The Czar’s Economies.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 471, 14 May 1890, Page 3

The Czar’s Economies.

Of late Vanity Fair’ says) the Czar has been effecting some great economical reforms at his Court, being annoyed at the terrible waste and frauds which have been perpetrated upon him. The Emperor has begun with the Civil List. For instance, the allowance to the Empress of £60,000 a year bas been reduced to one-half, a number of offices have also been curtailed, while his Majesty’s Staff has been reduced. When the present Czar ascended the throne the imperial entourage nambered 405 persons, and this has now been reduced to 143, fifteen beingmembersof the imperial family. As anexampleofthemanner in which money has been wasted, it may be mentioned that some functionary has been drawing £l5O a year for ‘ lip-salve !’Th e item attracted notice; and, upon inquiry, it was discovered that the man’s predecessors in office had been drawing this sum ever since the time of Catherine 11., through that august lady having once, when suffering from chapped lips, ordered a box of the article. The abuses discovered in the imperial kitchens and stables are said to be something appalling. In order to put a stop to these, the Czar has intrusted the entire management of the imperial household to his friend and adviser Count Worontzow-Daschkow, who is a man of high integrity and business capacity ; while the supervision of the imperial palaces is in future to be maintained by a special board.