New-York tribune., 1901-05-26
THE FRENCH BUDGET.
ALARM OVER THE INCREASING Bur.
DENS' UPON A PEOPLE NOT GROW
ING IN NUMBERS OR WEALTH
Paris. May Ia

Paris. May IA
The French Budget for 1902 which will bs
submitted to the Chamber of Deputies as soon
as that body settles down to business after i+s
annual spring holiday. is a drastic object lesson
illustrating in a striking manner the wisdom
OF Gambetta, who, in 1881, already Anticipated
the constantly expanding abuses of republican
finance and Valnly endeavored to impress upon
the French Parliament the wisdom of Glad
stones maxim that the constitutional duty Of
a legislative chamber is not 10 augment but TO
restrict the national expenditure" Gambetta
proposed that the Chamber of Deputies should
have the last word in parliamentary contro-
versies on finance. in consideration of its re-
nouncing its power either to increase any esti-
mate in the Budget presented by the minister
or TO open any new credit-a proposition rejected
by Gambetta's own colleagues in his short lived
ministry. The financial prodigalty of the re-
public has since grown with alarming rapidity
Millions Of the national wealth have been
squandered by each Parliament on the creation
Of superfiuous posts designed to increase the
patronge OF Deputies or to advance their local
popularity. If the Parliamentary republic is 10
come TO an end that result will proba bly, not be
the consequence of political opposition whether
from imperialists, royalists. socialists or Ds-
roulede nationalists, but will be brought about
an uneXpanding population
The estimates for 1902 just distributed to the
members Of the Senate and Chamber of Depu-
ties put the national expenditure fo- the year
at S120oOOOOo. being an increase Of S15. 900 900
over the expenditure of the Budget for 1901
This is the largest regular annual expenditure
ever contemplated by France. and is unprece-
dented in Europe in time of peace
On July /, 1899, NJ. CaiIlaux then as TODAY
Minister of Finance. submitted to Parliament
his estimates for 1900. which were fixed at
SG94000000 which he then declared to he the
heaviest sum that the national production could
bear. To-day the same Finance Minister de-
mands an expenditure of S26OOOOO0 more than
he asked for two years ago. when he seateG
that il impossible for the country to pay
a larger sum, and during these two years neither
the national wealth nor the population has per-
ceptibly increased. Indeed. the national revenue
during the last four months of the present year
shows alarming shrinkage. According to the
statements just issued by the Ministry of Fl
nance, the revenue during the months Of Janu-
airy, February, March and April fell short by
S3.400000 of what was estimated and were So
100000 below the receipts during the four corre-
spending months of 1900 The month of April
shows particularly bad deficit. for the revenue
collected from all sources during the month just
that month. The items wherein great shrinkage
is noted postage stamps, customs duties
sugar tax and indirect taxation
In 1891 there were 3S0000OO taxpayers IN
France, and for 1901 this figure remains the
same-the population has indeed, been almost
stationary for the last ten years. Expenses and
taxation have terribly increased. but not so the
human capital which must support them. Ten
years ago there were 100000 taxpayers in
Germany, and now there are more than 56OOO-
600, increase of over 100000. Ten years
ago the inhabitants of England numbered 3S-
100000. as against 100000 shown by the last
census. increase of 100000.
In 1891 the foreign trade Of France which is
regarded by eminent political economists as
furnishing the most accurate barometer of the
energy, force and economic fecundity of the
nation, amounted to 81, 500, 100000. In the year
1900 the French foreign commerce amounted
TO 81 697 600 600. an increase of barely sos 000-
600. The following tables show what advances
have been made by Frances most formidable
neighbors The figures represent the values Of
foreign trade of the respective countries, which
are taken as the most accurate coefficents of
national wealth.
FRANCE.
IN IN lsysus ssysips Of Of f9Fsn fssn trade 3
GERMANY.
1s9i-Ealue foreign 81 sl7 600 900
In l9oo-Value Of foreign trade. 2473ooo 900
Increase for the year lsOO........... se56o 600
ENGLAND
n 1891 Iss1-Xalue Of foreign trade s. iSo GOO coo 600 600
Increase for year 1890. $4,000 900
There are already indications that French tax
payers are determined seek relief from the
increasing burdens placed upon nation sta
tionary in population, and the economic wealth
and resources of which advancing so feebly
in comparison with those of neighboring coun-
tries The remedy suggested by NJ Leroy
Beaulieu and by NJ. Jules Roche formerly Min
lister Of Commerce, and to whom am indebted
for the above figures. is to deprive the Cham
Der Of Deputies Of financial initiative in regard
10 expenditure That is to say. the French Par
lament must renounce its power either to in
q the Budget presented