South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-09-21
T ENCH PLAN
To RAISE TAX
ON LUXURIE5
Aim to Make VanitieS of Life
Pay LARGEST Share of War
Representatives, Are
to be Taxed.

PARIS. Sept. 21-A movement is
on foot in France 10 make the vani-
ties Of life pay a part of the war
debt. Ten percent on the purchase
price of Injuries, proposed by the
budget committee of the chamber
of deputies and approved by the
government, doesn't 90 far enough
to suit a good many. Motor cars
used for touring and sport and
horses used for pleasure driving and
racing ought. they think, 10 pay an
annual tribute 20 the treasury. Gold
ornaments, pearls, precious stones
and rich furs. and generally. every
thing worn that constitutes evidence
of ease and luxury. ought TO pay an
annual tax. they hold since the tax
payable at the time OF purchase
would not reach the billions of
francs worth of Jewels and gold al
ready i'm private hands
The reply To this proposition is
that an annual tax ON such things
would amount 10 partial suppress
sion, the rejoinder is that there will
then he a gain anyway in the direc-
Titles To be Taxed.
Among the vanities aimed at are
titles of nobility which offer am en-
Ormous opportunity for revenue. a
moderate tax upon assumed and
usurped titles alone would bring i'm
a respectable number of millions. it
is claimed. Genuine titles, paying
a far heavier tax. would though far
less numerous. bring in quite as
much.
The discussion of this proposition
has been revelation to many good
democrats who had overlooked the
fact that the feudal institution of
nobility still exists under the third
republic. and who were not aware
that the republic has actually made
little money out of it and could
have made lot more. and that
Pres't Poincare. If he saw tit, could
quite legally make as many dukes.
marquis. counts. barons and knights
as there are vain souls willing To
make il worth while.
Pay High For Titles.
Occasionally real. noble who
wants TO make his title clear offers
the treasury the established acces-
sion fee The government accepts
the money timidly. as if. i'm SO doing,
il became "a sort of an accomplice
after the fact The Duke de la
Rochefoucauld paid the treasury am
inyestiture fee of $3.50 francs about
Is years ago, under "a decree of the
restoration fixing iuvestiture fees at
5,15O francs for duke. POS francs
for marquis or a count. l.40N
francs for a viscount. 1875 fra--s
for a baron and A. francs for
knight
There are thousands Of persons
that precede their names with the
proposition de" who have never
decided i'm their own minds whether
they ought to pass as dukes or moth
ing but knights the proposition
looks well ON visiting card and
that is enough tor them.
Why shouldn't these people pay
for the satisfaction OF their vanity
is the question that is asked
Previous Attempts Made
-Four attempts have been made 10
abolish titles since the adoption Of
the present constitution and as
many 10 tax them more heavily.
one schedule Of annual title taxes
proposed by Emile MoreauN. deputy
from Lille was prince 100000
francs; prince with the additional
title Of his highnesS. 100000 francs.
duke. 10000 francs. duke with the
additional title of his highness. POO
600 francs; marquis, 10000 francs;
count, 10000 francs; viscount. TO-
600 francs: baron. 5000 francs.
knight 1000 francs; the use of the
simple proposition before the name.
900 francs annually
A proposed amendment provided
that any commune hamlet. village
or town, the name of which was
taken. 10 make a title Of nobility
could exact tax on its own ac-
count Another went much farther
and proposed that communes and
towns could ouer their names TO the
highesl bidder for the purpose.
The present movement doesn't go
SO far. IL simply asks that if titles
are 10 be tolerated. the holder
should pay amply for the privilege.
as do moro modest citizens. for other
privileges.