M. Pouyer-Quertier's plan of imposing a duty of 20 per
cent. on the raw materials used in French manufactures has been rejected. The Budget Committee of the Assembly rejected it by 17 to 5, and a modified proposal of a 6 per cent. duty was also rejected, the Committee preferring the American plan of levying a tax on the home consumption of manufactured produce. M. Pouyer- Quertier at first threatened resignation, but as it was understood that the Assembly agreed with its Committee, the Government has given way. We have discussed the subject elsewhere, but may note here that the project attributed to the Committee of putting a stamp on the article itself would never work. How stamp a
• dress, or a bracelet, or a ham, or prevent the stamp from being used twice ? The Committee has adopted the penny stamp on :receipts above ten francs, but that will not yield enough to make up for M. Pouyer-Quertier's scheme.
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