The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-11-23 00:00:00

TAXATION IN ITALY.

To anybody desirous of arriving at the truth con-
cerning the economical situation of Italy, its products
and its burdens, its progress and its degrees of pros-
perity, it is rather disheartening to receive such con-
flicting accounts as one often does of what ought to be
mere matters of fact, admitting of no difference of
opinion (writes the correspondent of The Times, from
Rome). One has to be on his guard against the inac-
curacy which is only too common in this country, Even
among persons whose education and position ought,
one wouid think, to be a guarantee azainst it. It is
right also to be cautious in accepting much that is said
is disparagement of the administration ot the country,
and eepecialy of the tax-collecting department. Hereis
a country of 25 millions of inhabitants, of which a very
large proportion are so poor that it is scarcely possible to
get much out of them in the way of taxation. The grist
tax touches them all, even to the lazzarone who lives on
a handful of macaroni; but beyond that it is little
indeed that can be got from people who possess a
little. Of the classes that have something to tax, it is
the poorer which feel the pressure most, although it is
often from the richer ones that the loudest grumbling
is heard. I take it that in proportion to the popu-
lation the number of persons who have to supply
the bulk of the revenue required by the State is
smaller than in most other countries, and this is
what makes the shoe pinch so severely. On the
other hand, the Government, driven to every kind
of expedient to make the two ends meet, spurs ita
subordinates to vigilance and rigour, and they,
anxious to obey and fearful of disgrace, not unfre-
quently, if half of what is said is true, press unfairly
upon the taxpayer. I have repeatedly been told by
persons who appear to me worthy of credit of a practice
which, if itreally exists, is an abuse and an injustice.
It is that of taxing people on a fictitious value, higher
than the income which their property really yields.
a man has a house, and he lets a part of it for
10,000 f. a year, and returns that sum as the amount on
which he ehould be taxed. The fiscal authorities, to
whom the house is I,,erfectly well known, are not
satisfied with this. 'I be iouse or apartment is worth
more they say; he ought to let it for 15,000 f., and on
this they levy the tax. A curious case in point
has been related to me as having occurred a short
time ago in Rome and been taken as a theme for
attacks upon the Government by the Opposition
Press. A palazzo in Rome was let to the Govern-
mint for 25,000 f. a year. After a time the tax-gatherer
came and was dissatisfied. He could not accept the
return; the palace was worth more, and should be let
for more; he must levy on 35,000 f. "But," said the
luckless owner, "The palace is let to the State, it is
applied to Government purposes; by what manner of
justice can I be made to pay a tax to the State on a
higher rent than it pays me for any property ? " The
collector of revenue was obdurate—he would only see
through his own spectacles ; the matter was referrred,
and hew it ended I have not heard—if, indeed, it be
ended at all.