Omaha daily bee., 1911-11-12
WHAI KINGS cANNoT DO
Freedom Sf Action HObhIed by Eti-
auetts, PsIitics, Religion
and Law,

/
Freedom Sf Action HObbIed by Eu-
auette, PsIltics, Religion
| and Law.
II may sound q uttle curious. but there
are quite a number Of things which, de-
tpite his exalted position az sovereign OF
the realm, King George V cannot do.
These disabilities range over al sorts Of
matters and concern etiquette, politics.
rellgion ana law. To besin with
etlqustte, Il is an established practice
that his majesty must never call upon
or grant an audience 20 q foreign mon
arch except in the presence Of q respou-
tlble minister. Etiquette also preeiudes
him from accepting a sift, which loyal
subject may wish 20 make him. should,
however. the silt be a joint offering, the
prohibition does not apply. This enables
king George 20 accept coronation gifts
which are subscribed for BY nunher
OF people together
A king never writes letter to anybody
outside his family circle. All other eorre- Z
spondenee has TO be conducted through
one Of hls secretaries. Nor does ISinE
C3eorge accept Invitations 70 dine or stop
with a subject. What he does when he
wishes 20 pay such q Wait IN to invite
himself. Another strictly observed point
OF etiquette Is that on ascending the
throne a king shall withdraw frofn any
clubs to which no has hitherto belonged.
Similarly he cannot be q Free Maeen,
and IL he happens 20 be one ne the date
Of his accession he must resign from the
craft. King George. however, has not
been initiated.
Even In affairs OF the heart a
sovereign must bow TO the viii OF others.
Although King Cophetau might have
loved and shared his throne with a beg
GRr-maid. the royal marriages act would
render the occurrence OF any such roma
.. tic union impossible in England. Mem
bers OF the blood royal must have the
sanction OF Parliament before they can
marry; and this would certainly not be
, accorded unless the birth and position OF
! the lady we're beyond rcpFosch.
/ An English kings position toward the
! law Ia somewhat peculiar, Theoretically
4 he is above the law. In practice, however
7 he has 20 obey It Just as have his sab
iects. lie must observe the established
v legal system Of the country. ANY royal
o proclamation which he Issues is only
n binding insofar as It Is founded upon an
Il existing law. II cannot alter the common
n law or create new offeBse. Nor cen q
. the star chamber, or add 10 the jurisdic-
IS ton OF his court By a special act OF
y Parliament Il has been decided that u
, his majesty were 10 lose an action
~ brought against him by the revente au-
70 thorlties he would be liable for the pay
y ment Of costs.
= by the law Of the land tile king eau
y not possibly commit an offeuse. ANY
~ injury or wrong suffered by a subject at
o his hands has to be attributed TO the
= mistake OF his advisers" Hence. II hap
:. pens that King George is the only per-
|, son In Great BritRin who cannot arrest
!. q suspected felon. even u such a one were
- TO be seen by him entering Buckingham
u palace or Windsor castle The reason
~ for this IL because no action for wrong
"a fpl arrest could lie against him. and
NJ therefore, II the person arrested BY him
re- were proved innocent there would then
lg be a WRONG without . remedy Another
10 legal disability Of the king ~ that he Is
barred OF all rights in matters relating
10 land after a lapse OF sixty years. He
10 also prohibited from serving on a
~ jury or from giving evidence.
" Until 50 comparatively recent a period
as 1870, IL q subject were convicted OF
.. treason OF felony. the king could claim
Q his property. Another lapsed perogative
0 OF the crown is one known as ''corody."
2 During Its existence . king who wanted
a 20 advance the interests OF a royH
s chaplain could compel q bishop to supports
such n clergyman until . benefice had
a been found for him. Nowadays he has not
IN even the right Of founding bishopriS
or or creating ecclesiastical jurisdiction
- similarly. he must always be O member
n OF the Church Of England and cannot
m change his religion.
IN The theory that the king "reigns. bal
O. does not govern" is amply borne out b.
g. the political system OF the country. Will,
er the members OF Parliament are his ma.
jssty's faithful commons" the have Ger
n tain privileges which he himself does no
d. possess. Thus King George can summer
IN or prorog1e Parliament at VIII. but h,
~ cannot prolong II beyond definite period
nc Similarly, he Is absolutely debarred from
y" imposing any sort OF taxation whatever
40 without first occurring the consent Of Par
% lament. So jeaiouEly guarded Is thi'
privilege that q king cannot create neN
~ Officers with new fees or annex new fee
~ TO existing officers. as such a cours,
-, would be considered as imposing fresl
tax. In bygone times, however. when al
Nj, English monarch was in want OF funds HI
,rl would levy taxes tight ard left and with
a. out asking anybody. The prerogRtive o
a comforting compulsory knishthoed upon I
"a subject has also been abolished Thii
n proved q substantial source Of income, a
on individuals who refused the honor war'
* compelled TO pay fine. Before Charles
elk ii mounted the throne sovereign ha'
ay several other ways 81 keeping down hi
en- bills One OF these was the right OF puI'
on chasing provisions al valuatiOn--gen
ie- orally his own--and a second way wa
nd that OF impressing for royal use an
ire horses or carriages that he fancied
Crown lands, too, are now held In trus
er- and King George cannot dispose OF o
lt- give away a single acre OF such property
'ill while II IS possible that before verl
Ia- long there will be votes. for women
there will never be votes for kings.
lat The franchise does not extend TO Englisl
M Inonarchs. King George is one OF tn
eh few men possessing a genuine stake n
Oh the country without the privilege o
recording a vote.-HeFaee wyndham Il
the Bellman.