PELLETAN (Charles-Camille). - Lot 178

PELLETAN (Charles-Camille). Born in Paris. 1846-1915. Journalist and politician. Deputy, then Senator for Bouches-du-Rhône. Minister for the Navy in the Combes government (1902-1905). M.A.S. "C. Pelletan", entitled L'Impôt sur le Revenu. S.l.n.d. [circa 1906]. 2 pp. folio. Pelletan urgently calls for tax reform to establish greater equity among taxpayers: ...The more one examines the direct taxes we enjoy, the more one is astonished that France has been able to bear them for so long. I have just carefully examined a number of surveys (...). They show, taxpayer by taxpayer, the tax paid today alongside income. There were times when I was tempted to believe that taxes were drawn by lot. (...) On the whole, culture [agriculture] is abominably overcharged [overtaxed]... remarks Pelletan who sees ...at the same time in the survey just carried out by the English Parliament, a table of incomes completely exempt from tax in various countries. They are exempt up to 500 francs in Saxony, up to 625 francs in Hesse and Württemberg, up to 1925 francs in Prussia and the Grand Duchy of Baden, up to 1250 francs in Austria, up to 1350 francs in Holland, up to 2500 francs in Queensland, the English colony of Australia... whereas ...Except in Paris, (...) republican France, democratic France, always demands direct taxation of the working poor. It only makes exceptions for those who are absolutely destitute. (...) These figures would suffice to demonstrate the urgency of reform. It is certainly unpleasant for those who do not pay their fair share of taxes today (...). But (...) universal suffrage would have to be stupid not to bring reason to those who believe that the great measure of tax justice promised to the country has been aborted... Noting the bad situation in which overtaxed rural dwellers find themselves, Pelletan was pleased that with the expected reform ...Farmers or sharecroppers will pay nothing extra, up to an income of 1,250 francs, and will be largely relieved above this figure. In other words, the vast majority of the rural population will see the total disappearance of non-built property, personal movable property and door and window taxes. I'm talking, of course, only about the State's share of the tax, and we'll see later what can be done about the communal and departmental centimes. Clearly, we can't go that far. If the same measure were extended to communal budgets, there are villages where there would be no taxpayers at all... As for urban workers, although less crushed by the tax system, they should also benefit from tax reform. Finally, he hopes that ...If the project succeeds, it will still not be the ideal tax. Experience will enable us to correct any shortcomings and details that may still be present. But the essential results of the reform will be obtained...Elected deputy for the Rhône, Camille Pelletan took his place on the extreme left of the Chamber of Deputies, where he supported Clemenceau's efforts. An opponent of the Gambetta, J. Ferry and Freycinet cabinets, he frequently took the floor in parliament, where he distinguished himself by his brilliant oratory skills.