The only possible solution, believe me, is that in favour of the tenants, only it ought not to be applied in so wholesale a fashion. Inquiries should be instituted, and to those tenants from whom the war has taken away all possibility of payment an unconditional receipt should be delivered: to those who have suffered less, a proportionate reduction should be allowed; but those whom the invasion has not ruined or seriously impoverished--and the number is large, among provision merchants, café keepers, and private residents--let those pay directly. In this way the landlords will lose lees than one may imagine, because it will be the lowest rents that will be forfeited. The decree of the Commune is based on a right principle, but too generally applied.
The new Government--for it is a Government--does not confine itself to decrees. It has to install itself in its new quarters and make arrangements.[27]
In a few hours it has organized more than ten committees--the executive, the financial, the public-service, the educational, the military, the legal, and the committee of public safety. No end of committees and committeemen: it is to be hoped that the business will be promptly despatched!
[Footnote 27: Organisation of the Commissions on the 31st of March:
_Executive Commission_.--Citizens Eudes, Tridou, Vaillant, Lefrançais, Duval, Félix Pyat, Bergeret.
_Commission of Finance_.--Victor Clément, Varlin, Jourde, Beslay, Régère.
_Military Commission_.--General E. Duval, General Bergeret, General Eudes, Colonel Chardon, Colonel Flourens, Colonel Pindly, Commandant Ranvier.
_Commission of Public Justice_.--Ranc, Protot, Léo Meillet, Vermorel, Ledroit, Babick.
_Commission of Public Safety_.--Raoul Rigault, Ferré, Assy, Cournet, Oudet, Chalain, Gérardin.
_Victualling Commission_.--Dereure, Champy, Ostyn, Clément, Parizel, Emile Clément, Fortuné Henry.
_Commission of Industry and Trade_.--Malon, Frankel, Theiz, Dupont, Avrial, Loiseau-Pinson, Eugène Gérardin, Puget.
_Commission of Foreign Affairs_.--Delescluze, Ranc, Paschal Grousset, Ulysse Parent, Arthur Arnould, Antoine Arnauld, Charles Gérardin.
_Commission of Public Service_.--Ostyn, Billioray, Clément (J.B.) Martelet, Mortier, Rastoul.
