The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-07-31
KING REEVES PREROGATVE
EngandS Ruler Stands Firm, But Elsewhere Royal Imu-
nifty From Taxation appears to Be Doomed

sovereign grand dukes, endeayOr 70 add
TO their resources by the construction
and the running of hotels and restau-
rants, such as. for instance. the Kaiser,
the Kings Of Sweden and Of Wurtem-
berg. the relgning house OF Bavaria, and
the Grand Duke Of Hesse. it is only
right that they should pay the same
taxes. rates. and license dues as their
rival bonifaces Of less exalted rank
Otherwise the competition is unfair,
and consequently bound TO prove IN
popular And unpopuIarity is a great
peril TO monarchy in these days OF the
twentieth century. when the throne Is no
longer based on divine right, but on the
will-the good wili-of the people For
merly the people were taxed for the
benefit Of royalty. We may yet live 10
see royalty being taxed for the benefit
Of the people.
! Perhaps it may be Of interest 20 add.
here that In Prussia the immunity from
taxation is restricted to the sovereign,
and does not extend 20 the members OF
his family. This was determined by the
Prussian tribunals three years ago. when
the crowd prince was obliged BY their
decision 70 pay taxes on his estate at
Gels But in other monarchical countries
the exemption extends not only']so the
members Of the reignlng family. but even
to foreign royalties. Thus in Austria.
where a number Of formerly reigning
houses have sought refuge. their scions
possess the same exterritorial rights as
foreign ambassadors. and only a short
time before the death Of the ex-Duke OF
Parma. who had been dispOssessed Of his
Italian throne as a mere child and had
spent his entire existence in Austria.
where ne owned immense estates, he in
dignantly resisted the attempt made by
the fiscal authorities to assess him for
small amount in connection with some
real estate. on the ground that he was
exempt from taxation.
There is one poin. TO which Il IS nee
essary to draw attention in conclusion,
namely. that there is no country in the
world, with the possible exception OF
Liechtenstein and Monaco, that con-
tributes so little 70 the maintenance Of
The chief magistrates OF the United
States. France. Mexico. and OF every
Central and South American republic,
and even the President OF Switzerland.
with its insignificant emoluments OF 1900
a year. cost more 10 their respective ma
lions than King George and the members
OF hts family.
/ The British colonies. 10 begin with. do
not contribute a single penny piece, while
/ the Crown property which belongs 10
/ King George, ex OficiO. as a life tenant.
much in the same way as the majority
Of the territorial magnstes OF England
/ hold their entailed ancestral estates. and
which he has IN accordance with the Gus
\ tom set by his father and his grand
mother. Queen Victoria. reIinquished for
/ the duration OF his reign. to the national
! treasury. Yields 10 the latter far great
er revenue than the amount Of the $3.50. .
/ 000 which has just been voted 70 him as
/ civil list
/ Owing TO the careful management and
! extraordinary development OF the Crown
property. coupled with the amazing
/ growth In the value Of building land
during the last seventy years. the treas
ury was able during the greater portion
Of Queen Victoria's reign 10 net profits
Of $4,000 per annum and during the
last thirty years. OF over 100000 a year
/ from the proceeds OF the Crown property.
after all the expenses Of its manage
ment. and the civil list Of the sovereign.
/ and the allowances OF the princes and
] princeSses of the reigning house had
| been deducted.
So that instead OF the English royal
family having been 4 source Of any ex-
/ pense 70 the national excheQUer, it has
! benefited the state financially 10 the ex-
/ tent OF some SS5.OOOOO0; that is TO say.
the royal family has relieved the British
! taxpayer from that amount OF fiscal
/ burden. thanks 10 the extremely advan-
tageous bargain concluded by Parliament
with Queen Victoria seventy-three years
ago. and which has now been renewed
for the duration OF his reign by her
/ grandson. King George V.
| Copyright 1910. By the Brentwood Company