A Chapter of Political Economy.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3814, 19 March 1881, Page 2

A Chapter of Political Economy.

There are certain rules laid down by the founder of our system of political economy, by which to test the character of taxation. They are described as follows :—lst. The subjects of every State ought to contribute towards the support of the Government as nearly as possible in proportion to their abilities ; that is, in proportion to the revenue which they respectively enjoy, under the protection of the State. 2nd. The tax which each individual is bound to pay ought to be certain and not arbitrary. The time of payment, the manner of payment, the quantity to be paid ought to be clear and plain to the contributor, and to every other person. 3rd. Every tax ought to be levied at the time or in the manner in which it is most likely to be conrenient for the contributor to pay it. 4th. Every tax ought to be so contrived as both to take out and keep out of the pockets of the people as little as possible over and above what it brings into the public treasury of the state. A tax may either take out or keep out of the people a great deal more than it brings into the treasury in the four following ways: First the levying of it may require a great number of officers whose salaries may eat up the greater part of the produce of the tax,; and whose perquisites may impose another additional tax upon the people, and discourage them from applying to certain branches of business which might give maintenance and employment to great masses of the population, and while it obliges the people to pay, it may thus diminish or perhaps destroy some of the funds which might enable them more easily to do so. Thirdly, by the forfeiture and other penalties which these unfortunate individuals incur who attempt unsuccessfully to evade the tax, it may frequently ruin them, and thereby put an end to the benefit which the community might have received from the employment of their capitals. Fourthly, by subjecting the people to the frequent visits and the odious examination of the tax-gatherer, it may expose a person to much unncessary trouble, veration, and oppression: and though vexation is not strictly speaking expensive, it is certainly equivalant to the expense at which every man would be willing to redeem himself from it. It is in some way or other of these four different ways that taxes are frequently so much more burdensome to the people than they are beneficial to the State.— Wairarapa Standand.

A writer in Truth tells a story he: heard the other day about Mr Grierson,. the manager of the Great Western Railway. He was travelling in the same compartment as a friend of the writer's. The train drew uy at Acton station, when an energetic porter loudly vociferated, " Hacton! Haoton!" A little later the train stopped at Hanwell, when a porter of even greater energy than his confrere at Acton screamed out, " Anwell! Anwell!'' Upon which Mr Grierson turned round to a gentleman he waa with, and said,t"You see how difficult it is always to Jet the right man in the right place. 1 must have that Acton porter brought here, and send that fellow to Acton, out of respect both for our passengers and the Queen's English."

An Englishman related that, being at Naples, while taking tea with his wife, a thunderbolt entered the chamber, and the poor woman was reduced to dust. "Ah, Mon Dieu!" cried one of his auditors, •• What did you do ? what did you say?"— The Englishman replied, coldly, "I rang, and said, ' John, sweep up your mistress.'"

A. lady called recently at the house of a friend, and there met a gentleman who was introduced to her as a "newlodger." After he had left the room she said to her " friend, "Why do you keep that odious ■ creature in your nouse ? He doesn't correspond with the rest of your, furni. ture." Imagine her surprise when ' informed that he was her friend's new husband. •

; When a boy has been off all day, contrary to the expesssed wish of his mother, and on approaching the homestead at night, with an anxious and cautious tread, finds company at tea, the expression of confidence and rectitude that suddenly lights up his face cannot be produced on canvas.

The Turkish Position.-— Cross-legged.

A' bazaar of a somewhat novel kind was opened by the Baroness Bolsover at Nottingham, on Thursday, December 9th. It is for the benefit of the funds of the Town and Country Social Guild, an" institution which was formed some years ago for the purpose of uniting various charitable and philanthropic agencies at work in the district. The Albert-hall, in which the bazaar is held has been made to represent a street of the ".olden time." On each side of the hall is scenery represesenting a row .of, old-fashioned houses of two storeys, the lower of which is used for the stalls while, at one end of the hall stands a feudal castle and at the other an Elizabeth mansion. The ladies presiding at the stalls are dressed in costumes of a past age. Besides the Baroness Bolsover, there were present at the opening ceremony the Duke of Portland, the Duke and Duchess of St. Albans, Colonel Seely, : M.P., Sir James Oldknow, the Mayor and Sheriff of Nottingham, and a'large number of the leading townspeople.