The morning call., 1892-12-21
IN A WILD TUMULT.
Shameful Scene in the
French Chamber.
WITHOUT HONOR OR DIGNITY.
Rouvier Makes Lame Defense, and
Grave Deputies Heap Insult and
Abuse Upon Each Other.
Special 10 THE MORNING CALL

PARIS. Dec. 2o.-Floquet, President OF
the Chamber of Deputies. announced to the
House to-day that he had received applca-
tion for authority TO prosecute Rouvier. ex-
Minister Of Finance; Jules Roche, ex-
Minister Of Commerce; Emanuel Arene.
member for Corsica; Antoin Proust. men,
Der for Deux Sevres; Baron Jean de Sou
beyran, member for Landes, and Joseph
Dugue de la Fauconnerie, member for Orne.
This letter. Floquet said. was from the
cureur-GeneraL 1t stated that the ap-
plication was made on the ground that the
examining magistrate in the Panama canal
case had received many checks on the stubs
of which appeared the initials of these
Deputies, and that compromising evidence
against the individuals in question had been
laid before the Parliamentary Investigating
Commission, especially as to the part they
took In the lottery issue The application
could not be granted without the consent Of
the House. as the Deputies. under the law,
were exempt from certain legal proceedings
The Chamber decided that the standing
committee should meet and consider the
application. The sitting then adjourned
In the Senate NJ. Leroyer, the President,
stated that he had received a demand for
the prosecution Of Senators Renault, AL
bert, Grevy, Peral, ThevenOt and Deves,
and the matter was similarly referred.
Rouvier later appeared before the stand
Ing committee, of which he is a member. in
his own defense. He was glad, be said. Of
an opportunity TO explain his position.
There was nothing in the documents seized
TO prove that he had ever received a check
from anybody in the interest OF the Panama
Canal Company. he had served the state
in high Office for several years and had al
was deemed 1t his duty 20 preserve silence
Ss regarded certain facts. The accusations
made against his honor and integrity had
relieved him Of the slightest obligation and
be would now speak out in the Chamber
without reserve.
Before the Chamber resumed business
this statement had gone abroad and it
ca used intense excitement. The galleries
were packed when the session was resumed.
The report of the special committee was
read by Chairman Miller and favored grant,
ing the application for authority to prose-
cute, but in the intense anxiety it was hard
~ noticed All waited impatiently for the
explanations OF the accused members.
Deputy Arene was the first one to protest
his inn nOcence and then ROuvier assembled
the speakers tribune. He made a general
emphatic denial that he had ever accepted
checks from the Panama Canal Company
or agents. or had any discreditable connec-
ton OF any sort with the company's enter
prise. hen be came into power he had
found the secret service fund inadequate
Tor the defense OF the republic. AS in order
TO govern well he and colleagues must have
the money which the secret service fund
lacked. he had recourse to his personal
friends for sufficient money to tide over the
temporary difficulty.
The confusion was great in the chamber
aud as the Deputies became convinced that
ROuvier was evading the issue, there was an
outbreak Of bowls and derisiye laughter.
RouVier shouted: What did all public
men have done. Had L not adopted that
course the men now interruptiDg me would
not be seated on these benches"
Bedlam broke loose the moment those
words were uttered, and after the demon
straton had spent itself Rouvier continued:
81 am perfectly ready to go before any
tribunal. have never derived the slightest
benefit from the Panama Canal Company.
l challenge investigation"
This provoked another hostile demon
stration, and when order was restored the
report Of the special committee in favor of
prosecution was adopted.
Deroulede then asked what action the
disciplinary council of the Legion Of Honor
bad decided to take against Herr. De-
Toulede made a most violent personal
attack upon Clemenceau. BE declared that
6erz had tried to buy the Boulangists with
Panama Canal money, but that they had
refused to touch it. Deroulede shouted TO
Clemeuceau. why did this Herr give
GOO. 600 francs to La Justice?"
Clafneucaau white with rooa
his feet and, shaking both fists toward De-
ronlede. shouted back an answer which
nobody could hear in the general con-
fusion.
De Roulede closed with an attack on the
Mutual Benefit Association, not of social
lists and revolutionists, but of rich men and
rich mems pamDerers.
Clemenceau replied that Dero ilede's
attacks we're pernicIous, shameless and
without foundation. Although he had not
written proofs OF his innocence, he defied
Deroulede 10 substsntiate the charges he
had just made. He would not answer these
brazen slandeTers in the Chamber, but
would demand personal satisfaction i'm
mediately after the adjournment. The
attacks of the last speaker upon Rerz were
based on falsehood and imagination.
BOulanger had no more devoted friend than
Herr In conclusion Clemenceau cried out:
"Deroulede has accused me of betraying
ny country by introducing foreign in.
fuence. Deroulede lies" After an
other scene Of wild disorder, Lucieu
MilleToye, Boulangist Deputy for Somme,
rose 10 defend. as he said, the
memory of Boulanger from the asperslons
east on it by Clemenceau's statement con-
corning the friendship between Herr and
this great man. He then let loose torrent
OF abuse on Clemenceau accusing him Of
accepting millions in brbes and Of advising
the abandonment of Egypt by the French
Government. In the succeeding tumult
Milsevoye turned upon Floquet, who was
trying to restore order and shouted at him
an Insulting name.
The Minister Of Justice announced tha.
he would arraign Herr before the council
and Deroulede with the Interpolation.
The Chamber then adjourned.
The bitter feeling aroused during the
sitting led TO many wrangles and it is be-
heved that number Of duels will be the
result
Deroulede and Millevoye have already
sent their seconds TO Clemenceau.