Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/563

256 In each of the provinces of the Kingdom: in Turin, Coni, Alessandria, Novara, Aosta, Savoy, Genoa, and Nizza, a Knight Grand Cross or Commander, bearing the title of Provincial Chief, is entrusted with the management or superintendence of the estates of the Order.

When a member shows himself, by some action, unworthy of the Order, the Provincial Chief reports the circumstance to the first Secretary, and the Council, empowered by the Grand Master, pronounce sentence upon the accused. The aspirants to the Order, or those who wish either to found or enjoy a prebendary, by family right, must apply to the Provincial Chief by petition, which is forwarded to the first Secretary, whose duty it is to prevent the admission of unworthy individuals.

The Knights and other officials who are entrusted by the Grand Master with the direction of hospitals, independent of the Order, receive a proportionate remuneration.

With the exception of a sum of 30,000 lire, the revenues of the Order are divided into five parts.

1. Costs of building and administration.

2. Gratuities for real or honorary Knights.

3. Funds derived from nomination fees, &c. applied for the institution of new pensions.

4. Sums for the maintenance of the hospitals of the Order, &c.

5. Reserve fund for miscellaneous outlays, and accidents.

A commission is appointed by the King to review occasionally the Administration of the Order with a view, possibly, to diminish the expenses on the one hand, and increase the reserve fund on the other.

The sum fixed for the Commanderies and pensions, amounts to 200,000 lire, which are divided as follow: five Commanderies at 4000, six at 3000, ten at 2500, twenty-five at 1000,