The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1894-03-02

In times past It was deemed war.
rantable to tax salt. candles, leather;
brick. soap. starch, paper and In 1865
even bread and meat Peter the
Great Of Russia, levied q tax on
boards, with the laudable object OF
making his subjects wash their faces
and shave. Brass tokens are still to
be bought In that country bearing
the words. Dorado pignaia tiagola,"
which means, "the beard tax has
been paid" MI. +. G. G. Lundy in
The Fiscal Phiiatelist." gives par:
tioulars Of the British hat tax Of
1874, requiring 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 unlicensed hat used to
inquire; in the words Of the comic
song, where did you get that hatp"
In old times, too. the Scotch sacra-
mental certificates used to bear six
penny stamp; q tax on religious al
MANAGES, glass, stone bottles and ad-
vertisements were among the fiscal
duties Of the past
In some parts Of China d tax Is i'm
posed on all women entering the
bonds of mstrimony. Travellers to
those parts are obliged to take .
vito, and when they leave the ladies
take fresh husbands, to the benefit
Of tho revenue.
1t has been stated that In Weimar
the authorities levied duty on mu-
steal parties. The regulations were
not given, but, doubtless. solos, ducts;
trios and quartettes are subject to
proportionate rates Violins, comets
and the flute should incur special
charges. Quito lately an annual tax
OF 10 francs has been imposed on
pianos in France. Music has paid
tribute to taxation in other ways. A
musical troupe recently crossing tho
frontier Of Saxony carried with them
crown OF laurels awarded Thorn at
a triumphal performance. The GUS
tom house officers taxed the laurels
as spice. Massenet, the composer, It
is related. was also charged duty on
crown OF laurels on tho German
frontier. In his case the wreath was
deemed to DO woven OF medicinal
plants. In Montreal organ grinders
pay license Of 500. and arc only al
lowed to play at stated times. In
Vienna thoy are also licensed and
regulated as to hours. In France
certificate OF character, u distinctive
badge and Limitation OF hours is in
sisted upon. No licenses for street
musicians have been issued for nine
years in Germany.
In St Petersburg no outdoor mu-
steal performers are permitted. but
in romantic Italy there is u very
practical regulation excluding those
under Is years OF age from obtaining
license. In Now York wandering
minstrels contribute to the revenue
81 each, and arc prohibited from
playing within certain distance OF
specified buildings or dwellings. and
outside fixed hours, Barrel music In
tho open is not allowed to exist
in sunny Spain. but ''gaily the trou-
badour twangs his guitar, for which,
however, license is required.
The state finances in Russia arc re.
cruited by u graduated income tax.
commencing at ono per cent on In
comes between 1000 and =. 900 rubles
"a ruble equals IS. Cd j, and increas.
ing at the rate OF one-tenth per cent
on every additional 1000 or fraction
of l,00) rubles A duty OF u quarter
kopeck about one-tenth OF n penny
is also imposed on the eggs Of all
kinds OF poultry, which tax on food
realizes several million OF rubles
Cycles are subject to tax OF S. In
France and OF 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 u tax stamp In
France. which is distinctly u tax on
trade and publicity. In Italy. where
tho people complain that the taxes
are exorbitant the voluntary taxes
paid by the poorer classes la the
form OF lottery amounts In year to
over E3.0l1. 800 Al Lateral, the
Italians recently broke out In open
revolt against tho municipality which
had increased tho hearth tax. and
took the civic buildings by assault.
wounding tho Symdic. but they do
not agitate against the lottery tax.
"ln old Madrid' last year there was
terrible and fatal riotIng among the
men and women who hawk vcgeta.
blcs, fruit and other articles In tho
streets and markets. owing to the
imposition OF n tax on Spanish
hawkcrs
In Sweden commercial travellers
visiting that country have to pay 100
kroner (about Is lls) for every
month. or part thereof. they may ro-
main ~ - privilege OF transaeting
Fsrs(r tg1ansss.