Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 91, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 July 1899 — “On the Road” in Russia. [ARTICLE]

“On the Road” in Russia.

Life “on the road” in England is not everything that could be desired, but what would “commercials” over here think of certain regulations now in force in Russia? According to “Sell’s Commercial Intelligence,” by a law recently enacted in St Petersburg commercial travelers, both native and foreign, are required to provide themselves with a license at the cost of 50 rubles (about £5 ss. 6d.), and to obtain at a further cost of 500 rubles (£53 45.) a trading license for the firm or company which they represent. To enable British commercial travelers to take out this latter license they must produce a power of attorney or letter of authority from their employers, and must also possess a “certificate of Ucqpse to trade,” Issued by k British chamber of commerce. These licenses, which are Issued for a period of one year from Jan 1, and are renewable during November and December, are to be procured on entering Russia from the nearest local treasury, town council, muncipal body or collector of taxes, and commercial travelers found pursuing their vocation without having provided themselves with the requisite licenses will be liable to a fine of treble the amount payable thereon, or 1,650 rubles (about £175). Commercial travelers of the Jewish persuasion can only obtain these licenses and engage in business in Russia by special sanction of the ministers of the interior, finance and foreign affairs. —London Star.