Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-20
A DUET OF DUELLOS.
The French Chamber of Deputies
Breaks Up in a Row Because
A MINISTER LOSES HIS TEMPER.
NJ. Constans, of the Cabinet, slaps Bou-
langist in the Face.
MANY NICE OPENINGS FOR THE CODE

AXIS, Jan. lS.-Ine CnanDer OF Dtpu-
ties to-day was the scene of unusual excite
ment At the opening of the sitting Presi-
dent Floquet announced he had received an
intimation from a Boulangist member M.
Laur, that he desired to- ask Premier de
Freycinet what steps the Government would
take regarding the Latransigeants attacks
upon certain member of the Cabinet.
M. de Freycinet said that it was clear the
object of the question was to have news
paper articles read from the tribune reflect
ing upon the Government, and he, there
fore, declined to discuss the matter.
[Cheers.
Several members spoke in favor of the
previous question. Others opposed the
shelving of the matter, reminding the
House that the President had recently de-
cided that every member had right to be
heard on question not relating to the
foreign policy of the Government, and
maintaining that the House ought not to
vote the previous question when it was a
case of sheltering a member of the Cabi-
net. [Hisses.]
Cabinet Minister Loses His Dignity.
As M. Laur was leaving the tribune, M.
Constans, toward whom the insinuations
were directed, suddenly advanced and struck
him in the face. There was an uproar i'm
mediately. The Government supporters
surrounded by friends, was led to his seat.
M. Constans, on returning to his place,
was warmly congratulated, number of
Deputies hurrying to his side to shake hands
Meanwhile President Floquet vainly rang
his bell in an effort to restore order, and
finding that his warnings were disregarded,
he finally adjourned the sitting. He advised
the members to retire to the committee
rooms, but many of them persisted in re-
naming in the chamber, and there was no
abatement in the clamor
Various groups of Deputies became en-
gagged in violent quarrels. During one of
these disputes NJ. Delpech, a Republican
member, cuffed the ears of Deputy Castelin,
Boulangist. As a result of this act of
violence, M. Dumarteil waited on M. Del
pech in the lobby to arrange for duel with
Castelin.
More Violence and More Duels.
At this iuncture there was another row,
resulting in arrangements for another duel,
which it was settled should precede that
between M. Castelin and M. Delpech.
About the same time, also in the lobby,
a well-known journalist struck M.
Boudeau, Boulangist member Other
personal encounters being imminent in the
cham Der and in the lobbies the questeurs
ihterfered. and having requested the
Deputies to leave, cleared the lobbies
NJ Floquet afterward conferred with
Premier de Freycinet and other Ministers
and with the officers of the House on the
question whether the rules of the chamber
applied to the case of M. Constans, who is
member of the Senate
Later on the interrupted sitting was re-
sumed. NJ Constans, on entering the
was greeted with cheers. He
responded by expressing his satisfaction at
the sympathy shown him in the chamber,
adding that it was sometimes impossible to
ones sang froid
A motion to consider the previous aues-
ton was then agreed upon by a vote Of 43S
to "A. When M. Constans left the chamber
many of the Deputies escorted hin to his
carriage
Constans Upheld by the Cabinet.
A majority of the Deputies evidently
heartily approve M. Constans' action. NJ.
Laur has telegraphed Henri Rochefort, the
Boulangist leader, asking for advice as to
whether he shall challenge M. Constans to
a duel for striking him or resort to prosecu-
tion.
The members of the Cabinet support M.
Constans A rumor that he had resigned
the portfolio of the Interior proves to be
without foundation. He merely offered to
apologize to the Chamber for his breach of
the rules, whereupon NJ. Floquet, the pre-
siding officer, decided to abstain from inter-
ference in the matter.
Deputy Boudeau has obtained summons
for the journalist who struck him in the
lobby to appear in the police court