The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-07-31

hudl SOhuibullou 10 the parish luhuSs
but did not see mis- way 10 continue the
practice when he became King and found
himself the owner Of palaces in a num-
Der Of different parishes.
In Germany the various rulers Of the
twenty and odd sovereign states com
prised in the empire are called upon 10
Fay duties on things imported from
abroad. just like any other Teuton citi-
/ zen, though they enjoy Immunity from
taxation in their own dominions. Thus
( the German newspapers OF every shade
"a political opinion were a few weeks ago
/ poking fun at the Kaiser in connection
with his having caused three huge rail-
road cars. laden with the best brands OF
, French champagne. and destined for
consumption at the imperial tables at
I Potsdam and Berlin TO be rushed across
the frontier at Avricourt on the after
noon OF June 90. so as TO escape the
] vastly increased duties imposed by Ger
many or French wines under the tarin
which came into force on the first day
Of the present month.
The German press took the matter Up,
Z
/ fessed patriotic preference for German
! Schaumwein." or "Sekt," over French
+ champagne profession which no one
I quite believes Indeed. Il Is alleged on
/ excellent authority that the champagne
( served on William lis table Is wholly
/ French. although the labels on the bot
ties are aggressively German. The late
I Prince Bismarck was manifestly ignorant
of this pious fraud on the part OF his
/ sovereign. For he was wont 10 assert
I that German champagne was disastrous
70 his digestion. and that while he was
| perfectly ready TO give his life for his
country, he hesitated about sacrificing
his stomach on the altar OF patriotism
I While the German Emperor has thus
10 pay duty on French wines imported
from abroad for his table, he. ike his
| fellow sOvereigns Of the confederation
constituting the empire, enjoys immunity
from taxation In his own dominions. How
( long this immunity will last II IS diff
cult TO say
For a popular movement was started
last year for the purpose Of putting an
end TO this prerogative on the Amounted
Of the Lord. II may be said TO have
originated In the Duchy Of Saxe-Meinin-
gen. where the aged ruler is the largest
I landowner and the yichest citizen. Last
/ fall the government made demand upon
/ the diet for appropriations 10 enable Il
/ TO increase the emoluments Of the miser-
ably paid officials Of high and low de-
| gree.
The legislature. however. in which the
radical element predominates, and In
which socialism is very largely repre-
| scented. absolutely declined 10 vote the
money in question unless the duke con-
/ scented 10 submit 20 taxation on his ex-
I teusfve real estate and other property,
pointing out that owing 20 the area Of
/ his possessions and their exemption from
I taxation. the impOsts and ratings on the
holdings OF the peasantry, petty farmers,
and small householders were necessarily
| rendered thereby more enormous
The duke refused 70 yield and a full
| hedged fight ensued between the duke
and his Parliament. the latter exploiting
the situation so cleverly that to-day there
/ is not an Official in the duchy who does
not attribute his Straitened circumstances
and his pecuniary difficulties 10 the sell
fish greed OF his sovereign in refusing to
submit 10 taxation.
/ The suicide OF two or three officials
since the beginning Of the year owing
10 monetary troubles has served 70 en-
venom the situation, and the popular
movement in favor Of the subsection OF
/ the sovereign and Of the members OF the
reigning family to the same fiscal burdens
as their subjects and fellow citizens has
now spread far beyond the borders or
Saxe-Meiningen, not only throughout the
length and breadth OF Germany. but even
to Austria and to Hungary.
Some years ago the medistized families
| OF Germany and Austria were obliged by
public sentiment TO surrender their i'm
munity from taxation. which had been
granted 70 them. along with other pre-
negatives. by the Congress OF Vienna, by
way Of compensation for the loss of the
! petty sovereignty Of which they had been
/ deprived by Napoleon. and which the
! congress did not consider II wise TO re-
store.
! Before very long, the new reigning SOW
! ereigns and their families will be obliged
to follow suit, and 10 submit 70 the taxa
ton. not only Of their real estate hold
inss, but also Of the many industrial and
| commercial enterprises in which they are
engaged.
When kings and emperors. as well as