Evening star., 1913-12-07
Ministry
NJ

cabinet was defeated. go to
Ministry PCS. in the chamber Of depu-
n..x ties on the question OF
A' whether the new loan or
$26000o.0 900 should be taxed or be i'm
mune as the existing rentes. The Barthou
cabinet was marked from birth. cannot
last long" It has lasted eight months and
ten days. which is more than was given
It. 1t was born on the 2Oth of March.
and on June % the premier had occasion
TO say, referring to the anti-patriotism
and insurrection OF the C. G. T.. or the
general labor confederation. then questions
OF discussion: "A permanent plot against
national security had been denounced
since fifteen years. It was necessary now
to choose between abdication and action.
to act or to die And 1t should be noted
that this virile declaration was applaud
ed and then indorsed by vote in the
chamber OF 3sJ against 165.
It should be remarked also that this
same chamber has voted the law of the
three years military service and the law
OF proportional representation. both OF
which have provoked much discussion.
Nor is there a doubt In France or else
where but that these laws are command
by patriotism and sanity.
| Is France to be treated once more to
the insane regime OF JaureZ and Combes.
who have In reality overthrown the cab
met? Under the rule the president OF
the republic should send for Jaurez,
Combes or Callaux and confide to one
or the other Of these the formation of a
new cabinet in place OF the resigned
Barthou cabinet But an exception may
apply in the case OF each OF these. for
- ~. nx~ct &r.sl{ q
| tary service. as we'll as the proportional
representations which have recently been
voted and passed despite the opposition
of Juarez Combes. Callaux and theil
partisans, and each, therefore, is dis
qualified.
The president will doubtless make haste
slowly, and the senate, perhaps. may re-
verse the action Of the
| Possible chamber and thus offer a
- parliamentary exit out OF
SVAuIAOA' the impaSse.
It was already apparent that a mys-
terious group was being secretly formed
by M. Caillaux with the object of over
turning the Barthou cabinet. and 1t was
already known that the point Of attack
would be concentrated on the PROPOSE
immune. Premier Barthou and NJ. Du-
mont, minister OF finance. eloquently ap-
pealed to the chamber ION the ~
| instantly to respect the traditional m
munity accorded rentes. Not to do sc
| would deal a deadly blow to the financial
prestige of France. As We have seen
the appeals were unheeded. and Wnen the
| vote was announced and the government
placed in minority wild cheers went up
| from the coalition, which Is now booked
| to become a new party.
The gravity of the situation may not
be ignored. The first result will be to
postpone indefinitely the emission of the
loan, and the military necessities must
suffer. all Of which is a menace to the
situation may provoke a counter
action, and the ''upsetters" in parlia-
ment, confronted by an aroused public
sentiment, may be only too happy to
dents task would be simpiifed by re
Questing NJ. Barthou to, reorganize his
cabinet. The lesson might serve as Q
salutary one to the chambers and teach
| them the value or being more constant
in their convictions.
The government rentes 1T should DC
said, have always been guaranteed I'M
munity from taxation. To undertake Il
change a traditional policy at such 9
moment above all would be considered
by the public as an act OF spoliation
and, more, an act Of very bad, even
dangerous, policy. The subscribers to
the French rentes are legion, and for
the most part comprise the conservative
masses, whether rich or poor, and the
"upsetters" in the chambers cannot be
numbered as holders to any great ex-
| tent A rapid decline of the rentes
which is liable to follow may not only
provoke violent demonstrations, but en-
danger the existence of the republic
1 itself.
| The question is not new. Those who
have inspired the coup have doubtless
| for months studied ir
| M Thiers' silence the past. In 1888
=. NJ. Theirs defended in
kOsltlOn. parliament immunity OF
| French rentes from taxation. He said:
"A law expressly prohibits tax on
rentes; but even IL that law did not
exist, do you think that you would gain
anything by taxing the rentes? l will
prove to you that you cannot gain.
What do you mean by taxing the
rentes? 1t means the subtraction OF a
part Well tax the rentes certain
proportion and you will see the fall OF
the rentes in proportion to that SUBJ