The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-01-12

city tax also. The former is to the
government collector; the latter to
those Of the municipalities. The
governors Of the cities-empire
officers-disburse the municipal taxes
as they wish, and being government
officers their funds are half inter
changable; that is to say, the funds Of
a city may be taken for the govern
ment, but not vice versa. Thus, since
the Czar has no one to account to for
disbursements, he may draw on the
entire resources Of his very great
country when he wants funds for
private or public purposes. There is
no danger of being beaten at the
polls for a second term or indicated
for malfeasance in Office, and it would
be worth a life to say such thing as
dishonesty in Russia.
Taxes are based upon the estimate
Of the collector as to what can be
paid. There were appraisements Of
property, and there are appraisements
yet. The list, of mobiles, however,
pay only enough to keep up the
appearance of paying The middle
cIasses-those who have enough
property in farms, etc., to make
them a living when worked, and
those who generally become nihilists
on account of the despotism-pay the
burden. The tax collector watches
closely the property of these people,
and If they reroof house, paint,
build new structure or fence, a
''reappraisement" is directly made,
though the man may have just paid
his taxes, and additional taxes are
demanded. They must be paid
instantly. The laws about confscat-
ing property Of persons who refuse
to pay taxes are simply awful. If
the property owner makes any fuss
about the matter he is classed as a
conspirator, conniver against the
government, and some fine day or
night he is called upon by officers
who look like innocent citizens. He
leaves his family ''to go to town."
and next he is seen is in the spirit
land. He goes to the shooting
gallery or Siberia. A federal officer
in the United States can trifie with
the civil-service law with far greater
safety than can Russian speak of
excessive taxes or delay when the
amount is named.
Owing to this arbitrary and unjust
system of taxation and discovery Of
improvements there is very little
progress made. People never improve
if they can help it. The principle
upon which taxation and tax collect
ion is based is suspicion. The Czar
believes his subjects are dishonest,
and that they are ever trying to cover
up their property. Under this
system it is wonder how shop
keeping and manufacturing is made
to pay and why Americans sometimes
come to Russia to establish business.
[ so expressed myself to cotton
manufacturer, one a Bostonian, and
he said:-
Americans and Englishmen engage
in nothing in Russia unless there are
profits in it. The unproft-
able business is left to the natives,
who do not understand our trade.
[ know large manufacturer here
who came from Massachusetts,, whose
works have been burned out almost
and who makes loads of
but the tax collector don't
know it, because they are ignorant Of
his business. They can not compre-
hend large business. You have no
doubt discovered that all the shop
keepers have several prices for an
article. It shows their desperation.
They are driven to cheating and
misrepresenting to come out even;
and the example is set by the highest
power in the empire y
Since the determination of the
Gear to drive out all alien manu-
factures it is not probable that the
tax collector will long be in ignorance
the ways Of the Yankee.
p. S. HEATH.