The Sun.
London, England, 1831-01-22 00:00:00

COMMITTEE. OF PUBLIC ECONOMY OF THE CHAMBER OF

DEPUTIES.

This Committee, composed of 36 Members, chosen
without any political distinction, from the most intelligent
men in the Chamber, will be engaged in discussing before-
hand all questions of great importance, such as relate to
legislation, finances, trade, and commerce, whose ameliora-
tion may depend upon a strict application of the principles
of public economy. This Society is in imitation of the
Committee of Economists of the English House of Com-
mons. They meet every Sunday at the house of M.
Ferussac, who, along with some of his colleagues, 111 M.
Bolin, Gautier, De Mosbourg, Augustine Perrier, Curdier,
Arusson Duperron, and Passy, established this Committee.
They mention the following amongst the names of other
Members :-31:11. Aubernon, Baude, Ile Berhis, Basl iv,
Comb's, Delpon, Charles Dupin, Ganneron, Guicot,
Ha-
mann, J. Lefebvre, Puvis, Comte de Rambuteau, Sal-
verte, Comte de Sade, Dc Tracy, Vatimesnil, &c.

CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES-JAN. 19.

At two o'clock M. Casimir Perrier took the chair.

The order of the day was the continuation of the general
discussion on the project of the law relative to the new
system of taxation.
According to the project the contributions will continue
to be divided into two sorts—viz., personal and moveable.
The personal tax will be required of each inhabitant of
both sexes, residing from the let of May in 'me district,
and enjoying civil rights, who is not considered a pauper.
Foreigners, who have resided in a district during six months,
are to be included ; bachelors and maidens, exercising a
profession, or possessing a personal revenue, widows, and
wome❑ separated from their husbands, are likewise suli-
jected to the personal tax. Land and sea officers, who
own a private house for themselves or their families, shall
be taxed in the district where it is situ ite.

The amount of the personal tax, rated at three days'
labour yearly, is fixed as follows towns of 50,000
inhabitants and upwards, 4 francs 40 centimes per indivi-
dual; in those of 20,000 to 50,000, 3f. 75e. ; in those
from 10,000 to 20,000, 3f. 50c. ; in towns from 5,000
to 10,000, 3f. ; in districts with a population from 5,000
to 15,000 inhabitants, 2f. 40e. ; and in all other districts
of less than 5,000 persons, 2f. 10c.
The tax on moveable property is to be levied according
to the amount of the rents, the ratio, for the year 1831,
is to be six centimes per franc. Warehouses, shops, inns,
and factories, already taxed by the owners being obliged to
take out three licenses, and buildings occupied by public
schools and Government offies, are not liable to the
moveable tax.

Officers on leave of absence, staff-officers, gendarmerie,
and recruiting-officers, agents of the war and navy depart-
ments, living in garrison towns and ports, are to be taxed
in the same manner and proportion with the other citi-
zens ; their part of the tax to be kept by the payer out of
their salaries.

Civil and military officers and priests, gratuitously lodged

in publie buildings, are to pay aecordbig to the appraiscl
amount of the refit.

ersons occupying fdrniehed lodgings will also pay in
pf,ip'rtion to the rent, a quarter of which being deducted
for the value of the furniture.

A register
.will be opened in every municipality, on
which every inhabitant residing in the district during six
month', sv t 'in'sCribe, in the presence of the Mayor, or his
aajoint, his name, Christian name, profession, residence,
and the amount of his rent.

The law consists of tliirt3,,-one aft;teles, 'VP atiao.
make known when eht". dt.'easjati toiiithencei on them.

VIEW LAW RESPECTING THEATRICALS,
The Minister of PUblic Instruction then presented the
project of law respecting theatricr). ren.resentations in
France, of which he had gi7en notice yesterday. The mea-
tare e.ci'eed the most intense interest, and the galleries were
crowded. It will try Ministerial. popularity most dan—
gerously. The impression is abroad th,St ,evernme-.lt
mean to impose a ernisotaldr, upon the stage. He cona-
" In the midst of lively hopes of ame-
lioration, and engaged with the progress of prosperity and
liberty, it is impossible for Government to forget the
theatres in which literature and the arts are united."
Various questions, ti-e solv!ng of *hid] depended upon
the kgHtiti've power; haVe frequently occupied our atten-
tion. ihe Govermirent showed ite impatience to get rid
of the dramatic censorship ; and it became an accomplice
in the generous sentiment's which had alwiya oppdsedthat
.establishMent. The Gol.'ernment has t'etained all the sin-
cetity of its liberal intentions. However the same re-
spect for real liberty has not been observed by others.
Dramatic literature has but too often (he was sorry to
say) been made the vehicle of scandal ; it has become
allied, in some measure, to a species of ‘• bidgraphy
and contempotary defamation." Society 0111: the alarm,
ptiblic morals were insulted ; and we, who ought to be
the guardians of the various interests, have been forced to,
provide for those which were most pressing. We shall
resume, and follow up with perseverance, our labours for
the advancement of literature ; but, in accordance with
our own sentiments and duty, we now bring forward a prd-
ject of law for repressing offences, and which was called
for in a special manner by the interests of private families.
Public morals, national integrity, the religion of our
families, and the sacredness of the tomb, are things which
claim immediate consideration and sincere respect.

We are far from having any idea, in the limited measure
proposed, of forming any repressive means which would
he inconsistent with the whole tenor of our laws and the
constitutionalism of our convictions. The Censorship
might still have been in existence; but we considered it
dead. It has bee❑ killed by the Censors.
The liberty of the Press may obtain the greatest exten-
sion ; for in the first instance it represents general inte-
rests ; it appeals directly to the reason ; addresses it in a
series of logical deductions which the understanding can
comprehend—methodical labour shared between the writer
and his readers, and which the latter overcome before they
yield to persuasion. It is very different with respect to
the theatre. There it is not to individuals that observa-
tions are addressed, but to masses who are captivated.
Liberty will not there take the trouble of reasoning, but
passes straight to the imagination. It is no longer the
doctor who advises, but a witch who fascinates, seduces,
and excites the passions.

TITLE REPRESENTATION.

Art. 1. The managers will be allowed to represent all
kinds of plays, upon condition of their being authorised
by the authors of those legally interested, according to the
laws upon literary ownership.
2. The directors shall be required to leave a copy of
every theatrical work in the office of the proper authorities
fifteen days before the performance.
•i. The said copy shall set forth the name of the piece,
the name of the author, that of the theatre, and the whole
of the play.
5. The same formalities will be required with respect to
every piece discontinued for more than one year.
6. The non-compliance with these regulations will be
punishable by a fine of from 500 to 2,000 francs. All
matters in dispute to be referred to the Tribunals.

TITLE 11.-111'0Y THE INSTIGATIOY TO CRIMP:.

Whoever shall have, by the means of theatrical repre-
sentations, excited the author or authors, to write what
may be an offence or a crime, shall be considered an ac-
complice, and punished as such. And if the instigation to
commit an offence of this nature has not been acted upon,
the instigator shall be punished by imprisonment of from
three months to five years, and by a fine of from 100
francs to 6,000 francs.

11. Every attack upon the sacredness of the King's
person, the Royal dignity, the order of succession to the
throne, the rights which the King holds by the wishes or
the French nation and the Constitutional Charter, his
constitutional authority, the rights and authority of the
Chambers, shall be considered as instigations to crime.
All seditious cries aud exclamations, all insults against
those religions legally recognized, shall be held in the light
of instigations to crime.
Instigating to a breach of the laws shall be punished by
a fine of from 50 to 4,000 francs, or imprisonment from
15 days to three ye mrs.