Part 40 (2/2)

(_a_) The _Taglione_ = capitation fee for belonging to a guild.

(_b_) The _Tansa insensibile_ = tax on profits of his work.

=3.= Duties on imports and exports.

=4.= Trade in salt, which was a State monopoly. The profits of this trade at home and abroad amounted at times to one-tenth of the gross revenue.

=5.= Profits of the State Bank, which did business often with foreign princes.

=6.= In days of her decline Venice also resorted to the system of selling public offices.

VIII. Government of Dependencies.--Aim to leave as much independence as was compatible with maintenance of Venetian supremacy, and to a.s.similate the government of the dependent town as closely as was possible with that of Venice.

The representatives of the Venetian Supremacy were the Rettori.

That is--

=1.= The Podesta--the supreme civil officer, with control over the police, the fiscal, and other administrative work.

=2.= The Capitano--who looked after the local levies and other forces.

Both these officials were in immediate communication with the Venetian Senate and the Ten, but were bound by oath to respect the local privileges.

Under the Rector stood the Free Munic.i.p.al Government, which varied in every town, but was always presided over by a Podesta--an elected officer, who was sometimes a native, sometimes a Venetian, sometimes the Rector himself.

Reasons for stability of Venetian Government--

1. Coincidence of theoretical and practical Sovereignty in the same hands.

2. Adaptability of the Const.i.tution, _e.g._ gradual a.s.sumption of power by Senate, and then by the Ten.

3. Strength of the Executive which excited no jealousy.

4. Impartiality of Justice.

5. Provision made for n.o.bles in Government of Dependencies, for the middle cla.s.s in civil service and commerce, for the lower cla.s.ses in the fleet.

6. Large alien Population who did not want political power, but to be judged fairly, taxed lightly, and find employment.

For the imperial Inst.i.tution, see pp. 106, 145.

For the Spanish Const.i.tution, see pp. 92, 299.

FOOTNOTES:

[87] The College decided whether the offender should be tried by the Council or the Senate. If he was accused of treason, the case went to the Council of Ten.

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