The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-21
NJ. ROUVIER'S DEFENSE.
DIsCL iIlIs my CONNECTION WITH
THE PINfUi fTFIIR.
Bedlam Breaks Laoso In the Chamber
During the Ex-Minister's Speech.
To Continue the Inquiries.


NJ. Rouvier. ex-minister Of finance; NJ.
Jules Roche, ex-minister of commerce;
Emanuel Arne. member for Corsica; An
tonin Proust, members for Deux Sevres;
Baron Jean de soubeyran, member for
Loudon, and Joseph Teuguede La Fau-
conneri, member for Orne.
This letter. NJ. Floquet said, was from
| the PrOcureur General. IL stated that the
! application was made on the ground that
the examining magistrate of the Panama
canal case had received many check stubs
in which appeared the initials of 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, are exempt from
certain legal proceedings. The members
thought that the different bureaus should
meet and consider the application. The
sitting then adjourned.
In the Senate NJ. lie Roy, president,
stated that he had received a demand for
the prosecution Of Senator'S Renault, Al
bert Grevy. Beral, Thevenet and Deves
affairs Of the canal company.
The matter was referred as In the lower
chamber, TO the 8; ding committees. In
the Senate and tue iower chamber special
committees were selected 10 consider ap-
plication Of the Procureur General, and
both were understood 10 favor the prose-
cution Of ex-Minister Rouvier
NJ. Roufer appeared before the standing
committee. OF which he is a member. in
his own defense. He was glad. he 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 he had always deemed IL his
duty to preserve silence as regarded GER
tain facts. The accusation made against
his honor and interity had relieved him
Of such obligation, and he would now
speak out in the chamber without re-
serve. Before the chamber resumed busi-
ness this statement had gone abroad and
caused intense excitement in the lobbies.
VI. Rouvier was expected 70 refute in de-
tail NJ Clemenceaus charges as 10 the
call at Baron de Reindch's house on the
evening before the latter's death, and the
statement Of La Libre Parole that his
initials were on the stub Of one Of the
There checks. The galleries were pack
ed. Deputies who had intended to alb
sent themselves from the sitting hurried
back to the chamber. Not a dozen seats
in the whole auditorium were vacant The
report OF the special committee, read by
Chairman Alexandra Milleranand, favored
the granting OF the application for author
ity to prosecute. but in the intense ankle
~ OF the moment Il was hardly noticed.
All waited impatiently for the explana-
tiOns OF the accused members
Deputy Arene charged by NJ. Andreux
late Perfect Of Police. with corruption IN
connection with the loan Of 1883, was the
first one to protest his innocence. lie
made merely general denial.
AS NJ Rouvier ascended the speaker
tribune. every deputy leaned forward In
an attitude of close attention. and the first
words of his defense We're delivered amid
oppressive stiffness. After reminding the
chamber Of his long public service. MS
hitherto uneXccptionable record, ana the
OBLIGATIONS to official secrecy Which had
previously closed his mouth, he maze an
emphatic general denial that he had ac-
cepted checks from the Panama cana!
Company or their agents. or had had any
describable connection Of any sort with
the companys enterprise Present cir
cumstauccs had relieved his tongue OF
the gag imposed on it by ministerial duty,
and he was ready 10 tell the whole trtih.
When he came into power. ne found tlat
the secret service fund was entire'Y IN
adeouate for the defense Of the republic.
AS in order TO govern well. he ana MS
colleagues must have the money Wnich
the secret service fund lacked, ne had
recourse to his personal frlends lot SUI
ficient money TO tide over the temporary
difficulty
Tho confusion grew steadily In the
chamber as the deputies became con-
vinced that NJ ROuyier was evadlng the
issue. Loud murmuTs OF protest greeted
his first statement as to the secret ser
vice fund and when he suggested mat
the suspicious checks were Contributions
Of his personal friends 10 the support OF
the Government. there was an outbreak
OF howls and derisive laughter. RAISING
bts voice 40 as TO be heard above the
uproar N. Rouvier shouted ndI
ala all public men have done. HAD
NOT adopted that course the men no"
interrnpting me would not be seated on
these benches"
Redlam broke loose the moment the
,,,o-de wore uttered. Deputies rose ana
shouted back 10 the speaker ana others
shouted for the names OF the iriehus.
N Rouvier made three attempts to be
heard but his voice was inaudible Af,er
the demonstration had spent ITSELF ne con-
tinued:
81 am perfectly ready to 80 before any
tribunal. | have nothing 70 fear. never
derived the slightest benefit from the Pan
anna Canal Company. / never ueieHI u
it's interests. l challenge lnVesusauoh'
This peroration provoked another nos
tile denonstration When order had been
restored the report Of the special conf
rnittee in favor OF the prosecution was
adopted.
NJ Paul de Roulde then asked what ac-
ton the disciplinary council or the Legion
of Honor had decided 20 take against Dr.
Corneliue Herr This man." NJ. de
Roulde said. lis not to be left with the
insignia OF the Legion in his POSSESSION
although 1 grant, he is the most impor-
tant man to the State, for he truly holds
the reins OF government.
NJ. De Roulde paused for several min
utes. while the right cheered this taunt,
and the left tried to drown the cheers
with shouted protests. Then he proceeded
with perfect coolness TO make a mos,
yirulent personal attack upon NJ. Gle
menceau, whose relations 10 NJ. Herr
he said. "are too well known TO need de-
tailed description" Amid cheers from
the right and jeers from the left. he
clared that NJ Herr tried 10 buy the
Boulsngists with Panama canal money.
but they refused TO tuch IL. Despite NJ.
Floauets repeated protests, cries Of
dissolution" and a general tumult which
extended TO the topmost gallery NJ. De
Roule again addressed himself to NJ. Gle
menceau. why did this Herr give 1000
flames 10 La Justicc?" he shouted.
NJ. Clemenceau, white with rage. sprang
TO his feet and, shaking both fists to-
ward NJ. De Roulde. shouted back an