The Political Institutions and Theories of the Hindus: A Study in Comparative Politics c11.t28.7

c11.t28.7

The realization of salt *gabelle* was threefold. First, the importing merchant had to pay the regular 16⅔ per cent as customs plus the 5 per cent on the remainder as excise. Secondly, the indigenous manufacturer purchased license from the government on the same terms. There was thus no economic discrimination against foreign salt. The effects of a countervailing excise duty were brought in operation, indicating the “fiscal” character of the tariff. And thirdly, it appears that the government charged 13⅛ per cent as premium on the money that it received as price for the salt collected from the importer and the home manufacturer.¹