NEW, HANSEATIC LEAGUE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 533, 19 June 1909, Page 5

NEW, HANSEATIC LEAGUE.

THE AGRARIAN ROBBER. (Dj Telegjaplv-Prcsa Assoolation.-OoDyriirhi) (Rcc. Juno 18, 9.85 p.m.) . . ■ , Berlin, Juno 18. A powerful political oKsooiatian has been founded in Germany, entitled tiho Hmnsoatio Loaguo, to aggressively safeguard oommerco Had i Ofiainfit tie agrarian clomant. „ PIRACY 01 THE REICHSTAG. The original Hansoatio League was & confederation'of ;the principle trading raintwa of Germany, formed in 1211 for commercial purposes, and specially for,mutual dofenco against the Baltio pirates, and tho 1 robber nobles,' Its founders wore Hamburg and Litbeok, who were shortly afterwords joined by . Bremen, Cologne, Danzig. and other. cities, and still later by many foreign towns, until, at tho height of its prosperity,', the ■ league comprised, eighty: cltie*. The loaguo was dissolved in 1630, but Hamburg, Bremen, nnd Lnbeck' retained their priyileges as frep towns, until thev were absorbed into .the German Empire in 1871. . In thi present instance the "roblior hoblcss" fttt'. tho (agrarian element, and their particular form .'of piracy .is the rejection of 'the death duties and other taxes on wealth,'and the substitution of taxes that are held to press on the mercantile people: such as duties 'on stocks and shares, on lighting and cooking apparatus railway: tickets, etc. .. .