The Chamber has actually done worse than the Finance Committee
; it - has lopped off - revenue-bearing schemes -which had been passed by the-Committee. ' On -Monday, for instance, it rejected the increased tax on motor-cars and the increased price of tobaceo. Before the final -division, M. Briand declared that his opponents' only reason for not balancing the Budget was that the Govern- ment refused to accept their nostrums,- but no political Opinions ought to be made an excuse for tolerating finan- cial chaos. The Bill, as altered, was passed by 258 votes to 115. The Chamber then decided to rest froni its mischievous labours by adjourning for a week. Public opinion against the deputies has become continually more indignant. The latest amplification of the French language is that." deputy" is now a Word of abuse. -It is difficult to see what groups could form a Government -if M. Briand resigned. It is b. sign of the times that M. Tardieu has been -returned at a by-election for Belfort, a constituency which was always regarded as a Cartel stronghold. France is no nearer than she was months -ago to meeting her obligations on the bonds which fall -due for payment this month. To default would be disgraceful, yet the majority of the deputies are indifferent.
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