New-York tribune., 1901-12-29
PARIS.
THE CITY BUDGET AND BURDEN OF
DEBT
COMMENT ON PRESIDENT ROOSEVELTs
CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIoN-AN
ACADEMY OF WOMEN.
ACADEMY OF WOMEN.

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIoN-AN
ACADEMY OF WOMEN.
Copyright: 1901: BY The New-York Trtbune)
GBT CABLE TO The TRIBUNE.l
Paris Dec. 2S-The Municipal Councillors Of
the city Of Paris, under the presidency Of NJ
Selves. Prefect of the Department of the Seine
gre holding daily sessions. including Sundays
Of ten hours each, discussing the Budget for
1902 the expenses of which are estimated at
SCI, 900. 600. This is a exceeding any pre-
vious yearly expenditure record at the Hotel
de Vile and exceeding the estimates of 1901 by
100000 The situation is aggravated by
deficit of s., 100000 in the Budget of 1901. At
the session last night Ernest Caron. chairman
of the Budget, Committee, in remarka BILE
speech on the financial difficulties of modern
municipal governments stated that the total
debt of the city of Paris was already S4O0.00O,-
600: but notwithstanding this fact, il is neces-
ssry 10 issue the new municipal loan recon-
rnended by NJ. Sainton, president OF the Metro
politan Railway Commission, for S3O.oOO,0Oo
hearing 81 per cent interest, secured by the re-
ceipts Of the Metropolitan Railway and guaran
teed by the city of Paris. This viii enable the
extension of the Metropolitan system and the
construction of cross lines. The Municipal Coun-
ell seems TO favor the idea of a new loan.
which will probably be voted before the end of
the wear 1t seems inevitable that Parsians, al
ready the most heavily taxed municipal popu-
lation in the world, must next year have new
burdens imposed upon them. The Municipal
Council is eagerly discussing the particular
kind of taxation. Among the various schemes
proposed are a dollar capitation tax, taxes on
books, additional taxes on real estate. increased
water rates. etc. At yesterdays session several
items of expenditure of the last year were Sc
verely criticised; for instance, city printing
bill for $3.50 $4,000 for towels and washing
linen and $4,000 for cab hire.
The fate of the Panama Canal Company con-
tinues to attract attention in financial circles
For some unaccountable reason the new direc-
TORS erdeavor TO veil their proceedings with the
mystery Of secrecy Their discourtesy in de-
cning to supply information on the most ele-
\ mentary points and their futile attempt to with
Vhod from publicity the printed report of the
stormy proceedings of the stockholders on
December % are interpreted here as evidences of
the latent sour grapes animosty caused by the
alleged popularity in the United States Of the
rival Nicaragua route. and also showing on
the part Of the directors somewhat natural
disinclination to make an honest confession of
being at the complete mercy of the United
States. That fact is perfectly patent to any
one in Washington Paris who has taken the
pains to consider the Panama Company's real
situation.
The opinion of the leading bankers in Paris
IS most emphatically that it would be impos-
sible 10 raise in France any money TO complete
the canal. and that the only hope for the stock
holders is that the technical superiority of the
Panama route may induce the United States to
pay the Isthmian Canal Commissions valuation
of S40,0O0,OO0, which is regarded here a fair
estimation of the Panama Canal as it stands
to-day-assuming, Of course, and of this nc
doubt is expressed here, that the Panama com
pany can convey a clear title to the property.
The present painful disillusion of the French
shareholders is largely because they had all
along been taught to believe that the Nicaragua
scheme merely IAN impudent Yankee bluff
to enable the United States to buy the Panama
route al cheap figure. Although the eyes of
the Panama shareholders and directors are at
last opened TO the truth. there is still much
shaerin and I'll feeling at being compelled 10
accept what they persist in regarding as a hard
bargain, but which ali impartial observers here
declare TO be the only means of averting the
ruin Of the company, and which it would be
suicidal on the part of the company not TO
avail itself OF. provided IL is not already too
late TO co so.
The directors have decided 10 send E. Lanonra
to Washington TO resume negotiations in behalf
of the company for the sale of the canal NJ
Lampre is well known in New-York and Wash
ington, where two occasions he accon,naniAd
6- Hutin- NJ Lampre, who sailed on I'Aol,i-
taine from Havre to-day is believed TO have
fun authority to sell the Panama company's
;nteres. outright for S40oo0oO0
The Partisan newspapers notwithstanding the
dull, rainy, unreasonable weather are in de-
cded holiday mood, and devote considerahle
space 10 the way IN which several prominent
heads of State passed their Christmas There
are elaborate descriptions of the festivities NJ
President Rooseyelt's family at the White
House, and the way in which the President. dis
guised as Santa Claus, distributed presents ana
executed fancy steps and high kicking while
leading the cake walk dance TO the tuns of
Yankee Doodle" excites interest and cordial an
proval here. and has ELECTED from q LEADING
Partisan journalist the conviction that Presi-
dent Roosevelt must have drop Of Parisian n
blood In his veins. The scenes of -roirtb and
simple domestic gayety at the White House are
contrasted favorably with Emperor wiuiano,s
formal review of his family Christmas trees ana
the consumption of Kaiserkuchen and Honis
kuchen, and his solitary walks in San. sono;
Park at Potsdam, distributing new twenty
mark pieces to necessitous persons whom he
happened to meet
The women's rights movement has found an
enthusiastic disciple in Adolphe Brisson a SON.
jn-law OF the late Francisque Sarcey. who.>-~ 70.