The Calumet news., 1912-09-16
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
SIG ENGLISH PENSIONS



Great Britain pays away between
es5.Ooo ana 10000 year in annui-
ties and pensions. and the majority
OF the recipients have done nothing 20
deserve them. They get the money
because they happen to be the descend
ants OF individuals who'long ago were
awarded these annuities.
Among the largest of these perpetual
pensions is that received by the Duke
OF Richmond and Gordon, which runs
into elS.0O0 year. The origin OF
this payment goes away back to the
IA duty OF L shilling on every chaldron
of Goals shipped out of the River Tyne
and used in England. This duty was
paid To her successors until Charles III.
gave IL away To the first Duke of Rich
mond. He and his heirs received, IL
time of George H., IL was commuted for
the present yearly sum, Nhich is known
IN the eXehequer as the Richmond
shilling"
Another instance is that of the
Sehomberg pension, which William III.
bestowed on d favorite Hollander of
that name for his military services.
lie granted the sum of 1000 a year
to this family in perpetuity. and,
though portions CT it have been COM
muted or sold In a lump sum 10 the
government at different times, there IL
still paid out over c 200 TO people who
are I'm some remote way connected
with The original Schombergs. An
other cf the same kings annuities Is
still being paid To the heirs of Lord
dAuvrequerquc. Henry de Nassau. his
heirs and assigness forever, In consid-
GRAFTON of his many and faithful ssrv-
ices even though they were of a
rather sinister political nature Two
| thousand pounds was the original by
successive heirs till at the present day
he yearly annuity is reduced To f375
| l5s
In the reign of Charles ii. duty
upon imported wire was presented to
the first Duke Of Grafton. Henry fitz~
roy. In the beginning OF the. last
century the then duke commuted this
duty for The yearly pension OF e6,s70,
and his fortunate SUCCESSORS Yet re-
ceivo this ample income Tor which they
have done nothing
\ conspicuous case is that of Lord
! Nelson who is paid c 5000 year by
the nation. just because he is the hold
er of the Nelson :itle, though not dc +.
scended directly from the famous ad-
miral This comfortable annuity is as
sured 10 "all and every the heirs male
| of the title to whom of Earl Mel
son shall descend"
AS ancient fees" the sums OF e6S
and G2O yearly are respectively paid
TO the Duke of Norfolk and the Duke OF
| Rutland though no one can accurately
say how they arose, nor do these an
nuities incur any obligations wbatso..
ever except the pleasant one Of re
ceiving them!
But commoners as we'll as dukes and
lords have their share. of the ''swag'
for doing nothing. The law courts
alone pay over $4,000 in annuities,
many of which are for compensation
| of abolished Offices. For example,
when the law courts were removed
from Westminster twenty odd years
LOGO, ten or twelve 'laundresses" lost,
or were supposed to have lost, their
work. Some of them still receive their
e100 year.
| In the chancery division preacher
at rolls" receives e190 every year, al
though he never utters a word OF II
sermon: just as a laundress or house
| Keeper i'm the same division is paid
e3j every twelve months for doing no
housekeeping, her post having been
| abolished