88 
Urdahl—Historical Survey of Fee Systems. 
population of the commune in which the business is to be con¬ 
ducted. The minimum fee of twelve francs is charged in com¬ 
munes having a population of four thousand or less; and in com¬ 
munes whose population is less than six thousand, the fee is 
sixteen francs. The fee gradually increases with the population 
up to forty francs, which is charged in all places having a popu¬ 
lation of over fifty thousand. Wholesale liquor dealers pay a 
fee of one hundred francs; and distillers’ license fees vary from 
twenty to one hundred francs, according to the population of 
the communes. The total receipts from all brewers’ and dealers’ 
licenses amounted in 1889 to 9,514,482 francs. One of the 
peculiarities of the French liquor license legislation is that the 
fee is charged for all restaurants, hotels, etc., whether intoxi¬ 
cating liquors are sold or not, hence is not confined to the liquor 
traffic. 
A law dated April 28, 1816, required all manufacturers of 
playing cards to obtain a license and pay a fee, and three years 
later an act was passed which granted the right to manufacture 
sulphur on payment of a fee of twenty-five francs. Before that 
time the state had a monopoly of the business of manufacturing 
gunpowder. In 1837 another act was passed, which compelled 
each refiner and manufacturer of sugar to obtain a license at a 
cost of one hundred and twenty-five francs, and in 1873 the 
same provision was extended to manufacturers of vinegar and 
acetic acid, with the exception that the license fee was only 
twelve and one half francs. 
Another business which has long been subject to license regu¬ 
lations is the carrying trade, whether on the public highways or 
on private railroads. The first act dates back to 1817, and con¬ 
tinued in force down to 1873; when an amendment was passed 
which gauged the fee according to the number and kind of vehi¬ 
cles employed. Railroads were required to pay 6.25 francs per 
car, as were other four-wheeled vehicles, while two-wheeled 
carts pay only 2.25 francs each. These charges are very much 
lower than those collected under the old law. Dray and freight 
wagons are also required to obtain a license and pay two francs 
each year for a plate, which must be nailed on a conspicuous 
place on the wagon. 
