New-York tribune., 1908-02-16
INCOME TAX DEBATE.
LIKELY TO BE VOTED.
Germany Considers Clemenceau $
Military Speech Popularity Bid.
Tspecial bv French Cable to The Tribune'I
srl.e ASsnciafiGQ.


[coryrsht 1905. by The Tribune Associatien-l
. Paris Feb 15.-The debate the proposed
income tax has formed the chief pollticai event
of the week The speech made by NJ Caliiau~.
Minister of Finance, was LUMINOUS defence OF
the measure with which this statesman's name
has been for many years identified. he
argued that the general tendency Of the ne"
law was to increase the taxation of large estates
and reduce that upon small incomes. He calcu-
lated that an artisan who now pays rent tax
on an income of $500 would find his debt to the
government reduced to less than 81, whie
estates of 100000 which formerly paid oniy
$1,000 to the state, would pay $4,000
OF course the income tax is meant only TO
take the place of the present rent tax, which,
as M. Rouvier, who also is the author OF an III
tax bill which the Chamber rejected mas
pointed out, is income tax calculated ac-
cording to exterior signs of wealth instead OF
being based the independent declaration OF
the taxpayer The chief objection to an income
tax based this principle Of invesusatlon OIL
each individual case has been the fear that an
inquisitorial character might be given to IT, M
Caiaux hopes he has got rid of this objection
by announcing that in cases where the govern
ment estimate of a taxpayers income is in ex-
cess of the figures declared by the taxpayer
himself the onus of proving which is right
will rest with the revenue officers. The most
notable opponents to the income tax who nave
made themselves heard thus far are M. Rlpo'
and Jules Roche-Ribot in the Chamber, where
he leads the Moderate Republican party, and
Jules Roche in the Figaro for. being Sena-
tor, he has not yet had opportunity of de-
batting the subject in parliament
NJ. Ribot is perhaps the most distinguished
statesman in France. His tall, dignifed figure
when he rises to speak, always commands re-
hic radical
opponents He has already been Minister OF
Finance in the Opportunist Cabinet, and there
is no department of public life with which ne is
not practically familiar. One of his most
telling objections to the Caillaux scheme is that
it will tend indirectly to tax labor. He also
condemned the proposal to tax foreign scrip as
a measure likely to bear with special severity on
the small investor.
NJ Ribots speech was received with marked
sympathy by the ma jority of the Chamber, but
parliamentary discipline has become so perfect
under NJ. Clemenceau's reign that there is little
doubt that the bill will be ultimately voted
To help combat the growing spirit of anti
militarism in the nation NJ. Clemenceaul chose
the occasion early this week of the unve1lng OF
the monument in the Luxembourg Gardens to
the late Senator Scheurer- Kestner to make
speech glowing with military ardor and recalling
the great feats of arms performed by the AL
satians in the republican and imperial cam
paigns. The Senator was an Alsatian, and
it was he who first set the Dreyfus ball
a-rolling dying, it is believed. from disappoint-
ment caused by the failure of his first efforts on
behalf of the man of whose innocence he was so
passonately convinced.
1t was feared at first in Republican circles
that NJ Clemenceau's direct allusion to hopes
still entertained by the Alsatiaps of being one
day reunited to France might have caused
umbrase in Germany but the German press has
taken the matter philosophically, and rightfully
considered NJ. Clemenceau's outburst purely
patonic demonstration. destined to consolidate
his popularity with his political hackers at
home but having no international significance.
The opposition papers contend that M. Glenn
enceau cannot have his cake and eat it and
minimize military influence with hand and
pat the army the back with the other. His
recall of General Drude, commanding the Mo-
rocco expedition, and the substitution Of Gen
eral d'Amade is quoted as an instance of his
high-handed method in dealing with distin-
gushed officers but it is known that the
real reason of General Drude's recall was not
that General d'Amade was persona grata with
General Pcquart Minister of War. but that
General Drude had made himself Objectionable
to the Spanish commander in Morocco to such
an extent that useful cooperation between the
French and Spanish forces had become impos-
sible General d'Amade is an officer of excep
tionaly wide experience very popular with his
troops was French military attache in the
Transvaal war and is the only French officer
who wears the Transvaal medal. c. 1. B.