14 MARCH 1896, Page 3

The Times' correspondent in Paris fiercely supports the resistance of

the Budget Committee to M. Bourgeois' pro- posal of a graduated Income-tax. He describes it as a proposal to rob two hundred thousand French citizens who possess all the wealth of France, for the benefit of a majority who possess nothing, and who ought therefore apparently to pay all the taxes. He admits, however, that during the President's tour the people manifested strong approval of the tax, and evidently thinks that M. Bourgeois will either carry it or go to the country upon it with every hope of success. One thing seems to be clear, that the "stop-gap Ministry" is the strongest which has recently ruled France, chiefly because its Head knows his own mind.