The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-11-25
THREE DAYS IN A VILLAGE"
THIRD DAY: TAXES
By COUNT LEO T0LSTOY :

/ go TO the elder. an intelligent
looking, powerfully built peasant,
with long beard. just turning gray.
| ask why such sudden harshness? He
explains that some one higher up
gave the strictest orders that all
taxes be cleared up before the new
year, including all back taxes.
But are you empowered TO seize
teapots or cattle?" | ask.
What else can | do?" the elder re-
joins, Struggling his shoulders. They
must pay. There's Abakumoff (the
well-to-do peasant whose COW had
been seized) He has a son on the
exchange who drives three horses.
Why shouldn't he pay? And still he's
trying to get out OF IT,"
We'll, leaving him out Of the ques-
ton, how about the poor?" | ask.
mentioning the old couple whose tea
urn has been carried off. They are
poor, it's true, and they have no
money TO give us. But the people
higher up don't find out about these
things"
ask him how long he has held this
position and what there is in II for
him.
YES, | am paid" he answers. He
seems to guess my unspoken ques-
ton how he can be a party to such
an affair. Il am considering resign
ing. The pay, sir. is 80 rubles-but
the weight of sin it puts upon the
soul"
And they'll keep the sheep, the
fowls and the tea urn"
Yes. sir, of course. The district
Office will name day for public
sale"
And they'll sell the things?'
Eyes. They'll get their share ont
of it,
| drive over TO the district office
TO learn more about this method OF
tax collecting. which is new to me-
The chief tells me that there are
seven kinds of taxes, hack dues which
are now being gathered from the
peasants government tax. Sand tax,
insurance tax, provision dues. pro-
vision capital in place of compulsory
work on roads, district tax, village
tax.
The chief tells the same story as
the village elder. Strict orders from
authorities higher up are responsible
for this harshness. The chief realizes
that taxpaying is a hardship to the
poor. but not as keenly as does the
village elder
But the head of Zemstvo. still high
er ND. with whom ! talked little af-
terward, has scarcely any feeling Tor
the poor i'm their distress. This officer
of the province has seen but little
of the poor. And he did not question
the moral justice of his office for
moment.
AS for the views of the governor
on this matter OF gathering taxes $50
essential to the satisfaction of the
needs Of the people who watch over
the good of the reople) | found that
he was free from prejudices In ms
matter of taking tea-urns, cows ana
linens from the poor. He did not
doubt at all that the result of his ac-
tivity was good
But the ministers of state and those
who govern our traffic in liquor, and
finally those who are busy with con
formations to exile, to prison, TO
hard labor, to death by the Moose
all these ministers of state and their
aids are firmly convinced. that the
teapots and the sheep. and the linen,
and the COWS taken from the poor,
are put to the best and highest use
in the making of the liquor which
poisons the people. and in the build
ing of prisons and institutions. not
TO mention the distribution OF their
value in salaries among the ministers
and their aids to decorate their par
lors. buy gowns for their wives. pay
for pleasure trips and amusements
so indispensable as n relief from the
weighty burdens OF government which
they bear for the good of a rude and
thankless people.