The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-06
THE KINGS SALARY.
EngIaad's Ruler Much More Expen-
aive Than Our President.


sIve Than Our President.
From the indianapolis News.
The King Of England and the President
Of the United States are alike In one re-
spect-they are both dependent on their
respective peoples for their salary and
allowances, the purse strings being held
by Parliament in one case and by Con-
gress in the other. The methods of doing
things differ in the two countries, but
they amount to the same In the end, and
the people foot the bills. But Kings cost
much more than Presidents. Some people
thought it a big raise" when the Presl-
dents salary was increased from $4,000
to $4,000 a year, with $4,000 year for
travelling expenses. but the British King
and royal family cost good many times
as much
At the beginning of every reign an an
nual sum is settled on the King by Par
! lament, and, in addition, allowances are
made for each member OF his family and
for all the expenses pertaining to the
royal household and TO maintaining the
/ honor and dignity of the Crown. Under
the British system these expenditures
constitute ''the civil list" and the ac-
count is kept separate from the ordinary
| expenses of the government Formerly
| certain sources OF revenue, called "hered-
| itary revenues" were settled on the
/ crown, out Of which not only the royal
/ expenditures proper, but the expenses OF
/ the civil service, everything except the
army and navy. were TO be paid. Under
/ this system the King could use the rev.
| enues as he liked, and If he saved any
] ~ Z 20 a~fN 70
while if he ran in debt or created def
! icit Parliament paid It. The accumulated
/ debt at the end of a reign sometimes
amounted to many millions Of dollars.
! The present system of making what
might be called specific appropriations for
/ the Crown dates from the reign or George
/ III, when the national debt was so enor-
mously increased by the American war
| that the people demanded reform, espe-
cially in the abuses of the civil list and
| in the practice Of comforting life pen
| sions on royal favOrites. In 17S2 Parlia-
meEt passed a civil list act abolishing
many useless Offices, reducing the pen
sion list. and providing for closer super
vision Of the royal expenditures. During
the reign Of George III, Parliament paid
debts of his contracting amounting 10
! SIG $4,000. and from that time forward
Parliament made specific appropriations
for the Crown.
At the beginning Of Queen Victoria's
reign the annual grants for the Crown
| were fixed. and sums voted as follows
Privy purse. 100000; salaries of house
hold, s656300; expenses Of household. $780,
900; royal bounty, $4,000; contingent, $40
900; total, 81, 925 900 In addition the Queen
might grant life pensions, not 70 exceed
5000 a year in any case. TO persons whom
she might consider worthy, provided that
all pensions granted should be reported &c
Parliament by the 10Th of July Of each
year.
On the accession Of King Edward VII
0901) it became necessary TO readjust the
civil list, and a committee was appointed
10 investigate and report on the subject
The committee reported bill, which wa.
passed, increasing the annual appropria
ton for the civil list from $685., 00e 4
s.. $4,000, distributed as follows: Theil
majestles' privy purse. $550.000; seconS
class salaries Of royal household, s629, coo
third class expenses Of royal household
$3.50 600; repair and decoration OF roya
palaces. 800 900: royal bounty and aims
sec, 600; contingent. $4,000 In addition Par
lament granted an annual allowance o
$4,000 to the Prince OF Wales, $4,000 I,
his wife, and $4,000 each 10 the King
three daughters, and other special grants
BY the death OF King Edward Queer
Alexandra comes into a life pension o
SS50000 a year, and all of the surviving
children of Queen Victoria continue I,
draw life pensions.
] II is not likely there viii be any ma
terial reduction in the civil list granite,
George Y from that of King Edward
which totaled s2,S50,oOO a year. Compares
with this. the Presidents salary Of S75, %
I year. with 81. 600 for travelling expenses
does not seem excessive.