The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1890-01-22
NO. 80
IosAceo lAw M sRANcE.


Runs Itself
Visitors TO France have noticed how
careful the customs officers are TO see
that no one IS smuggling IN matches
ortobacco. The importation OF matches
Is prohibited and there is very heavy
duty on tobacco Any one who has
made the acquaintance of the French
match viii not readily forget it. Its
peculiarly Is that Il IS very reluctant
TO ignite. and is no sooner alight than
It proceeds 10 exlingllish itself
Matches have hitherto been made sole
ly by one company, which paid the
government large sum every year
Tor tie privilege of supplying French
men with bad matches. As 4 proposal
to continue this system threatened TO
overthrow the Tirard ministry, the
government decided 10 take themanu-
facture of bad matches into its own
hands. The tobacco is made to suit
the matches IL IS also bad and dear.
The Aobacco business has long been a
state monopoly, and IS one of the priu-
cipai sources of revenue The latest
report on the subject shows that last
years crop was 20. 10 600 kilogram-
Ines, which was xslucI at l6. ~. Go
francs. or S, PSI. 600. This MAS a Door
year, giving only 995 francs worth
per hectare. while in 1887 the value
per hectare was 1.S11 francs. This
was the home production. but the gov
ernment imports great deal of Amer
tcon tobacco. IN Leaf, aud manufactures
1t III France. The government sells
II after II IS made, and tine smallest to-
bacco store in Franco is part of this
huge state monopoly.
The state gives the privilege of
growing the weed TO planters, and
looks after them with motherly care
1t fixes IN what departments tobacco
may be grown. 1t marks off the num-
ber of acres to be planted. II selects
the variety of plant aud settles what
number may be grown on each acre.
Not only 50, but the army of officials,
who are always prowling about on be-
hall of the state, count the plants in
each acre and the number of leaves
ON each plant Should n planter have
less than the inventoried number of
leaves when the harvest comes the
officials Will be down on him. a much
graver oifense, however, is to have
too many leaves. This is regarded as
an attempt to defraud the state. and
unless satisfactorily explained is fol-
lowed by fines and imprisonment.
When he reaps his crop the planter
has not the privilege of asking price
for 1t. The price is fixed by the state.
Tobacco Is now grown in twenty-eight
departments. There are G., PSI plant
ers, and 16, ,507 hectares of plantations.
There are twenty-seven stores for the
reception of Indigenous tobacco, and
stores at Bordeaux, Dieppe, Dun
kerqne. Havre and Marseilles for inn
ported tobacco. The state has twenty
one manufactures. The largest is that
at Lille, which turns out 6,O00, 600
kilogrammeS of tobacco n year. There
are POSI- employees in tho factories,
of whom 2, 500 are men and 1881
women. This does not include Off
cials and agents. The government
does not treat its employees very well,
and strikes IN tobacco factories are fire.
quent.
All the tobacco stores in Franco be-
long to the state. There are over 40
COO of them. The state does not sell to-
bacco at retail except in three stores
All the others are let to widows of ofii-
GERS, government officials, and sone-
times To the widows of senators, depu-
ties and projects. They take the place
of pensions. If the government
grants pension TO the wife of some
man who has died in the service of
his country, that generally means that
she gets tobacco store, or bureau, as
1t Is called. AS the social position of
the pensioners will not allow them To
run the bureaus directly, they let
them. The dealer is allowed 10 per
cent. profit by the government and is
prohibited from selling any tobacco
except that supplied and priced by the
state. Neither must they make cigar
cites out of the government tobacco.
Every cigarette must bear the official
stamp. The state has three bureaus in
Paris where the best quality of cigars
can be obtained. These are either inn
ported or made out of imported to-
bacco.
1t was Napoleon who established this
monopoly in tobacco. The weed had
been introduced into France by a
brenchman named Jean Nicot, and its
manufacture was free in 1921. A
monopoly was established in 1914. but
was abolished lbefore the revolution.
Tobacco proved a profitable business
when the culture was free. Napoleon
was attracted at ball in the Tuileries
by a lady gorgeously arrayed with
diamonds and jewels. who is that
princess1" he inquired. When told
that she was only tobacco manu-
tacturers wife, he at once resolved
to take charge of this means of acauir-
ing wealth. New York Sun.
The ONCE hoy Expedited the srarria=e.
Nowadays a man has got to keen n
pretty close tab ON the rules of eti-
Quette, or he Is liable fO oct left No