The Chamber of Deputies was asked a few days ago to confirm a ree"mmendation by its Customs committee providing for a large increase of the duties on foreign silks, 'The committee proposed that the present duty of 2 francs un black and 2f. 4Uc. on coloured silk imported from other Europe n countries should be raised (o 7f, 50c,, "ud thst anew duty of 9 francs should' be imposed on Asiatic They free. The Sret of these chases jongee ecrus, which are at present admitted
coniprises the crepes, tulles, and muslins now in such great demand. The charge would probably lead to a commercial Lure with Switzerland, that cou refused, some ten years ago, to agree toa duty of 4 franes, M. Beauregard, one of the speakers who opposed thr new scale, pointed out that the Sfrane duty on medium Chinese silt worked out at 84 per cent ad val The result of such a burden on the dressmaking indusvy in France would be disastrous. It was ullaged that the change was necessary to protect the Lyons manufacturers against foreign competition; but though it was true that the output st the more expensive silks hud declined, that of muslins and crepes had increased enormously, OF what use M_ Beauregard askd, wis it to try to fight fashion and its' caprices? All the tariffs in the worl! would not make ladies buy stiff silks if they prote red sotnething elves. The debate was finally adjourned until the 7th of June.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.