ECONOMIC LEGISLATION IN SWITZERLAND.
[To Tan EDITOR or TEE " SYECTITOB..]
Sin,—As an addition to the facts on the above subject given by Mr. Ashley in your issue of May 21st, it may be interesting to your readers to know that at last year's Landsgemeinde of the Canton ITri (at which I was present), a Bill imposing progressive taxation was carried by an enormous majority after an animated debate.
The progression was as follows:—On the capital value of property, the tax gradually increased from 1 per mil. on pro- perties at and under 30,000 fr., to 11 per mil. on properties at and over 400,001 fr.; and further, the tax on incomes gradu- ally increased from per cent, on incomes at and under 1,000 fr., to 2 per cent, on incomes at and over 10,001 fr.
The chief opposition to the measure was directed —not en- naturally—against this extremely rapid progression of the Income-tax. It is not a little remarkable that the maximum income beyond which it was apparently thought needless in the Canton Uri to carry the progression, is the same amount which in this country is the minimum income upon which it has been considered reasonable that the fall tax should be levied. We were on that occasion informed that progressive taxation had been introduced into ten of the Swiss Cantons.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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