M. Poincare has completed his brilliant financial record - by carrying
his 1929 Budget. Nevertheless, up till the last moment it was doubtful whether he would be able to keep his. Administration together ; more and more, during the past few weeks, he has had to rely upon the parties of the Right. Two meetings of Ministers have been hurriedly held lately to compose differences. • On Friday, December 28th, M. Poincare, at the first of these meetings, yielded to the suggestion that the proposal to increase the salaries of Deputies and Senators should be left to a free vote of the House. In the debate M. Poincare and four Ministers abstained from 'voting,' and the proposal was carried. The former Parliamentary salary of £360 a year was certainly insufficient to meet the present cost of living in Paris: It seems that M. Poincare did not dispute this fact, but thought that the increase ought to be made dependent upon a reduction of the number of Deputies. The Budget was passed in the early hours of last Sunday morning.
• *
Previous page
