The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1902-06-12
TEems.J Shopper year, in advance
Six Months 80 cents,

""o1 Six Months so cents.
private banks which were doing busi-
ness before the bank of England was
chartered, is alone permitted to issue
paper currency. 1t also sets the rate
of interest and is in many ways the
arbiter of financial destinies. 1t also
transacts general banking business,
but on a very safe and conservative
basis. To be permitted to become a
customer one must furnish the most
responsible references as to business
associates and must never draw ones
current account below $1,000.
The Postal Telegraph is a depart
ment of the post Office and controls all
telegraph lines over which messages
may be sent for fee. The rate is one
cent per word, with minimum of
twelve words, and includes delivery in
the urban postal districts. All other
persons or companies are restrained
from engaging in the business of carry
ing messages without having first OBJ
tained a special license from the post
master general. This provision is
sufficiently sweeping to include the boy
messengers.
The Poor Law system has undergone
some wonderful changes since the days
OF Oliver Twist, many of which are no
doubt due in great measure to the
efforts of the immortal Dickens. Every
parish is bound tomaintain an adequate
workhouse, under the management of
a master and matron, for the reception
of all who may declare themselves des-
titute. Such warehouses contain q
casual ward for the accommodation of
strangers to the district, who are pro-
vided with supper, bed and breakfast,
and are required to perform some light
task in the morning; but such places
are in no sense penal institutions, nor
are they self-supporting. There is also
an officer charged with the relief of
persons in temporary difficulties or
only partially destitute. The Master
and Relieving Officer are subject to the
directions of the guardians of the poor,
which position, tho entailing many
onerous duties and responsibilities, is
purely honorary one, and the guardians
regularly render accounts to the local
government board. The funds neces-
sary to carry out this work are raised
by means of special rate assessed on
the bondholders of the district.
1t may also be mentioned that the
keenest competition exists for the con-
tracts for the supply of bread, meat
and provisions, as the fact that he has
obtained such a contract is the strongest
guarantee dealer can give that the
goods he handles are of good quality.
The distinguishing feature of the
English Method of Taxation is that it
is designed so that the burden falls on
the people in proportion to their ability
to pay Most of the duties are levied
on articles of luxury, such as silks, beer
and spirits, imported wines and cigars,
servants liveries, deeds, articles of
clerkship, ETC., and on legacies and be-
quests or inheritances, ad valorem.
The probate duty on large estates is
very heavy. The other main source of
revenue is the income tax which is
assessed on all incomes above e2OO or
81 900 per annum.
Beyond mentioning that education is
compulsory up to certain standard, I
can give no up-to-date account, as I
understand some parts of the system
have recently been changed.
A complete system of registration of
births, deaths and marriages exist, and
all persons present at such occurrences
are liable to severe penalties for failure
to see that such registration is made.
All these records are filed at Somerset
House and are carefully indexed, so
that it is an easy matter for one familiar
with the methods to obtain copies Of
the certificates.
Corporations are under strict regula-
tions, based on the principle of publicity
to all persons interested in what they
are doing, but as / have already taken
up my share of the time of the circle L
must defer enlarging on this matter to
some other occa sion. E. G. A.
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