The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-11-08

wall France Have an Income Tax?
In Paris on November o Finance Min
ister CAMLAUx denied that the Clemen-
e Cabinet intended to withdraw the
feature Of its income tax bill which sub
jects investors in the public rentes, or
Government bonds, 20 the operation Of
the proposed law. This il the feature
which seems certain TO cost the Radical
party the support of many voters, espe-
cially among the peasantry and the minor
b~ourgeOisle, at the next general election,
even il il does not cause u deadlock
through a refusal on the part OF the
Senate to sanction the project.
Few Americans who have not read
BAIZAC. who never tires of referring to
the subject. realize the extent To which
in France the small tradesmen and the
peasants put their savings into Govern
ment bonds. Next TO the acquisition of
"a piece Of land the knowledge that his
name is inscribed on the Grand Livre
gives the small French capitalist the
most reassuring Of security. The
minuteness Of the sums thus invested ia
amazing. No fewer than 8S4,OOO bond
holders receive by way OF interest less
than s. a year. and there are than
1888, 900 whose annual income from their
rentes falls short of s.. The bOndhOId-
ers who draw less than $500 interest
yearly number more than 5000, 900. II
the income tax becomes a law every n
Of these small investors will be exposed
- t,-vt.ito~;aI nwnaakSwaSsOn The NV
treme unwillingness Of the agriculturist
or s~hopkeeper TO submit TO searching
inquiry into his peCuniary status il
notorious in France. and it is question
able whether any Government respor-
sible for such a scrutiny could survive
the unpopularity il would provoke.
Nevertheless NJ. CLEMENcEAU has prom
ised the Socialists, who for the most part
are workmen and do not invest in Cow
eminent bonds, that an income tax law
shall be enacted.
The last attempt to place such a law
upon the statute book in France proved
fatal to the Cabinet headed by NJ. LEON
BOURGEOIS, who after taking Office in
October, 1895, brought forward, TO the
delight Of the Radicals and Socialists, a
proposal for a progressive income tax.
n March Of the following year the Cham
Der Of Deputies adopted. though only by
a majority Of sixteen, an order of the
day approving the principle involved.
II turned out that the opponents OF the
bill, though they were unable 20 over
throw NJ. BOURGEOIS in the Chamber,
could control the Senate, and they used
the latter body as IA lever to pry the
Cabinet out Of Office. The Senate twice
passed a vote Of want Of confidence in
the Ministers, who, however. refused to
consider this a ground for resignation,
declaring that they held themselves
accountable to the Chamber Of Deputies
alone. ThereupOn the Senate adopted
different tactics, and in April Of the year
named announced that it would refuse
the credits demanded for Madagascar
until a change Of Ministry should have
taken place. Thus il proclaimed itself
rather than tolerate an income tax.
Under the circumstances NJ. BOURGEOIS
deemed il expedient TO resign.
1t is true that the parliamentary situa-
ton at this time differs materially from
that of is95-98. VI. CLEMENCEAU is much
stronger in the Chamber of Deputies than
was NJ. BOURGEOIS, and there is no doubt
that the Radicals now prepOnderate in
the Senate, which was not the ~ eleven
years ago. Nevertheless it is certain
that resistance will be offered
in the latter body to the passage Of a
measure which the peasants and the small
tradesmen will bitterly resent.