Q2 1903; TEHRAN
-- The hearty huzzahs surrounding the construction of the Azeri-Persian railway by Russia and expanded British
involvement in the south should not cause the great internal reforms taking place in Persia to be overlooked.
The Shah has directed that all future taxes shall be collected directly by the Persian Government, and not farmed out to the highest bidder, as is done in Turkey. This reform is intended to put an end to an evil in Persia which has so far raged rampant in almost every Oriental land. Hitherto the process of collecting revenue in Persia has been one of relentless squeezing. The Governor who could show the heaviest bag of revenue on the Persian New Year's Day would receive the highest commission.
The graft was wrung from the Governors, who in turn had wrung it from the tax-collectors, who had wrung it from the people; and the amount which the Shah received depended on the daring of the Governors. The custom of offering the "Pish-Kash was abolished three years ago, but it still remained a bad thing for the tax-farmer if he did not meet the expectations of his Governor, and for the Governor if he did not meet those of the Shah.
Persia has taken a new step in the right direction, welcome alike to traders and citizens and full of significance to the traveler in Persia. There is some sign that the Emir of Afghanistan, which has recently abandoned its status as a British protectorate, may seek to enact similar reforms.
The Shah has directed that all future taxes shall be collected directly by the Persian Government, and not farmed out to the highest bidder, as is done in Turkey. This reform is intended to put an end to an evil in Persia which has so far raged rampant in almost every Oriental land. Hitherto the process of collecting revenue in Persia has been one of relentless squeezing. The Governor who could show the heaviest bag of revenue on the Persian New Year's Day would receive the highest commission.
The graft was wrung from the Governors, who in turn had wrung it from the tax-collectors, who had wrung it from the people; and the amount which the Shah received depended on the daring of the Governors. The custom of offering the "Pish-Kash was abolished three years ago, but it still remained a bad thing for the tax-farmer if he did not meet the expectations of his Governor, and for the Governor if he did not meet those of the Shah.
Persia has taken a new step in the right direction, welcome alike to traders and citizens and full of significance to the traveler in Persia. There is some sign that the Emir of Afghanistan, which has recently abandoned its status as a British protectorate, may seek to enact similar reforms.



