New-York tribune., 1908-08-21
IN THE KINGS DEBT
Portugafs Treasury Helped by the
Royal Family.

,r,,,7-ssh. Taos by the Brentwood Company.l
60 much capital has been made in the national
,o.ssla+t1~e al Lisbon and in the Portuguese and
Foreizn press Of the numerous advances made to the
--eienine family during the last twenty-five years
bv the treasury without Parliamentary sanction
mt with the full approval Of thesCabinets in Office
at the time that it is only fair TO cali attention
.o the fact that the late King Carlos, and his
s..be- King Lux before him. at various times
during their reigns ceded from their civil list
sums amounting 81 S10 600 in order 70 relieve and
assist the national exchequer at moments when 1t
x,ss in financial straits. No public mention has
been made OF this. although it is matter of Of
fcfal record. and the IN question more than
orsets the so-caed advances received by the royal
family.
Fortunately Senior Ressano Garcia. one of the
most respected statesmen Of Portugal. who has
been prevented by illness from taking any ac-
tive part in politics during the past year. is about
10 bring the matter forward in the Chamber OF
Peers OF which he is member. he is able TO
speak with authority in the matter. having been
Minister OF Finance during the regns of both
Tlorn LUZ and Dom Carlos, and to be al
most the only former Cabinet Minister who has
no; been frightened by public sentiment and clamor
against the royal family into disavowing all knowl-
.6ee and approval of the advances made 10 the
tu-o kings and 10 respective consorts- These
rBsiIlsnirnous attempts by the statesmen in ques-
1ion 10 dissociste themselves from all connection
with :he advances have in welnigh every instance
heen defeated by political rivals. who were able TO
eh1
the orders given for the payments to the reigning
house II must thoroughly be understood that the
advances 10 the latter were made in order TO de-
f-sy expenses incurred in connection with the SUIT
able reception and entertainment OF foreign rulers
having state visits TO Portugal rulers who have
;nc,6ed the chief magistrates of several republics
namely the Presidents France. of Brazn and OF
Argentina In fact, all the money furnished in this
manner by the treasury devoted 70 official
ulrposes that is 10 say 10 defray expenses whlch
zasSlc nv an
pendent vote Of Congress instead of being saddied
the Executive
OF course the one mistake about the matter was
the failure Of the ministers and Of the Cabinets
responsible for the advances TO subsequently re-
port them Parliament and to receive legislative
snprovsI for what had been done But that Is
ssuIt which must laid at the door OF the minis
,e-E rather than OF the reigning family, and the
widowed Queen Amelie is not far wrong when
she complains that she, as well as her dead nus
hand and her father and mother-ln-iaW nave
heeu sboninably treated and misrepresenpeo oy the
Portuguese snd foreign press, which have heIo up
The royal family greedy plunderers OF tne ma ma
1ionaI treasury without any newspaper pIeSei'iAs
-he true facts of the ard without any OF uhe
statesmen 10 whom she had q right to look Tor
defence explaining matters
rsa endeayors of the present and past ministers
70 save themselves by conveying the impression
thar The two kings and two queens had loopeo tiie
treasury without their knowledge and pehlho lnei.
hacks have ended by disgusting the people anu
now. when old Senior Garcia presents Ii & .ne
Chamber Of Peers the figures showing that the
SIMS surrendered by the civil list TO the treasury
more than cover the amount advanced oy Ihe la'
Ter IN the reigning family, II Will certainty P4
a revulsion in public sentiment, an 10 'Ne GO
-sga Of the Young king The widowed queen aiiie
H. possesses g large independent personal fortune
she received 100000 francs by way OF oo"IS tIo
h. earber the Count Of Paris, on her Iil@i
z -. l,5s death he beaueathed her q fuTther sum
.,f scooooo francs. Among the much criticised &o
noes 10 the royal house she figures for d sum Oh
SO GO and this she had announced her 1HteH'i
20 rensyirr al once out Of her private resources
.ratdless Of the showing OF the ex-flnahce MI
5ster Garcia and Of the testimony IurnlSiieu -
-ba erect that the funds in question were EN-
Moved for purely official purposes -1ous - ss
1rs-ra1 has likewise offered TO gradually pay Oh
,- of his civil list and personal means the sums
--,-ned over without legislative SANCTION 10 i.Is
[arher and grandfather But It Is pr0pa'ie' -
- of The evidence now about TO De 1urnlslieU
Gov The first time by ex-Ffnance Minister oa10i"'
-bz+ his proposal viii be rejected
Meanwhile a very unpleasant impression ii
49,, created abroad by the failure Of the present
administration Of Portugal 10 bring 10 justice NS
cf the instigators Of the murder OF the l3lS I'm
carlos and of his eldest the more so as THESE
tnE13rators are well known and prominent mem
RES moi Of the republican faction, but OF the two
so-caIed nonarchical machines. who were driven
+o despera1ion by the activity OF the ID ia'eu
-,onz-ch and of his premier, Joao Franco III dooi-
,sbinx the spoils system. and the glaring and m
--e5fhIv shameless financial and administrative
sbuses upon which they had until then fatteheo
While the instigators of the assassination are not
s- the present moment office. either al court or
IN the cabinet, they walking about 1ree
I-,oz, and with IIndirlinished regard and honor
NJ Lisbon. uurnolested by the government In fact
the conditions are only very little better than ar
Belgrade where the murderers Of King Alexander
and Queen DraEa still figure in the encourage Of
his successor, King Peter, and high IN the once
Of the state It is for this reason and likewise TO
spare King Manuel unnecessary expense, that for
eign sovereigns viii give the court Of Lisbon
vide berth for many a long year to come