The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1904-03-24
pENsIorED ARIsrocRArs.
Enslishmen of the Upper Glasses who
Are Enriched bs a Crate
fuI Country.


the nation to pay away tens OF thou
sands Of pounds IA yearly pensions to
men who have never SO much as raised
their hands to earn them, and only
claim them because some ancestor or
other, remote though interesting, de-
served well Of his country, says an
English exchange.
The present and fourth duke qf Well
naeton receives q pension Of $4,000
year direct from the government be-
cause the first duke was a great and
successful general. The Iron duke
himself reooieed about ei00,00o, and
no one will venture 10 assert that that
was more than adequate to mark the
nations gratitude FOR services rem
dered." but since his death consider
able more than ei000o0 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 e5,00o a year from the
nations purse In the form Of a pension
because his father happened to be q
nephew OF the hero Of Trafalgar IS
open to doubt Over 100000 has been
paid by the nation TO the frst Lord
Nelson and hts successors In title, and
so long as the poerage exists $4,000
a year win 90 to the holder Of the
title.
The pension OF $4,000 to the dukes
cf Marlborough has ceased. having
been settled by the late duke some Is
years ago IN consideration Of a lump
sum OF f10700O being paid him. But
for more than 100 years $4,000 was
re ularly paid by the natlcn 10 men
who were merely descendants OF the
great duke. Practically half a nlllion
OF money was paid on account Of the
victor Of Blenheim to people with abso-
lutely no claim upon the nations grat-
itude
But the biggest pension on the ma
tons pay sheet is that paid TO the
duke Of Richmond, which amounts to
Gt9000 q year. a sum equal TO the
interest on a huge fortune Of case
0o0 Invested az per cent This spleu-
did pension was given by George III.
IN 1923 TO the duke of Richmond In
consideration Of his forfeiting his right
to levy a tax Of one shilling 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 arrangements
with King George was deprivlug his
successors Of rights which were un-
doubtedly Of great value as a source Of
income. But the agreement Eayed cue
ceeding dukes Of Richmond from a deal
OF trouble II leyyIug and enforcing the
rate. for after that they had nothing TO
do but 70 count the money as Il came
In ct the rate Of about 50 guineas
day.
IN the reign q Charles II. an ancestor
Of TIE duke Of Grafton had The peculiar
rieht Of se.ectlng for his own use as
much Of che vines imported into certain
districts % the t.aedom as be wanted
and paying for q a bis own valuation.
whlca vas generally quite nominal The
right descended o .he dukes of Grafton.
bur early lazf ce1,ury she gentleman
Who was the head ol the family q;
period abrogated l. en- condition that
he and his aaeea saors 10 the title should
receive g pension Of e6.S70 from the
natiun'g Golfers Thus. for about IS
years successive dukes Of Grafton haze
regularly been pald this very nand-
some annuity and have received con
siderablg more than eG5o00o for do
III sbco'uieIy nothing.
Untli two or three ytals ago the duke
Of NoTfelk-one d the riches; peers.
too-Has ln receipt of apens.on Of Gao
r year because ar ancestor of hia. the
earl of surrty urussbsd himself
nearly 40 years ago on Fiadden field.
Fcriy aoanea r naf u.gch certainly not
worth . rich mau's acceptance: but this
tA AisHtHH aANtasaa aA# aasAAA Asta run away
with Gi55oa plus a further es00 cash
l0Hu whlch The present cuke accepted
Is e settlement o. the pension
Lord Rodney receives a pension Of
z 900 for being the lawful owner Of
tla' title. which a certain gallant sailor.
made famous more than 12o years back
By puiyeriaing the Spanish 1eet that
vas attaching Gibraltar Nearly q
quarter Of : million sterling has been
paid The Rodney family on account of
their great ancestors proves. and the
prezent peer q that name alone has re-
ceiyed e7so00 as his share of this per-
peiual pension
Three thousand pounds a year IL paid
70 Viaeount Hardiuge because bis IA
there father greatly distiagulshed him
SELF IN india In this way cI7o.0O0 has
passed from the treasury into the pocI-
cts of the three Vise0unfs Hardlnge
Lord Napier. q Maedala. has received
& z. 30 g year since 1880. making Ezf.-
go 20 70 date on account Of the arrt
Lord Naufer's ranaulfearf faafs - .stt.