CURRANT CRISIS IN GREECE.

The economic structure of this Kingdom rests largely upon the currant industry, and any question which agitates this becomes a national matter. The crisis has been impending since 1902, when prices opened, as a result of the enormous crop, 50 per cent lower than in the previous year. Popular sentiment is strong in favor of a bill the two main features of which are (1) the imposing of a tax on all vineyards hereafter planted and (2) the removal of the limit of the retention law, which at present permits the retention of as much as 20 per cent of the annual crop, in order to fortify prices. The former can have no external interest beyond the possibility of rendering the crop uniform in future years, since most of the available land is already under cultivation. The latter, however, takes on some complications from the attitude which is likely to be assumed. by Great Britain.

When, in 1890, Great Britain reduced the duty on Greek currants from 7s. to 2s. ($1.70 to 48.6 cents) per cwt., it was with the understanding that no land tax was to be imposed by Greece upon currant-bearing districts. In the years that followed, the demand for the Greek currant was unparalleled, and the production increased until in 1899 the surplus was so large as to call for immediate measures. The Greek Currant Bank was organized and a bill voted which authorized the retention of as much as one-fifth of the annual crop of currants for the encouragement of home industries (especially of wine and spirit), the actual amount to be fixed by the prefects of the currant districts. England considered this law as a roundabout violation of the agreement between the two countries, but is said to have made no protest. The present agitation for the removal of this 20 per cent limit (that is to say, the fixing of no limit whatever to the amount of currants which may be retained, but allowing the matter to be governed entirely by the size of the crop) has caused the British minister at Athens to intimate that Great Britain will protest against any such law and may impose a prohibitive duty on this product. It remains for the Boulé at Athens to choose between the favor of England, whose markets buy heavily of the currant grape, and the strong sentiment of all currant-growing eparchies, which demand the immediate passing of such a measure.

English capitalists have proposed to the Greek Government to form a monopoly of the currant trade (under the name of the Mercantile Bank of Greece, Limited) and to purchase the annual yield. at a price between 200 and 400 drachmas ($25 and $50) per 1,000

pounds, in proportion to the quantity of the vintage. Not all the conditions of the proposed syndicate are known-in fact, it is not safe to assume that any of the published conditions are accurate— but the following has been made public:

The syndicate proposes (1) to spend £100,000 ($486,650) yearly for the preparation, cleaning, and packing of the currants; (2) to set aside £25,000 ($121,663) yearly as a reserve fund to secure the stability of exchange; (3) to contribute £80,000 ($389,320) yearly either directly to the Greek Government or in the form of a subsidy for the Greek merchant marine; and (4) to spend £65,000 ($316,323) yearly in advertising the Greek fruit throughout the world, besides appropriating one-half the net profits to other interests in some way bearing upon the currant industry and consumption.

The proposition seems hardly feasible. The weakest point in the proposed monopoly is its failure to guarantee to use more than 130,000 tons the first year-it being understood that should a quantity of this first purchase remain unsold, the same would be carried over to the following year and the amount deducted from the second purchase. The strongest argument for the change in the retention law is that the retention of any amount of currants for home consumption can not be construed as equivalent to placing a tax upon the land which produces them, and therefore has no essential bearing upon the agreement existing between Great Britain and Greece. Upon this point the action of the British minister at Athens will be watched with interest.

FRANK W. JACKSON,

PATRAS, March 25, 1903.

Consul.

TAXES AND REGULATIONS FOR FOREIGN COM

MERCIAL AGENTS.

Through the instrumentality of the German Union of Traveling Agents, a publication containing a summary of the main duties and privileges of commercial agents traveling in foreign countries was recently put upon the market. The following facts, taken from the book, will be of interest to American business men connected with the foreign trade:

DENMARK.

In Denmark traveling agents are required to pay an annual tax of 160 crowns ($42.88) In case these agents represent more than one house, they are required to pay the full tax of 160 crowns for the first house and 80 crowns ($21.44) for every other house represented. This tax must be paid immediately upon arrival at the

first custom-house of the country. An identification, both business and personal, is required, and for this purpose a notarially certified copy of the agent's power of attorney, visaed by some Danish consulate, is considered most practicable. The receipt given upon payment of the above-named tax must be presented for indorsement to the police and to the tax authorities of each locality in which the agent transacts business. Samples and patterns are subject to duty on entry into the country, but this is refunded upon departure. Evasions of the regulations are punishable by heavy money penalties.

FRANCE.

France requires nothing but a business passport, which properly identifies the bearer, both as to person and as the representative of a firm, and qualifies him to do business. There is no special tax. The duty on samples must be paid or proper security given therefor; upon departure from the country this is refunded or the security canceled.

ENGLAND.

England, according to the publication above referred to, as the classic land of free trade, throws no obstacles in the path of the foreign commercial traveler. He is welcome to come, welcome to stay, welcome to transact his business, and welcome to leave when he is done. No duties increase his expenses and no customs regulations delay his travel.

THE NETHERLANDS.

