Chapter 552 The new atmosphere in France
Rouen, northwest France.
The first task that Parnell received shortly after returning to the city hall was to make an announcement about stopping the collection of city entry taxes and the abolition of toll points on the three main roads entering and exiting Rouen.
He looked at the administrative documents signed and sealed by the municipal commissioner in his hand, and looked at his boss in surprise:
"Mr. Depuen, why do you want to stop city tax?!
"Oh, I mean, is this going to strain City Hall's finances?"
Although he had studied relevant courses at the University of Administration and Management, when he encountered practical problems at this time, he still subconsciously thought based on experience.
The Assistant Municipal Commissioner spread his hands helplessly:
"It was Baron Vaillant's decision. Although I expressed my disapproval, he still insisted on doing it, saying that the experience he learned at the Management University in Paris would enable Rouen to achieve better development..."
Yes, Municipal Commissioner Wayan is also a "student" who has just graduated from the University of Administrative Management, and his grades are even better than Baner's.
And he was very smart. As soon as he returned to Rouen, he noticed that many city hall officials were sent to the building opposite the city hall and became "auxiliary administrators."
He hurriedly inquired about the responsibilities of the so-called auxiliary administrators and found that they only received a basic salary and had nothing important to do. To put it simply, it means leaving the center of power.
After repeated thoughts, Baron Wayan quickly thought of what those people had in common - when they were at the University of Administration, they all expressed dissatisfaction with the new policies recently planned by the Palace of Versailles.
He immediately began to avoid risks, for example, he quickly began to implement policies such as the cancellation of city entry taxes, the suspension of tolls, and allowing foreign craftsmen to enter as suggested by the Palace of Versailles.
These policies have been promoted by the cabinet for many years, but they have encountered various resistance or delays from local governments. These are important inputs to local finances, and no one wants their fiscal revenue to drop sharply.
But this time the situation is different.
The most stubborn and conservative officials were kicked out to the old building across the street, and their replacements were replaced by younger officials who were more accepting of new things. However, due to the limited number of graduates from administrative colleges, many positions are even vacant.
However, this is enough to significantly reduce the resistance to the implementation of new policies. At the same time, Wayan was also worried that he would be moved to the old building across the street, so he quickly signed these policies.
Of course, it is also because the Palace of Versailles has allocated more than 200,000 francs to Rouen this time, and the taxes collected by the newly established Rouen Tax Bureau will also be provided to the city hall in the future.
This money is basically enough to keep the city hall running, so abolishing the city entrance tax is not unacceptable.
Only then did Barnell remember the knowledge he had learned at the Management University, and nodded:
"It seems that it can increase the circulation of goods in various places and promote trade."
Depuen, the second in command of Rouen City, sighed:
"It is said that local tariffs and the commodity access certificate system will be abolished soon. If this continues, Mr. Daniel may go crazy."
Daniel is the treasurer of Rouen.
Depuen immediately waved his hand and said:
"Well, I'm going to the University of Administration next month to study. I'll leave the affairs of Rouen to you. May God bless Rouen."
Barnell took advantage of the journey to the office to explain to his boss:
“You see, if all cities abolish city entry taxes and tariffs, although foreign goods will flow into Rouen, more of our things will be sold to other places, and the ‘goods tax’ will increase significantly.
"Now that there are no tax collectors, the taxes will stay in Rouen..."
Southeastern suburbs of Rouen. Shabaan, the manager of the "Ruby" mirror-making workshop, looked through the carriage window in the direction of Evreux. He suddenly felt in a good mood and couldn't help humming a tune softly:
"Ah! Everything will be fine, everything will be fine..."
No wonder he is so happy. On his delivery trip to Evreux, he encountered only one toll collection along the way - outside a small town on a bend in the Seine - which saved him a fortune.
Even when entering the city of Evreux, no one even collected the city entrance tax!
The whole transaction process was very smooth - he handed over a cart of mirrors to the ordering shop and only paid a customs duty of 4 francs and a stamp duty of 9 sous.
You know, when doing the same business before, he had to pay various tolls and various taxes, which totaled more than 13 francs!
According to this trend, the "Ruby" workshop will earn nearly 50 francs more every month in the future.
And according to the customer, even the tariffs may be canceled starting next month!
Life is simply full of hope. The smile on Xiabaan's face grew wider, and at the same time his humming turned into singing:
"Robespierre and Dubor are singing in the café. Ah! Everything will be fine..."
The attendants and driver were infected by his cheerful mood and sang along:
"...Everything will be fine, everything will be fine! Let us look forward to good days to come!"
After the master and servants finished singing, Xia Ba'an couldn't help but shouted out the car window:
"Thank you to His Majesty the Great Dauphin! Oh, and Count Fulco, M. Robespierre! Long live the Tax Office!"
The car soon entered the city of Rouen, and when it was approaching the Grand Clock Street, it heard a noise coming from the front:
"No, you took too much!"
"Yes! We don't make much money, so we will never pay taxes!"
"Go back quickly, don't even think about taking a penny from us today..."
When the carriage got closer, Xiabaan finally saw clearly that dozens of vendors setting up stalls on this street were confronting four tax officials.
The Grand Clock Street is the most prosperous commercial district in Rouen and an important place for collecting market taxes.
"Look at these guys," the clerk next to Xiaba'an said contemptuously. "In the past, when the people from the tax office came to collect taxes with sticks and whips, they were as honest as sheep."
Shabaan glanced at the pistol on the tax officer's waist, shook his head and said:
"You can't be too polite to these profiteers, but tax officials rarely use force..."
"The current tax rate is much lower than before. If you ask me, I have to give them a good beating! Let's see if they still pay the tax!"
Robespierre was also overkill. In order to create a completely different image of the tax bureau from the previous tax collectors, he asked his subordinates to speak kindly and try not to use force.
This made the whole country praise the tax bureau, but at the same time, some profiteers and unscrupulous people no longer feared them and began to openly act rogue.
When Xiaba'an finally returned to his workshop, before he even got out of the car, he saw the workshop's accountant trotting over and whispered to him:
"Mr. Manager, I just saw the tax collector's carriage on Rue Jourmain. It should be here soon.
(End of chapter)