The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-22
N E w ITALY,.
Step by Step Towards a COnStitu-
tiOnaI Government.
PROSPECT

have during the course OF the present parliament
airy session, been occupying the public attention
here and OF the measures by which Sgnor Min
ghetu's cabinet have endeayoreu to regulate them.
And this will now attempt to do as fully as may
be compatible with the space you are able to &C
cord to me-
ITALY AND GEOGRAPHICAL EXPRESSION
When Italy, but the other day ceasing TO be
merely "a geographical expression" was becom-
ing nation, the political wiseacres Of Europe
propnesied all sorts of difficulties ahead ana indl-
Gated shoals OF all sorts on which the chances
were. it was said, that the young nation would
make shipwreck. Civil war would be raised by the
adherents OF the old, dispossessed dynasties. The
riyaries OF the different municipalities would be
found irreconciable Other nations would inter-
fere to dash the cup Of liberty from the lips that
had so long thirsted Tor it. Democratic violence
would render stable government impossible.
But Italy has not been wrecked upon any of these
rocks. Either the threatened dangers never pre-
scented themselves in her course or they
have been overcome. But there was a
danger which nobody taSed about in
those days-a danger OF a more vulgar
nature tnan those difficulties OF sentimen tai kind
which occupied the attention OF the states
men OF Europe-a difficulty which did lie in the
path OF the youngest member of the European fam
lily, as 1t has troubled some OF her seniors-tbat OF
paying her wayi How to make both ends meet.
TINS is the great problem Of the day in Italy this
the real knot OF all the difficulties with which her
statesmen have TO contend. When nations spend
more than their income the excuses they oner are
apt TO be very much OF the same nature with those
ofthe head OF household who falls into the same
error. They must have this, that and the other
costly article. And in the case OF the nation 1t is
generally still more useless than in the OF the
aspiring family for looker-on to protest that ne
cannot see the necessity-as the French judge is
reported to have said to q thief who pleaded that
he must live Italy protests that she must have a
host OF civil servants very much larger than is
found necessary by some other nations who have
Tar more work to do and do it much better !;
and, above all, she must have a large
and powerful army. Soldiers have been called
the playthings OF kings; but it must be admit
ted that In the case we are considering 1t is the
voice of the nation that insists loudly and perss-
tently that Italy must have great army The
other "must have,n above referred to, is the cry
rather or the government ana the heads OF depart
ments, whose interests and hkings in this respect
may easily be understood to be not altogether the
same those OF the body OF the nation. Mean
while, the fact Is that what with the needs of an
excessive civil service OF large military force and
the pressure OF debt already incurred, Italy is not
paying her way. | shall have some remarks to
make presently on each of these three heads o.
expenditure. But with the view of completing the
sketch OF the present political situation here
which I entered on IN my last letter, will frs,
s2eak of the means which Signor Minghetti, our
FINANCE Minister and head OF the Cabinet. II
adopting for the purpose OF dealing with the exist
ing deficit
THE FINANCIAL SITUATION.
The deficit for the current year IS estimated a
100, ,0Oo. large portion OF this sum- how
ever, consists OF expenses undertaken for the com
pletion OF the railway system OF the peninsula
And Slgnor Minghetti reckons that, by spr eadins
this disbursement over several years, the deficit
bearing on 1874 may be reduced by $4,000, Ooof.
leaving s0,0Ooo00f to be provided for. Among
other anticpations OF Signor SeIla, our late Fl
nance Minister, some OF which have not been real
lied, there was estimate, the justice OF which
has been vouched by the results, and which, in
truth forms the brightest spot in the prospect OF
1talys future. signor sena declared some years ago
that an elasticity OF revenue might be reckoned on
In Italy TO the extent OF 1o00o,o 0o. a year.
The sum is not SO large a one as TO take
ones breath away. But, considering the heavy
burden OF MISUNDERSTANDING excessive IN
an economical point OF view-which IS pressing
down Italy, IL Is much that the revenue should
show any elasticity at all And this elasticity has
been equal TO the amount Signor Sea expected
from it. The produce Of the taxes has increased
yearly by 10000 O0of Slgnor Mingnetti, deeming
that this force OF expansion Is still an increasing
one considers himself justified IN expecting for
1874 80 600, ooof from this source. There remains
then So o00f still Co be provided for If both ends
are to be made to meet. Signor Sella proposed to
meet this by increased taxation notably by tax
on textile fabrics, and an additional tenth on the
existing SrUnOr Minuhettt rejects
both these proposals. With the exception Of some
very small matters, to be noticed presently, he will
not have recourse to fresh taxation. But neither
viii he admit the possibility OF diminished exIendi-
cure. Italy must have her little uxurles in the
way OF a handsome stan OF servants and an army
not too inferior to those Of her nelghDors. What,
then, is 10 be the stroke Of the magician's wand
which is TO produce the much needed so o00 0oof.
IL is to be accomplished mainly oy better sys tenn
o. managing and collecting the existing taxes.
NEW SYSTEMS OF TAXATION.
The special proposals which are TO effect this
are as follows:-An Improvement in the method
OF collecting the tax on "riccheZza mobile, u
or income tax, as we should call it, will,
1t Is hoped, produce 4,0O0,0o0f Those who
know how very badly, uneaually and imperfecty
this tax is collected at present. VIII not deem this
by any means exaggerated expectation. I'm.
proved methods OF assessing and collecting the
tax ON grinding corn-the .'macinato,r as 1t Is
called--is to give 3,0oo,o 0of This was favor
lite tax with some OF the worst OF the old despotit
governments Of Italy. 1t has very bad name
and It's imposition by Signor Sea was a very bit
ter pin for the country to swallow. And the pill
has been made more bitter by the inquisitoria
means taken for tine collection OF it. In fact, It II
one Of those taxes which cannot be collected with
out means more or less Objectionable on that score
Signor Sella caused to be invented mechanical
contrivance called ''contatore,v or counter
which was to register the amount OF nour groun,
by every pair OF mihstones in such fashion tina
the miller could not tamper with It. The appllca
ton OF this machine the construction of which II
the requisite numbers cost the country al
enormous sum, was extremely unpopular with al
classes. The mlers resisted IL to the utmost. Tn,
critics OF the government declared, on the othel
hand, that the honest milers only disliked IT, ans
that the dishonest OF the craft approved OF i