In the Netherlands, the commercial agent must report to the first custom-house which he comes to and have an industrial-tax receipt made out in his name (billet van de bedryfs-belasting), at a cost of 15 gulden ($6). A transit pass (no fee) must be applied for, to accompany samples. These are separately labeled and entered, and as security for their return, or for the payment of the full duty in case they are sold in the country, a deposit of 25 per cent of their market value is required. In case any samples are sold, the regular duty must be paid upon the whole lot.

NORWAY.

Norway prescribes the issuance of a trade pass good for thirty days and costing 100 crowns ($26.80). In every locality where business is to be transacted this pass must be presented to the police. authorities to be visaed and indorsed. In the absence of such certification, a "sojourn book" is required. Full duties must be paid on all samples entered, but these are refunded on leaving the country, if proper evidence can be presented that the samples were No 273-03-7

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originally entered and appraised. Violations of the regulations are
punishable by a fine ranging from 100 to 500 crowns ($26.80 to $184).

AUSTRIA.

In Austria, all traveling agents who can produce proper trade licenses and identifications are admitted to the country without payment of any duty, though samples sold in the country are dutiable when the agent leaves; nor are the agents subject to any other tax. Commercial agents also enjoy preferential baggage rates on the Austrian railroads, if they can produce a trade or identification card issued by the Austrian authorities. The rates in such cases are 2 heller (0.2 cent) per 10 kilograms (22 pounds) for every kilometer (0.62137 mile) traveled.

SWEDEN AND NORWAY.

In Sweden, as in Norway, the agent is required to take out a trade pass, which costs 100 crowns ($26.80) and is valid for thirty days. A receipt for this tax must be produced at all places where business is to be transacted. Inability to produce such a receipt. subjects the agent to a fine of from $26.80 to $184. The regulations are said to be most stringently enforced, and their closest observance is advised. On entering samples, the regular duty must be paid; upon departure, this duty is refunded, providing all samples entered can be produced.

SWITZERLAND.

In Switzerland, a business passport showing qualifications to engage in the trade, and serving as identification, is alone required. Upon presentation of this passport to the Swiss authorities, a special passport is issued by them-free of charge-which is sufficient for all trade purposes in the country. No duty is imposed upon samples, provided their full identity can be established.

RUSSIA.

In Russia, a Government and property tax of 150 rubles ($77.25) is imposed in case of the establishment of a commercial house, and in addition a communal tax of 45 rubles ($23.17). In the case of single commercial agents, a trade tax of 50 rubles ($25.75) is imposed, and a communal tax of 10 rubles ($5.15) in addition. The Russian regulations respecting foreign commercial agents are very strongly prejudicial to Jews. Agents or commercial houses of this nationality are required to pay, instead of a Government tax of 150 rubles as given above, a tax of 500 rubles ($257.50) in addition to the communal tax. These taxes are paid against a receipt, which is valid until January of the next year and is sewed onto the traveler's general passport. A trade or business pass is also required,

showing that the agent possesses full power to represent the firm. If the head of a commercial house comes to Russia and opens up trade, he is subject to a tax of 150 rubles ($77.25) in case he establishes no permanent offices, magazines, or stock rooms. In case he does establish permanent offices, he is required to pay a tax of 500 rubles ($257.50) if he conducts a wholesale business and 450 rubles ($231.75) if he carries on a retail trade. Jews are required to pay the full tax of 500 rubles in either case.

CHEMNITZ, March 27, 1903.

J. F. MONAGHAN,

Consul.

ZINC INDUSTRY IN EUROPE.

In compliance with the request of a zinc corporation of the United States, consular officers in certain countries were instructed, November 5, 1902, to report upon the production and consumption of zinc in their respective districts. The answers received* follow:

AUSTRIA.

MINES.

Zinc ore is mined in almost all the provinces of Austria, and, according to the official returns, the chief participants in the total output during the year 1901 were: Bohemia, 3,090 tons; Styria, 2,725 tons; Carinthia, 22,845 tons; Tyrol, 29, 160 tons; and Galicia, 4,760 tons.

Among the principal mining properties in Bohemia is that owned by the Erste Böhmische Zinkhütten und Bergbau Gesellschaft, with works at Mies, Mirklin, and Wrbitz. This establishment produced about 2,953 tons of ore in 1901, the bulk of which went to Germany. In Styria the chief ore producer is the Märkisch-Westfälischer Bergwerk Verein, owning mines at Deutsch Feistritz, Guggenbach, Rabenstein, and Übelbach. This undertaking is partly in the hands of German proprietors, and in 1901 the quantity exported to the German Empire by this company was 2,725 tons. In Carinthia there are two important mining properties, the one owned by the family of the Count von Henkel-Donnersmark, situated at Raibl and Wolfsberg, and the other at Raibl, belonging to the State. Of these, the former turned out about 11,050 tons and the latter 6,695 tons. Another large zinc-mining enterprise in Carinthia is the Bleiberger Bergwerke Union Actien Gesellschaft, a limited-liability company with works at Bleiberg-Kreut, Windisch-Blieberg, Eisenkappel, Feistritz, and Meiss Schwarzenbach, and an administrative bureau at Klagenfurth.

*ADVANCE SHEETS have been sent the inquirer,