The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-12
Celebrated Through Centuries
fo- It's Independence With
Regard to Thrones.
ny La MARaUIsE DIE F'oNTENoY.

bN LA MARQUISE DE FONTENOY.
T 7 oLLAND is perhaps the mos,
democratic monarchical state in
Europe. and has been celebrated
through centuries for it's indepcn-
dence with regard to thrones. Yet the
states General that is TO say. the ma
tional legislature. in discussing the
proposed amendments of the Consti-
tuition, have by an overwhelming vote
insisted that all royal proclamations,
which now begin I'VE. Wilhclmine
King OF the Netherlands should in
future run as follows: I'VE, WiIhel-
mine. by the grace OF God, King of
the Netherlands" on the ground that
since all human power emanates from
God, it should not be LACKING either
from royal proclamations or from the
provisions OF the national Constitu-
ton.
Although no Sale law prevails in
the Netherlands. yet the sovereign
power is vested by the Constitution IN
a King. and that is why Wilhelmine
in all Dutch official documents is re-
ferred TO. not as the Queen" but as
the King
Another amendment of tho Constitu-
ton accepted by the States General,
and watch is certain TO pass. provides
that in the event OF the crown of the
Netherlands passing TO a foreign prince
occupying another throne he must re-
nounce the latter within n period OF
ninety days, failing which he torfeits
forever all his rights to the sover
eighty Of Holland.
The civil list of the monarch is In
creased by tho terms of the amend
ment from 100000 to 100000 torins.
which is less than 100000. queen
Wilhelmine receives as much more
from the crown domains. Fortunately,
however. she Is wholly independent OF
these revenues. since she enjoys one
of the very largest private fortunes of
any ruler in Europe, the foundations
of which were laid by King William J.
in the prosecution OF vast enterprises
tending TO raise the commerce of the
Netherlands. both in Europe and in the
Orient.
The sovereign, her daughter and
any son 10 whom she might give birth,
and who would bear the title of Prince
OF Orange, are exempt by the amend
ments from all taxation. no matter
Of what kind But neither the Queen
Mother nor Queen Wilhelmine's con
sort. Prince Henry of the Netherlands.
enjoys any such immunity.
Another amendment requires the
consent not only OF the sovereign, but
also Of the states General for the
marriage Of any member of the Dutch
without legislative consent are ipso
facto invalid.
Finally. the amendments OF tho
Constitution provide for simuiiica-
ton of the methods of naturalization.
Al present the latter is a matter OF
considerable difficulty, requiring the
enactment of special bill in each
case. For the future, a law is to be
devised covering. all applications for
cit ni in i.i, tril no. tod hN
the government without further ref
erence to Parliament. If the provisions
are complied with.
The first Constitution after Hollands
reconstruction as a kingdom was
given in 1873. and amendments have
been voted in 1915 and in 1885,.
One feature of the series OF project
ed amendments which deserves attcn-
ton is the expectation expressed
therein of the birth of a male heir to
the throne, who would necessarily
supplant little Princess Juliana, now
the Queens only child. and VINO will
celebrate on the 30th of this month
her fourth birthday.
The new Lord Chancellor OF Ire
land. the Right Hon. Ignatius O'Brien.
halls from Cork and is a Nationalist
and a Roman Catholic. lie has hither-
to been Attorney General and in his
new office will receive n salary of $780,,
600 a year He began life as
porter on the Frecmans Journal, in
Dublin, which has been the nursery
of so many Irish lawyers and govern
ment officials. Called to the bar in
1881. he was shrewd enough to win
the hand OF the daughter OF John II.
allan, one of the leading solicitors of
Dublin. and this naturally had the CT
iect of bringing him "A very large and
lucrative practice, and of assuring his
future, since the members of the Eng
lish and Irish bar are not permitted To
deal directly with their clients, but
are obliged to do so. through solicitors.
1t is the latter who engage their SER
vices and who pay them.
Until the restoration Of Ireland.s
Parliament at Dublin, the Lord Chan
cellor of ireland has no legislative
duties and has TO he content with
presiding over the Court OF Appeal
and of the chanery division of the