New-York tribune., 1908-07-12
DELAY VOTING REFORMS
DEPUTIES WANT HOLIDAY
NJ. PeHetan Calls Premier "Politicat
Parpenu" "-Scant Bryan Comment.
rsnec;aI nv French Cable to The Tribune

ICOpyrigh1,
Paris July 1.-THE French Parliament just
on the eve of closing its doors for the summer
vacation, presents very breezy and playful as
meet The ministers are trying hard to rush
through a few supplementary credits. while the
Deputies, like schoolboys in hurry to be over
the hills and far away for their holidays delay
voting anything at all serious uhtn next
autumn. This attitude is gratifying not only
to Premier Clemenceau but to the majority OF
the Chamber, who do not appear to be III the
least anxious to vote certain reforms, such as
income tax and re-estab ablishment of capital pun
ishment or to complete the state purchase of
railroads bill, only half Of which is voted and
which is still subject to innumerable amend
ments
In fact the Chamber lacks the energy to vote
these reforms, has 1t the courage to op-
nose them Somewhat startled by the popular
manifestations against the income tax and in
favor of capital punishment, the bewildered
Deputies, who keep their ears very close TO the
ground. want to have quiet chats with their
constituents. Strong doubts have already been
raised among the radicals and Socialists in re-
gard to the advisa bility of the proposed income
tax They at first thought that it meant a tax
on the wealthy classes, and would be almost ex-
clusively paid by those who had nothing to do
but to live on the interest on their Investments.
They now FeallZe tIldl Is a tdA oh iopoi'
from which it was hitherto exempt, and which
enables the fiscal authorities to put their in
quisitorial noses into every humble citizens
private affairs Deputy Pelletan is the only mem
her of Parliament who has showed a desire to
hurry the income tax through. He proposed
that the Chamber should sit all through the
summer if necessary, until the project was
voted A howl of discomfort arose, whereupon
NJ. Pelletan tried to obtain promise from
Prime Minister Clemenceau that he would con-
woke Parliament as early as October 10, TO dis
cuss the income tax. This Premier Clemenceau
firmly but good humoredly declined to do. say
ing that if the Chamber had lost confidence in
>she government it could vote what it pleased,
but as the Cabinet still enjoyed the confidence of
the Chamber it would be ridiculous not to give it
elbow room enough to choose Of its own accord
the day for resuning work
Deafening cheers rewarded Premier Clemen-
ceau for this popular suggestion, and M. Pelle-
TAM losing his temper, caused much mrth by
calling the Premier "a political parvenu and
declaring that the former anarchist and de-
stroyer of ministries had become simply the
colossal snob of parliamentarism M. Clemen-
ceau himself Joined heartily in the prevailing
laughter
The nomination of Bryan the Democratic
candidate elicits only scant comment, except
among Socialists of the Jaures type, who con-
tend that Organism Is based on deep and JUS
tifable social protest against things as they
now exist. M Hebrard. editor Of the 'Temps, y
asks for evidence of Bryans having accom-
pshed anything practical, and of his talents for
administration. before expressing an opinion. M.
Clemenceau is reported to have remarked, Tho
Republicans could not nominate Mr.. Roosevelt
| because he refused to run. and the Democrats
felt obliged to nominate Mr.. Bryan because he
refused to allow any one else to run" c. l. B.