M. - lagne has presented his Budget for 1874 to the
Assembly. It is a quiet and reasonable document, but showslhat the amount of expenditure for interest and for temporary payments to the Bank will exceed 124,000,000, and that in consequence of the withdrawal or failure of certain taxes the deficit will exceed £7,080,000. He- gives a strong ,opinion against meeting this deficit by loan, and suggests that it should be met partly by economies to the extent of £1,800,000, but chiefly by additions to taxation, five per cent being added to the registration duty, the tax -on sugar, beverages, and salt, '-with other slight -.duties Alton judicial documents, bill stamps., and imported liquors, and a tax upon wax candles, soda, and mineral oils. In other words, if the country will consent to have its sugar, salt, beverages, and artificial lights made a little dearer, the Budget can be made to show a small surplus. The salt increase seems the only one likely to raise popular outcry, and the Assembly will, doubtless, accept the proposition.
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