A Russian Poll-Tax on Foreigners.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 210, 9 July 1887, Page 2

A Russian Poll -Tax on Foreigners.

'Tiußn iasomc ivfi-on to believe, judging fiom the i.one of the " Novoe Vremga " and ■other loading Russian journals, that, the "tax on foreign residents in Russia, -which ! theso journal* po strongly advocate, may ■shortly be in ti oil nc^d by the Clovernmenb. A report i< curuMir that this, tax will be fried at 1.30 gold \vhW> per annum, which means about 2-3.3 ruble-? in the ordinary curcsney, or about £25. The oftccfc of &ucli an impo.-t would of course be to drive out o f the country the more skilled and industihus artisans of foreign nationalities L'ke the foreign jn^sport tax, it m ill act as another check ro Russia's foreign commerce. If such a lax weie limited to the heads ot foreign houses and agencies in Russia, there co'ild be little or no objection toit. The English princi]nls»oft-';chhouscswould, 1 am sure, agree in the justice of a limited measure of thi^ description ; but it i* extremely phortsighted to make it «c, sweeijing in its {i-?plieatio! > .-Ode-3-a Letter in "London Daily Xo^s."