The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-02-14
Some Government Dues That Are
Derived From Many Queer
lmposis
A Tax on Matrimony In Some
Parts OF the Flowery King
dom.
Bread and Nest Have HAD 20 Contrihuts
Peter the Great Levied = Tax on
Mhlsksrs.

ana meat. Peter tue Nfrat or hu..la lev
led tax on boards. with the laudahle oh
Jet % making his subjects wash their faces
sud shave }rass tokens are stil O. D,
bought in that country bcnring the words
Dorado pienaia tiagola. which means
"the beard tax has been paid. Mr. 4.
& &. Lundv. Ga "rhe Fiscal Phuatelist,
gives particulars Of the British hat tax oi
1854. requiring hattcrs Co take Out licenses
aud imposing ana AL valorem stamp duty
on every hat sold. Ina those days revenue
officials meeting n man with ana unii
uenscd hat used to inquire, ia the words
OF the comic song. "Mhero did you get
thar hatf' In old times. too. the Scotch
sacrlmental certificates used 90 hear "a six
penny stamp. A tax on religious alma
macs. glass. stone bottles and advertise
ments was among the fiscal duties OF the
past.
There was also a tax ON the eight Of
heaven" In the shape Of au impost on win
doWs until far ia the present century.
This odious and insanitary burden caused
architects and builders 90 erect houses
with as few windows as possih bile, and 10
escape the tax the windows of many houses
ere blocked mp some of these dark and
dismal abodes are =till i'm existence i'm Eng
land. The Russian government few years
rro decided n tax kerosene oil and match
e. virtually p tax on light.
I'm some parts of China "a tax Is imposed
on all women entering the bonds Of matri-
mony Travellers 10 those parts are obliged
To- take a wife. and when they leave the
ladies take fresh husbands. 10 the benefit
Of the revenue. Those who follow the add
vice OF the late Adah Isnacs Menkcn and
"marry Young and often are an acquisi-
tiou to such state. In Servia vanity is
taxed Ina the shape OF ladies busties. Ia
Melbourne Christmas cards are taxed one
fifth per cent. Christmas, New Year, Eas-
Ter and birthday cards would doubtless
produce an appreciahic revenue Ia Eng
land. 10 has been stated that in Weimar
the authorities levied a duty ON musical
parties. The regulations were not given,
but doubtless solos. duets, trios and quar-
tets are subject to proportouate rates. Vi
olins, comets and The iute should incur
special charges. Quite lately ana annual
tax Of 10 francs has been imposed on pi-
amos in France. Music has paid tribute 10
taxation in other ways. 4 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
rs spice. Massenet. the composer, 10 j. re-
lated was also charged duty on crown
of laurels on the German frontier. In his
case the wreath Of fame was deemed 10 be
woven OF medicinal plants In Mon
treal organ grinders pay a license of $50
and are only allowed % play at stated
shines. In Vienna they are also licensed
and regulated as 20 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 a very practical regulation
excluding those under is years Of age
from the privileges Of a license In New
York wandering minstrels contribute TO
the revenue 81 each and are prohibited
from playing within a certain distance Of
specified buildings or dwellings and out
side fixed hours Barrel music I'm the open
Is not allowed 10 exist in sunny Spain, but
"gayly the troubadour twangs his gdi-
tar, % for which, however, license Is re-
quired.
The state finances in Russia are recruited
by "A graduated income tax, commencing at
per cent on incomes between 900 and
2 900 rubles-a ruble equals IS. 2d.-and
increasing at the rate Of oue-tenth per cent
On every additional ] 700 or fraction OF
900 rubles. A duty u a quarter kopeck
about one-teuth Of penny-is also inn
posed on the eggs of an kinds of poultry,
which tax on food realizes several millions
Of rubles. Cycles are subject 20 "a tax q
shillings ia France aud Of similar
amount i'm hrab1nt.
"Ihey do these things better IN France
OR worse. Advertisements in the form
of posters and placard- are required TO
bear "a tax stamp iu France, which d. dis
timely "a tax On trade and publicity. IN
Italy, where the people complain thar the
taxes are eXorhitant. the voluntary taxes
l.fid 10y the poorer classes in the form 81
lottery amounts iu % year 90 over E3, 0u0.-
o1J. At Lateral the Italians recently
broke out boo open revolt against the mu-
uicipalty. which bad increased The hearth
tax aud took the civic buildings by rs
#ult. v0uudng the syndlc. but they 90
not agitutr against the lottery tax. "ln
old Madrid 30 1899 there was "a terrible
and tatal rioUug among ths men and WOO
men who hawk vegetables. fruit and other
articles boz the streets and markets. owing
% the imposition ~ tax on Spanish
hawkcrs
In 1850 ~ Duuai-,vski. the Austrian
minister az finance. who WAS described as
The nimb.e-t politician in th- world for
iuvcutiuZ new tuEs- decided 10 tax The
tataiisutcurs. Dr betting agencies Total
iaatrurs Hr" established 900 all German and
Austrian race courses. The system IS 20
dlVluo 40 tle money invested uu tbc los
i4g hnras among whose vino backed the
trluurruirrr lOcucfiu- pr cent r0mmis
sion for tie uE nay. There I. 100 rHrarirr