The French Chamber had a great debate on Thursday on
the Income-tax, with some singular results. M. Georges Perin, an aide-de-camp of M. Clemenceau, proposed a resolution directing the Government to bring in a Bill establishing a progressive Income-tax, to supersede all existing taxes. Fonr votes were taken. By the first, the Income-tax Bill was ordered by 257 to 228 ; by the second, the word " progressive " was struck out by 221 to 110 ; and by the third, the supersession of other taxes was rejected by 449 to 35. The resolution ordering an Income-tax without definitions was then put, and the fear of the impel progress-if being removed, the majority in its favour rose, being 286 to 238. M. Dauphin, Minister of Justice, promised the Bill, but the Government has little intention of keeping its word. The tax is opposed to the dominant feeling of the French people in favour of secret savings, and to their dread lest they should be hated by their neighbours for possessing too much. An Income-tax with secret returns would not pay the cost of collection.
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