Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-08-02
Population, Wages and Taxes in
France.

EIaMC0e
From the Fortnightly Review.
At best the population OF France grows in
numbers very slowly. Allowing for the million
and a half taken away by Germany, the popu-
lation of France has, we may say, made no pro-
gress at all since 1850. It's numbers are smaller
now than they were fifteen years ago, while the
load Of taxation has almost, doubled; in mere
debt charges 1t has much more than doubled.
Equally stationary has been the export trade of
France. The average OF recent years has indeed
been lower than for the years Immediately sue
ceeding the war. Imports have, on the other
hand, augmented much, but not because the
country has been internally prosperous. The
increase Is the consequence Of bad harvests. and
indicates a further liquidation of the wealth OF
the people. France may, therefore, be consd-
cred to exist under conditions that have not
materially changed within the past ten years
so far as new developments Of It's resources are
concerned. The higher wages of its population.
therefore, represent little more than an artii-
cial state-induced prosperity born of aug
mented debt and ali inflated paper currency.
The statements constantly made before the
parliamentary commission lately established
in France to examine the position Of the work
ing classes proves this. The representative
for example, of the carpentry trade stated that
mems waves had doubled since 1S45 but 10 coo
men out of the 20, 600 comprising his guild were
out VI NOIh Ill IdllS mere,
we have purely artificial Industrial condition.
and upon this unnatural structure the French
government has built pile Of debt which de-
mands about &c per annum per family for its
service. This Is reckoning the family at five, as
in England. although that is probably too high
Putting Paris alongside London for the sake of
comparison with the preceding essay, find that
in addition to his payment of &c to the state
treasury for debt charges, the head of a family
of FIVE in that city must find FL los toward the
charges Of the debt OF Paris Reckoning per
head, imperial debt takes 23s from the work
man per annum, and Partisan debt 34s or to-
gether. f2 It's. The rest of France, of course
has no such load to endure, and that of
Paris is mtigated by its being the greatest re-
sort Of the wealthy in Europe next to London
and by the fact that 1t owns the water supply.
Still, here we have the weakest spot, and these
figures tell US in general way the secret Of
that Partisan unrest and discomfort which ever
and anon threatens France. Adding together
all the charges paid out of taxes local and i'm
pefal the Partisan Puyrier has to find on the
average about ct Is. per annum out of his earn
ings. Now, assuming that he is fully employed,
the average earnings of the Partisan artisan is
under rather than above Cos. per week. or Els
per annum. Debt charges alone consequently
cost the Partisan workman about fortnight g
income, and his entire share of the public bur-
dens. if he be unencumbered with wife and fam
lily. represents about five weeks earnings. In
proportion as his family increases the power of
the workman to live under his load becomes
less. Even if his wife works she can do COM
paratively little to help him, for the average
earnings of females is not above half @ crown q
day, or 1SS. per week.