| Show Z- Z DAVID YZ LL LLOYD 0 YD GEORGE SEEN N LEANING TO LABOR L BOR PARTY P FRENCH FIGHT OVER TAXES IS FAR FROM END Tardieu Defends Those Defeat Unpopular Measures BT Former French High to the thc United States li D lat h to 10 o Tue Standard Standard Standard-l Copyright 16 by Consolidated Press Association PARIS Feb The 20 20 Th French rench abinet asked the chamber of deputies deputes for over o four tour billion francs of new taxes The chamber grant grant- granted granted ed less than two billion After Arter this lamentable failure the debate Will was transferred to the senate where a amore amore ainor more serious effort erfort will will be made madeo o put Frances France's finances In order But parliamentarians Insist that s Initiative by the senate or of r measures Is unconstitutional al and will contest Its legality So Is still tar for from front Its goal coal Abstract constitutional problems make tiresome reading but this one contains the whole meat ot of the tho present discussion The constitution tion says that financial measures must first be b voted by the deputies Some Interpret this to mean that the senate cannot initiate new taxes I ani consequently cannot In the tho presen present Instance adopt tax mea inea measures I eures which the th chamber has just It rejected Others declare that simply means that the proposal first be discussed In the cham charn- chamber j ber her and thereafter may bo he discussed I Ind nd voted on by the senate 1 lr heth heth- Pr r the th chambers chamber's vote vole was affirmative live tive or negative I MAY UY MEAN MEA It the th Qu questions are decided on the first basis then the cabinet mush mus resign but It the senate senate do- do de decides tides that bat It Is competent to adopt these rejected m a Ufe therl wilt willbe be a new chamber with th the possibility of a conflict be between between tween the two houses house In either caso much water will wUl pass under the bridge before any solution ap- ap appears appears ap appears pears Meanwhile France Is faced by the fact that all new neR taxes whether they were proposed by the th cabinet or by cartel groups ns as the governments government's Proposals have been rejected b by bythe byth the chamber with the exception or of about a billion bIlion end and a half franca fronc From the beginning there has hu ben been beena conflict beena-conflict a conflict between Finance Minis Minis- Minister Minister ter ler Doumer and the socialist car car- cartel car car- cartel tel tel The minister proposed a a tax laxon on payments which the cartel re- re rejected re rejected The cartel proposed ropo ed a cap cap- capItal cap capital ital levy y which was vas al also o rejected These are two t examples among many which show that there Is a am m neither for tor or direct nor taxes tues GREAT Never has there thero been such a spectacle of Impuissance In 1926 1920 proposal for nine bil- bil billion on I bilI lion Jon francs In new taxes was adopt adopted adopted adopted ed by three-fourths three majority In ISH 1924 a majority easily was round found to ratify re five additional billions In 1926 1 26 no majority can he 15 found for any project whatever The chamber marks time the franco franc IJ o falling failing and the nations nation's difficulties ties lies are arc increasing It Is la certain that hint It if a trong gov gov- government gov- gov government government had been In power these last ten months It would have fount found ft 1 majority whether right or left left to adopt some plans at least But during that time successive gov- gov Gov Governments have wasted time negotiating with political groups instead of leading them with the tte result that everybody has taken the path patti ot of least resistance and has refused all tues taxes whatever Dep Deputies lles are now saints and they not vote unpopular mea measures ure 10 matter mailer how bow necessary they are ar In unless less the cabinet bravely accepts responsibility for tor them But the Briand government go has not once raised the question of confidence oven en when It Insisted on the absolute lute necessity for tor prompt and ef- ef ef effective action POINTED QUESTION It Is astounding that the cham cham- be ber chamber has not been more courageous than the government Itself Its How can France from this an anarchy archy The Tho only sure way Is to return to to straight for elections the public does not understand the complicated proportional system system- system and then dissolve the chamber and eider new elections But that measure also requires determined leadership from the cabinet We can only only- wait and see The Note Note The manner of o election of deputies In France has been modified several times The rhe late late- under which each elector vo votes s for tor as many deputies as the department has ball to eJect elect was introduced In 1871 1 71 In 1876 1816 It was Wall l laced by the darron darron under which each de- de Mm t Is I divided i Into a number of ot each elector voting for tor one deputy only In lOSS IUS there was a return to the th In 1311 1889 the tho uninominal vote was reintroduced In 1319 1919 the with proportionate presentation was again acain adopted and Is still In force |
