Daily Kennebec journal., 1894-02-13
ODD THINGS IN TAXES
GOVERNMENT DUES DERIVED FROM
MANY QUEER lMPosTs.
1Gatrimsny Taxsd In Some Parts Of China.
Even Bread and Meat Have Had to Com
tribute to the Revenues-Peter the Great
Levied Tax ON Beards.

Even Bread and Meat Have Had to Con-
tribute to the Revenues-Peter the Great
Levied . Tax ON Boards.
In times past it was deemed warranta-
bic TO tax salt, candles, leather, brlck,
soap, starch, paper and in 1852 even bread
and meat. Peter the Great OF Russia lev
led tax on boards, with the laudabie OBJ
ject of making his subjects wash their faces
and shave. Brass tokens are still to be
bought in that country bearing the words
Dorado pignaia tiag6la, which means
"the beard tax has been paid. Mr.. r.
8. G. LuDdy, in "The Fiscal Phiiateiist, .
gives particulars of the British hat tax OF
1884, recurring hatters to take out licenses
and imposing an ad valorem stamp duty
on every hat sold. In those days revenue
officials meeting man with an unll-
censed hat used to inquire, in the words
of the comic song, 'Wherc did you get
that hat.' In old times, too, the Scotch
sacrameptal certificates used to bear six
penuy stamp. A tax ON religious alma
macs. glass, stone bottles and advertise
ments was among the fiscal duties OF the
past.
There was also tax Oh the light OF
heaven in the shape of an imposition win
dows until far in the present century.
This odious and insanitary burden caused
architects and builders to erect houses
with as few windows as possible, and to
escape the tax the windows Of many houses
were blocked mp. Some Of these dark and
dismal abodes are still in existence in Eng
land. The Russian government few years
ago decided to tax kerosene oil and match
es--virtually tax on light
In some parts Of China tax Is imposed
on all women entering the bonds of matri-
mony. Travellers to those parts are Obliged
TO take wife, and when they leave the
ladies' take fresh husbands, to the benefit
of the revenue. Those who follow the ad-
vice of the late Adah Isaacs Menken and
s.marry young and often' are an acquisi-
tion to snch state. In Seryia vanity is
taxed in the shape of ladies bustles. In
Melbourne Christmas cards are taxed one
fifth per cent. Christmas, New Year, Eas-
ter and birthday cards would doubtless
produce an appreciable revenue in Eng
land. 1t has been stated that in Weimar
the authorities levied duty on musical
parties. The regulations were not given,
but doubtless solos, duets, trios and quar-
tets are sui bject to proportionate rates. vi
-.
special charges. Quite lately an annual
tax of 10 francs has been imposed on pi-
amos in France Music has paid tribute to
taxation in other ways A musical troop
recently crossing the frontier Of SaXony
carried with them a crown of laurels
awarded them at triumphal performance.
The custom house officers taxed the laurels
as spice Massenet the composer, it is re-
Ia. MD nh rf,o1 fv m a
of IaureIs on the German frontier. In his
case the wreath of fame was deemed to be
woven of medicinal plants" In Mon
treal organ grinders pay license of $50
and are only allowed to play at stated
times. In Vienna they are also licensed
and regulated as to hours. In France a
certificate of character, a distinctive badge
and limitation of hours are insisted upon.
No licenses for street musicians have been
issued for nine years in Germany.
In ST. Petersburg no outdoor musical
performers are permitted, but in romantic
Italy there is very practical regulation
excluding those under IS years of age
from the privileges of n license. In New
York wandering minstrels contribute to
the revenue 81 each and are prohibited
from playing within a certain distance of
SptI}hcd VI anu Out-
side fixed hours. Barrel music in the open
is not allowed to exist in sunny Spain, but
"gayly the troubadotr twangs his gui
tar, for which, however, license is re-
quired.
The state finances in Russia are recruited
by u graduated income tax, commencing at
per cent on incomes between 1000 and
1000 rubles--a ruble equals IS. 2d.--and
on every additional 1000 or fraction of
1000 rubles. A duty of quarter kopeck
about one-tenth of penny--is also inn
posed on the eggs of all kinds of poultry,
which tax on foGd realizes several millions
OF rnbles. Cycles are subject to tax of
shillings in France and of a similar
amount in Brabant.
"They do these things better in France
--or worse. Advertisements in the form
of posters and placards are required to
bear n tax stamp in France, which is dis
tinctly n tax on trade and publicity. In
Italy, where the people complain that the
taxes are exorbitant. the volunt Try taxes
paid by the poorer classes in the form of
lottery amounts in a year to over 3,000,-
900. At Laterza the Italians recently
broke out in open revolt against the mu-
ultipaiity. WHICH udu Increased Ine ne3Ftn
tax and took the civic buildings by as
sault, wounding the syndic. but they do
not agitate against the lottery tax. "In
old Madrid" in 1892 there was terrible
and fatal rioting among the men and wo-
men who hawk vegetables, fruit and other
articles in the streets and markets, owing
to the imposition of tax on Spanish
hawkers.
In 1889 M. Dunajewski, the Austrian
minister of finance, who was described as
"the nimblest politician in the world for
inventing new taxes, I" decided to tax the
totalisateurs, or betting agencies. Total
isateurs are established on all German and
Austrian race courses. The system is to
divide all the money invested on the los
ing horses among those who backed the
winner after deducting per cent commits
sion for the agency. There is no cheating
or welshing possible in the plan. A 10 per
cent duty on winnings was decreed In
France the parimutual, a similar system
of betting, is taxed per cent, per cent
OF which is devoted to the relief of the
poor. Bookmakers are also taxed. There
is also municipal tax of 10 per cent de-
Quoted from the receipts of theatrical and
public entertainments. which is also as
signed for the benefit of the unfortunate.
This revenue is principally distributed in
the shape of grants to public charities and
l. ~ l.