The New York herald., 1921-08-14
king GEORGE PARES
ROYAL MENU TO AID
HOUSEHOLD SAVINGS
Would Slash Ceremonies,
Too, but British Want His
Dignity Maintained.
100000 POUNDS RELIEF
Parliament May Be Forced to
Give Other Help to Him I'm
!. less Prices Tumble.
100000 POUNDS RELIEF
HpecidI Cable to THE New York HERALD.
Copyright, 1891, by THE New York HERALD.

gpecfaI Cable to THE NEW YonK HERALD.
Copyright, 1891, by THE New YonK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau.
! London, Aug. 13.
King George has started to cut down
his food as evidence of his intention
TO economize following the introduc-
tion of a bill In the Commons to make
up the deficit of the royal household.
The train which he took for Bolton
Abbey for a shooting trip this week
had chefs to serve his Majesty's
luncheon on the way. When the King
saw their menu he cut it In half. He
cancelled the cantaloupe and con-
somme, leaving only sole Of lamb,
potatoes and peas.
Further down he struck out poulet
en casserole and coeur de romaine and
changed the dessert from a sumptuous
glace to simple fruit, and finished the
luncheon with petits fours.
SpIendOr Maintained.
If the King had his way about It he
would order a decided reduction in cere-
monial splendor. But he was advised by
The Government that neither Parliament
nor the great mass of the people want
this, as they prefer to maintain the GUS
tomary dignity of the crown.
The King, however, had made ener-
Hetic efforts to economize in the house
hold and had appointed committee to
see If further reductions could not be
put into effect before the bill was intro
duced. The bill proposes to allow the
Duchy Of Lancaster to realize 100000
for revenue. 1t is figured that this tenn
porarfly will relieve the financial anx-
leties Of the royal household. But IL
prices do not fall 1t is intimated that an
adjustment of the civil list-the Kings
expense account-will be necessary.
The King exceeded his allowance by
A46.O00 last year. This year the deficit
a likely to be still more. The deficits
began in 1919, when the royal house,
hold was E24.000 short.
Austen Chamberlain, Lord OF the
Priyy Seal, In introducing the bill ex-
plained that during the war the King
took a leading part In cutting expenses
that were not absolutely necessary.
Thus he not only was able to carry on
without a deficit, but In 1915 was able
70 make voluntary contributions OF more
Than 100000 to the Treasury. he m
tended to make further donations 70 IL,
but was advised to give them TO war
charities.
~ was not until after the war that
sAa civil list. which totals f515,000 an
r,,allv. became inadequate. Higher
nrices made state functions more ex-
nensive. Salaries, pensions and ex-
rsenses OF the household became greater.
Mr. Chamberlain said that the Govern
ment had in mind to ask for supple
mentary civil list. The King, mindful
Of the se-scus state of national finances,
showed his public spirit and would not
assent to any action which would involve
an additional charge on the public
funds.
Mr.. Chamberlain explained that while
prices had more than doubled the King 8
expenditures were only fourteen per
cent. in excess of the provisions of the
civil list made In 1910. The object OF
me present bill merely Is to enable the
King to tide over the present emergency
hnd to liquidate the deficiency Of the last
Hro years and the prospective deficit
Che coming year. The Government said
i hoped prices would fall so that no ad-
Austrnent Of the civil list would be nee
essary.
victoria Had Surplus.
A serious discussion of the finances
Of the British throne arose In Queen
victoria's time Certain men claimed
that large savings had been made and
insisted that legally such savings should
be refunded to the Treasury instead Of
being transferred to her Majesty pri-
vate banking account. Sam Story, Men,
ber OF Parliament, estimated In 1889
that the accumulations of these unex-
pended balances amounted to f3 900. 900.
Gladstone disputed the truth Of tho es-
timate.
The question recurred in 1910 when
the civil list was drawn. King George
always has shown himself more con-
siderate of the interests Of the taxpayer
than any of his predecessors. One rea-
son why the civil list has to be helped
out ie that while during the war the
state functions were few and simple the
King surrendered the surpluses for the
common good. 80 that now there Is
nothing left with which to meet the
emergency.
In addition TO the civil list the Prince
- Wales receives $4,000 yearly from
revenues from his Duchy of Cornwall
The. remainder of the royal household,
headed by the Queen Mother Alexandra,
receives f1b3.o00 yearly from the civil
List