NEWS OF THE WEEK
A T last some attempt is being made in France, in the presence of the crashing franc, to take in hand yery seriously the question of taxation. The most Unwilling admit that " something must be done." The results of refusing to tax themselves adequately and to pay their foreign debts are too obvious to all reasonable Frenchmen for the facts to be glossed over. The position of the franc. and the • mere discussion of new forms of taxation have produced a crisis. Extraordinary pro- posals were laid before the Chamber on Tuesday and have been received by the country with a gasp of astonishment. It is proposed to raise the note circula- tion from 41 milliards to 45 milliards of francs, and the limit of advances by the Bank of France to the State from 22 milliards to 26 milliards. But the chief pro- vision is for a capital levy.
