FRENCH INCOME TAX.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 453, 11 March 1909, Page 5

FRENCH INCOME TAX.

POINTS OF THE GOVERNMENT'S BILL. (lIY TKl,K(!luril-IM!ESS ASSOCUTIfiN-Col'TlltBIIT.) Paris, March 9. Tho French Chamber of Deputies, by 367 votes to 120, decided to placard the speech of M. Caillaux (Finance Minister), explaining that tho Income Tax Bill accomplishes the following:— (1) Abolishes undemocratic privileges. (2) Reduces the small landowners' contribution from £4,200,000 to £1,800,000. (3) Diminishes the > shopkeepers' contribution by two millions. (4) Throws the extra burden upon tho well-to-do. A MUCH-DEBATED BILL, According to the Paris correspondent of tho Daily Mail, the Bill, in effect, imposes a tax of Is. in the £. It has dragged on a perilously long time for a policy measure, and at various stages has met. with strong opposition. For instance, in July last, the Chamber rebelled against the Government over the proposal to force business people to show their books in declaring their incomes. "Such inquisitorial methods (says the "Spectator") are very unpopular in France, and a public meeting _ representing 350,000 shopkeepers protested against the measure. Finally, a compromise ! has been arrived at.. In the case of disputed estimates, the State is to assess, and the onus ot proving by means of his books that such assessment is wrong is to rest upon the tax■"i? 6 !' -m , ll ° , c , ase - however, will tho Court which will try the issue be able to compel the production of the books. In other words, the revenue officials will not be able to make nslimg enquiries into a man's books, thoich Ho may himself use those books to rebut an unjust assessment. The compromise seems a tair one, and in substance is similar to tho procedure in this country."