsTocRATs.
Arc Enriched by a Crate
fuI Country.

wrong ABOUT system WHICH OD1i66e
the nation to pay away tens of thou
sands of pounds in yearly pensions to
men who have never so much as raised
their hands to earn them, and only
claim them because some ancestor OF
other, remote though interesting de-
served well Of his country, says an
English exchange.
The present and fourth duke of Wei
lington receives a pension of $4,000 G
year direct from the government be-
cause the first duke was great and
successful general. The Iron duke
himself recei- ed about 9400,000, and
no one will venture to assert that that
was more than adequate to mark the
nations gratitude "for services rem
dered,7 but since his death consider
able more than e100,000 has been paid
to his heirs on account of the same
services in which they had, of course,
no part or influence whatever.
The present Lord Nelson is an esti-
mable peer of the realm and deserving
OF the utmost degree of respect, but
that there is any real cause why he
should receive $4,000 year from the
nations purse in the form of a pension
because his father happened to be
nephew of the hero of Trafalgar is
open to doubt Over 100000 has been
paid by the nation to the first Lord
Nelson and his successors in title, and
SO long as the peerage exists $4,000
year will 60 to the holder of the
title.
The pension of $4,000 to the dukes
OF Marlborough has ceased, having
been settled by the late duke some Is
years ago in consideration of a lump
sum of 100000 being paid him. But
for more than 100 years $4,000 was
regularly paid by the nation to men
who were merely descendants of the
great duke. Practically half a million
of money was paid on account of the
victor of Blenheim to people with abso-
lutely no claim upon the nations graf
itude.
But the biggest pension on the ma
tion's pay sheet is that paid to the
duke of Richmond, which amounts to
$4,000 a year, a sum equal to the
interest on a huge fortune of $780,
600 invested at per cent This splen-
did pension was given by George III.
in 1899 to the duke of Richmond in
consideration of his forfeiting his right
to levy tax Of one shilling a ton on
the coal exported from the Tyne, which
right had been made over to the heads
Of the Richmond family by Charles II.
Of course, in this case there is mate
rial consideration, as the lawyers say,
for the duke who made arrar rgements
with King George was depriving his
successors of rights which were un-
doubtedly of great value as a source of
income. But the agreement saved sue
ceeding dukes Of Richmond from a deal
of trouble in leyying and enforcing the
rate, for after that they had nothing to |
do but to count the money as it came |
in at the rate of about SO guineas a
day.
In the reign Of Charles H. an ancestor
Of the duke of Grafton had the peculiar
right of selecting for his own use as
much of the wines imported into certain
districts Of the kingdom as he wanted
and paying for it at his own valuation,
which was generally quite nominal. The
right descended to the dukes of Grafton,
but early last century the gentleman
who was the head of the family at ths
period abrogated il on condition that
he and his successors to the title should
receive pension of eG,S7O from the
nations Golfers. Thus. for about 95
years successive dukes of Grafton have
regularly been paid this very nand-
some annuity and have received con-
more than e650,00 for do
ing absolutely nothing.
Datil two or three yeas ago the duke
Of Norfolk-one of the richest peers.
,oo-was in receipt Of a pension Of $40
a year. because an ancestor of his, the
earl Of Surrey. distinguished himself
nearly 400 years ago on Flodden field.
Forty pounds is not much, certainly not
worth q rich mans acceptance; but this
rifing annual payment has run away |
with e15,500, plus a further $500 cash
-tNli. -l-NA LAC BlNEtAl uuht dctEUI6Q ]
IS settlement Of the pension.
Lord Rodney receives a pension of
C. 600 for being the lawful owner of
hat title, which a certain gallant sailor
made famous more than 12O years back
ly pulverizing the Spanish feet that I
vas attaching Gibraltar. Nearly a {
laarter Of q million sterling has been 4
aid the Rodney family on account OF
heir great ancestors prowess. and The
resent peer of that name alone has re-
eivsd e7S,o0O as his share Of this per
Ietual pension. I
Three thousand pounds a year is paid
o Niscount Hardinge because his IA
hers father greatly distinguished him !
elf in india. In this way e170.OOO has
asseo from the treasury into the pock-
is Of the three Viscounts Hardinee.
ord Napier cf 1laedala. has received
e goo year since 1890. making e24-
80 up 10 date. on account OF the frst o