The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-10

$50 year to IS year. Everybody pays
1t, no matter what his trade or profess
sion. with the following exceptions: Gov
eminent and municipal clerks. artists
and professors. midwives. farm hands
and fishermen, dav 1aborers and hover
and fruit sellers exercising their profess
sion on the open streets.
INDIRECT TAXATION.
have said that these direct taxes are
almost insignificant when compared
with the contribution indirectes."
amounting, on the average. to only $685.
100000 francs, as against 2.495 100000
francs. This indirect taxation has not,
as with us. its principal source in Gus
toms duties. In France these only
amount to 5OOO0O.O0O francs. The coun-
try is violently protectionist. and this is
a heavy sum; and yet it looks moderate
when set beside the four other sources
of indirect revenue-registration and
stamps, 700 000, 900; internal revenue from
wines and liquors, 50O.00o,0 900; the sugar
tax. las. 000, 900, and the income from the
State monopolies of tobacco, matches,
gunpowder and playing cards, 900, 100000.
AS to the stamped paper. 1t is here as
it was in the United States during anu
Immediately succeeding the war. Scarce
ly any paper is valid without Its stamp.
Inc liquor TAX Is IndudScu ulASISA
from our own. There is no special Tor
mality of obtaining a liquor license; any
one with a shopkeeper's license may
freely sell it. 1t is the manufacture or
wine and liquor which is so heavily
taxed. On this head there is an ag1ta-
ton going forward with great force at
the present moment to reduce or alto
gether do away with the revenue from
sshygienic drinks such as wines and
beers, and for having the State take into
its hands, as another monopoly. lne
whole manufacture. but not the retail
selling, of strong drink. This is on the
ground not only of obtaining an in
creased revenue the only basis or the
match, tobacco and gunpowder monopol-
ies) but of safeguarding the public
health. AS things now go in Paris, the
people are being ruined by bad alcohol.
You would think that in the great, rich
cafes Of the boulevard you might be sure
to get petit verre of real brandy, nom
estly distilled from wine. Yet only last
week a celebrated doctor made the tour,
asking for the best fine champagne" at
the high price of zoe. a tiny glass. He
went in and out of all the boulevard
cafes, not emitting the Grand, the CAFE
de la Paix, the Cafe Richie and others
with great names. He put each glass in
a separate vial, labelling them. He took
the so-called brandies home and an
alyzed them. He discovered that all
were fabrications, all excepting one-and
that was a sample obtained from mar
chand de wins, the humblest kind of sa-
loon proprietor.
AS to the match and tobacco monopol-
les their result is dear tobacco and
matches of extremely average quality.
Frenchmen endure both with the pa
thence of patriotism. for without them
where could be obtained the 100000 900
francs yearly, which is almost exactly
the price France pays to maintain her
standing army. The standing army.
next to the interest on the public debt,
is the greatest expense of the French
government.
The 3,4OO,O0O,O 600 francs thus collected
yearly to the central government OF
France Gas against the 1000, 100000 OF the
United States and the 1900, 000, 900 Of
Great Britain are expended as follows:
Francs.
Expenses of the monopolies, tax
collecting. postal and telegraph