The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-11-03

legislature in New York last year and
caused such a tremendous outcry
among the rich. The death tax" as
II is Familiarity called in England, is
something appalling to those who are
not accustomed to 1t. The heirs OF
every man who dies are required to
contribute from one to eight shillings
to the government for every f1OO in
money or property that they receive
as legacies, with one per cent upon the
value of entailed estates. In addition
to this there is legacy duty of from
one to ten per cent, according to the
relationship, distant relatives paying
the maximum amount. There Is a still
further tax of five per cent. upon all
profits or net revenues received from
estates that are in chancery or in the
hands Of receivers, or that for any rea-
son remain undivided.
All property passing at death pays a
graduated duty upon it's appraised
value, the appraisement being made by
the probate court. When it exceeds
$1,000 the heirs must pay two shillings
for every G100. When it exceeds G1O,-
600 they must pay four shillings for
every f100; when 1t exceeds GlOO,O00
they must pay six shillings; when it
exceeds f250,000 they must pay seven
shillings, and when it exceeds fl,OOO,OOO
they must pay eight shillings per slOO.
Walter Lewis Winans, of Baltimore,
died in England last June, leaving
about $12,000,000, from which the gov
ernment received in taxation the sum
of $961,2 During the last year prop
erty to the apount of $11 $50, ,025,O00 was
inherited in Great Britain, which prop
erty paid $69,S16,105 as government du-
ties.
The increased wealth of Great Brit
ain Is shown by the fact that during
the last forty years the customs re-
ceipts have advanced about 35 per cent
the excise dues about SO per cent, the
income tax about 3S per cent
In the United States liquor and to-
bacco licenses are issued to all retail
dealers for the same fixed fee. An in
creased fee is charged for licenses to
| wholesale dealers. In Great Britain
there is q graduated scale according to
the amount Of business transacted, the
lowest license tax being $25 and the
highest $3.50.
Every person who owns a gun in
England has to pay ten shillings year
| to the government, and If that gun is
| uoCu " SllOOl BdllIt ONilCA 10 iViuiA-
ed to take out license, which costs
him $5 for one month, $40 for six
months, $15 for the year.
| There is also what is known as the
establishment" tax, under which fam
lilies who employ male servants are re-
| quired to pay fifteen shillings year
| head money for each. The total num-
ber of servants thus taxed last year
| was 1876, AGO. 1t costs fifteen shillings to
keep a twowheel vehicle, $12 a year to
keep a four-wheel carriage for two or
more horses and $5.25 for four-wheel
carriage for one horse. The total num-
Der of carriages thus taxed is 549,6S1
and the receipts from that source
amount to $9,246,S15.
In the United States dogs are taxed
| by the municipal governments. In
| England they are taxed by the general
government. Each dog has to pay S71a
cents in England. In the United States
the average fee is 81. In England there
are 1345,2S dogs, which pay $2,525, 900
in taxes.
People who indulge in crests and ar
mortal bearings in England have to pay
tax on their vanity. If their coat of
| arms is attached to their carriges the
duty is $10.50; If it is attached to their
doors or appears in any way upon
their houses or fences or gates the
charge is the same. If it is otherwise
| worn the charge is $5.25.
There is also a tax on silver and gold
plate used for domestic purposes or or
| nament.
The income tax yields revenue Of
$S3,250,O00. The people are divided into
five schedules and the tax is graduated
those enjoying the largest income pay
ing the heaviest taxes.
The land and house tax Is also bur-
densome, being from 2 pence to 8
| pence in the pound.
In the United States the postoffice de-
| partment is very expensive concern,
the receipts being from $4,000, 900 to
$12,OO0000 less than the expenditures
annually. In Great Britain, where the
population is dense and there are no
broad prairies and mountain ranges to
be crossed and long rivers to be navi-
gated, the postal service is a source of
considerable revenue. Last year the re-
ceipts were $50, 100000 and the expendi-
lures were $95, 75O, ,OOO which showed a
profit of $23,550,00O. The telegraph and
telephone service. which is conducted
by the postoffice department, does not
quite pay expenses, the receipts last
year being 14,550,0O0 and the expenses
$14, 900.
The government of Great Britain has
found the Suez canal a paying invest
ment, which is a fact worthy of the
consideration of our congress in con-
nection with the construction Of the
Nicaragua canal. The revenues from
that source last year were nearly
$5,O00,O00.
The following comparisons between
the fixed expenses of the British goy-
ernment and those of the United States
will be found interesting:
Great uniteo
Britain. States.
The royal family ...... 81, 49,, $50 Ss5, ,G6i
Interest public dept lips, ,000,0O0 S7,7SS C26
PensioaS ................ /, ,35 14l, ,O53, ,O8S
judiciary ........, 2,5S3,250 1858 GlS
Army ..... ... ....,..... 9l,S50,0O0 54,4S9, ,li3
Navy ..... ............,,ll0, $50 800 80, 45g $50
Ctvil-service salaries 100, ,225, 900 4S,y4y OSS
The total expenses of the British gov
ernment last year were $5O7, 1888, 34O This
left balance of $12,S66, ,OS0, which ap-
piled to the public debt.
The total bearing debt of