New-York tribune., 1903-03-01

Lady Essex Lady Lister Kaye. Mr. an0 MRS.
q. W. c. Drex@a, Edmond Leers and L. L.
Biddle.
The obstruction tactics employed by the
Parliamentary representatives of the fifty
thousand small rural and suburban dis
tilIeries of spirits for family consumption.
hitherto exempt from alcohol excise, is having
a pernicious effect on the budget presented by
~ Rouvier Minister of Finance, which is grad
uaily being knocked into a cooked hat. for the
Deputies, as soon as they get into financial
questions push their own local hobbies regard
less Of the general interests Of the country.
This is likely to continue so long as the inita-
tive in matters Of national expenditure remains
one of their prerogatives.. Yesterday the Cham
Der was obliged to resort, for the third time
since January 1, to voting provisional months
credit 10 provide funds to carry the public
service This is characterized by leading bank
ers as almost scandalous when 1t is considered
that the whole budget, according to constitu-
tionaI law, should have been voted on Decem-
Der 81 The hasty amendments of NJ. Rouvier's
budget have already made extra deficit OF
% 100000 francs. To meet this the budget COM
mittee consulted at the last moment. 1t is now
proposed to put tax Of IA francs, or % cents
on petroleum, and still further to increase the
tax on spirits. The budget committee estimates
the new petroleum tax will produce an addl-
tional 100000 francs, and the increased spirit
tax 100000 francs, making altogether 49,
100000 francs.
III. Rouvier asks. Why 390O00GO when only
% 600 600 are wantel2" The budget committee
replies oh, one never knows what a new
tax will yield; better have a million or ten mill
ions for safety" NJ. Rouvier replies. But can
tell you beforehand that your new petroleum
tax will only produce three millions, and as to
your increased tax spirits. which has already
reached the maximum, you will find that the
consumption of spirits Will fall off and leave
you in a bad tangie. and completely upset my
budget 1 oppose the whole business"
Then the budget committesI answers Well
we wash our hands of everything. It is for you
TO raise money the best way \you can" 1t is
altogether a sad object lesson( of the sipshod
way financial questions are treated in the Cham
her. The French taxpayer thus sees his taxes
automatically increasing each year. Finance
certainly is the weakest point in the parlia-
mentary regime of the Third Republic.
Three new plays were brought out this week
and in each case great expectations were disap-
pointed. Les AppeIeurs,'' The Decoy
Ducks produced by Ambrose Janvier at the
Odeon. is a wierd bit Of Ibsenian mysticism
in three acts. beautifully mounted and we'll
acted La Heureuse" comedy by Maui
rice Henniquin and Paul Bilhaud. afforded
Nine ReJane a treSh opportunity lcE dlSpldN-
ing her exquisite gaminerie. There is charm
ing first act, positively tedious second act ana
the third and final act lacks the emotion OF
drama and the wit of comedy. lie Beau Jeune
Honne" a five act comedy by Alfred Capus.
produced last night at the Varieties. is gossa-
mer web of graceful dialogue and bon mots-
It reveals the obstacles that talented, bright
pretty girl who has acquired all the diplomas
in the arts and sciences, meets with who seeks
to earn an honest living. In Paris she fails, and
lust as her love for her handsome young man
impels her to make the first step which places
her on the down grade toward becoming pro-
fessionaI beauty, the curtain falls. lie Beau
Jeune Homrne" is by means a play of
Capus's best vintage. 1t lacks action and sub
stance and is obviously written to the measure
of the actors and actresses Of the varieties
stock company, just as they might be fitted with
shoes shirts or trousers by a clever craftsman
The library of Emile zola will be offered for
sale at public auction at the Hotel Drouot on
March O. It consists Of three thousand VOL
umes only one of which has more than ordinary
interest. It is q manuscript breviary of the
fifteenth century in German binding Of the sew
enteenth century This work was written for
Pierre de Carmin de Negrepelisse. Abbot Of
Moissac, between I449. and 1888. The arms of
the abbot are reproduced on several pages. Other
volumes consist ma inly Of works Of reference
and modern novels, including a complete coliec-
tfo, of the first edition of De Maupassants
works. with the authors autograph. There Is
also an autograph coTy of Waldeck Rousseaus
Social Questions" with the inscription, To
Emile zola, from his adnirer, Waldeck RouS-
seau.