The Anaconda standard., 1890-04-08
LESSON IN TAXATION.

To stimulate the increase of popula-
tion in Fra nee, the chamber of depu-
ties last year adopted measure be-
slowing premium i'm the form of ex-
emption from taxation upon all
families having seven children and up
wards. This action was consequent
upon the discovery that the aggregate
increase of the country's population
was alarmingly small. Yet the cham
Der of deputies did not study the ques-
tion SO thoroughly as il deserved, else
il would have avoided the present
curious and unhappy complications to
which the premium has given rise. No
provision was made that the state
should bear the deficit created thereby.
Instead, in each community the inhabi-
tants not blessed with the requisite
number of offspring have had to pay
all the taxes of their privileged neigh
bors, i'm addition to their own. Were
the ia miles with seven olive branches
evenly distributed throughout France,
the end sought would be reached with
out serious expense or Inconvenience
to anybody. But the poliiicacy is far
from being uniform. I'm some parts,
as in Brittany, families of seven chill
dren are rather the rule than the ex-
ception, and as a consequence the tax
payers who are not entitled to exemp-
tion have been forced to submit to an
increase of taxation TO the extent of
fifty and even sixty per cent.
The unfortunate citizens who are re-
quired to bear the increased burden cry
out bitterly against the injustice of the
new law: and to remove the hardships
il has imposed the chamber of deputies
has under consideration another eXpe-
dient-a measure providing for the
taxation of bachelors and old maids as
such. IL is estimated that the revenue
to he derived from this source will per
nit the diminution of the state dues
that are now exacted from the unfor
tunate fathers of small families.
The ulterior intent of this additional
legislation of course is to encourage
matrimony. But il is more than doubt
ful whether the chamber of deputies
has studied the new problem any more
exhaustiyely than the old. Upon at
young women will find the state order
ing them into wedlock, as it were, un-
der heavy penalty for disobedience.
But the condition of young married
couple in district like Brittany is not
much bettered The state holds out to
them glittering inducement. il is
true, but under the most favorable cir
cumstances il will take eight or nine
years before they can claim the
benefit of exemption. The ad-
vent of twins and triplets may
reduce the period of probation con-
siderable extent. but such blessings are
rare and cannot be admitted into any
system of calculation. For a long
time, therefore, young mar
ried couple must continue to
pay the tax of their older and
more fortunate neighbors. At the
start they find themselves handicapped
in every way, for such of their neigh
bors rs have not as yet reached the
coveted goal have still made a credit
able beginning, no doubt, and will at
tain the prize several years I'm advance
of the newly married couple. Thus the
outlook to the young people of France
is gloomy and discouraging.
The action of the chamber of depu-
ties would be simply ludicrous did il not
involve serious consequences. To en-
force marriage and put premium ON
large families is neither practicable in
theory nor right in morals where the
people are stricken by poverty and
more or less tainted by disease. idocy