The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-21
The South Sea Island Bubble Dwaried
by the Huge Panama Canal Scandal.
Each Days Developments Brings Fresh Evi-
dence that Politicians and Those in Author.
ity Are Tainted with Corruption.
Turbulent Scenes in the Deputies Tal-
lowed by Challenges to Fight Duels
Permission Given to Prosecute Large Numbss
Of Legislators-M. Rouvisr Makes Lame
Explanation-Ths Republic in Peril
THE GREAT soANDAL.

THE GREAT SCANDAL.
Sensational Developments I'm the Panama
Canal Case-Tumult I'm the Deputies.
PARIS. Dec. 20-M. Flououet. President
of the Chamber of Deputies, announced to
the House to-day that he had received au
application for authority to prosecute NJ.
Rouvier, ex- Minister of Finance; NJ. Jules
Roche. ex-Minister of Commerce.; Em-
manuel Arene. member for Corsica; An
tonin Proust, member for De Sevres; Baron
Jean de Soubeyran. member for Loudon.
and Joseph Deugue de Ia Fauconnerie,
member for Orne. This letter, M. Flou-
quet said, was from the Procureu.genersl
It stated that the application was made on
the ground that the examining ma Ristrate 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 ques-
ton had been laid before the parlismsnt-
ary investigating commission. especially
as to the part they took in the lottery issue.
The application could not be granted withs
out the consent of the House, as the
Deputies under the law. were exempt
from certain legal proceedings. The
Chamber decided that the standing CONE
mittees should meet and CONSIDER the sp-
plicasion. The sitting was then adjourned.
In the Senate NJ. lie Roger. the President
stated that he had received demand for
the prosecution of Senators Rensult. Al
bert Grevy. Beral. Thevenot ana Deves for
the part they had taken In the affairs Of
q xha al Tha
ferred. as In the lower chamber. to tho
standing committees. In the Senate and
lower chambers special committees were
elected to consider complications of the
Procureur-g general. ana both were UNDER
stood to favor the prosecution OF ex-Minis-
ter RouvieE.
M. RsuvieS appeared before the standing
committee. OF which he is . member, in his
own defense. He was glad, he said, of an
opportunity to explain his position. There
was nothing in the documents seized "a
prove that he had ever rec ived o check
from any body in the interest OF the Panama
Canal Company. He had served the state
always deemed Is his duty to preserve si.
lence as regards certain facts. The accu.
sations made against his honor and tee-
rity had relieved him of such obligation
and he would now speak IN the Chamber
without reserve.
RoUvIER STARTS THE ROW.
Before the Chamber resumed business
this statement had gone abroad and caused
intense excitement in the lobbies. M.
Rouvier was expected to refute IN detail
M. Clemenoeau's charges as to the call st
Baron De Reinach'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 Therrer checks. The
galleries were packed. Deputies who had
intended to absent themselves from the
sitting hurried back to the chamber. Not
dozen seats in the whole auditorium were
vacant. The report of the special commit
tee. resd by Chairman Alexandra Miller
favored the granting of the application foI
authority to prosecute, but in she intense
anxiety of the moment it was hardly
noticed. All waited impatiently for. the
explanation OF the accused membera
Deputy Arene. charged by NJ. Andreux.
late prefecr of the police, with corruption
in connection with the loan of 1855. was
the first one 20 protest his innocence. He
made merely O general denial
As NJ. Rouvier ascended the Speaker's
tribune, every Deputy leaned forward IN 90
attitude Of close attention. and the hrst
words of his defense were delivered amid
oppressive stiffness. After reminding the
hitherto unauestionable record and the OBJ
legations to official secrecy which bad pre-
viously closed bis mouth, he made EN-.
phstic denial that he had accepted checks
from the Panama Canal Company or its
agents. nor had be any discreditable con-
nection of any eort with the eompany's
enterprise. Present circumstances had re-
lieved his tongue of the gag imposed upon
tell the whole truth. When he came into
power he found that the secret service
fund was entirely inadequate for the de-
fense of the republic. AS, in order to gov.
ern well. he and his colleages must have
the money which the secret fund lacked
he had recourse to bis personal friends for
sufficient money to tide over the temporary
difficulty.
The confusion grew steadily In the
Chamber as the Deputies became convinced
that NJ. Rouvier was evadinR the issue
Loud murmurs of protest greeted his firss
statement as to the secret-servlce fund. and
when he suggested that the suspicious
checks were contributions Of his personal
there was an outbreak of howls and de-
rislve laughter. Raising his voice 90 90 TO
be heard above the .uproar. Nj. kouvier
shouted: What l did, all public men
have done. Had / not adopted that conrss
the men now interrupting me would not be
seated on these benches"
Bedlam broke loose the moment she
words were uttered. Deputies rose and :
shouted for the nance of the frienda NJ.
Rouyier made three attempts TO be heard,
but his voice was inaudible. After the
denomination had spent itself, he contin-
ued: II am perfectly ready TO 60 before
any tribunal. / have nothing to fear. /
never derived the slightest benefit from
the Panama Canal Company. / never de-
Tended its interests. challenge inyestt.
CATION" This peroration provoked an
other hostile demonstration.
DERoULEDE ATTACKS CLEMENCEAr.
When order had been restored the report
of the special committee in favor of the
prosecution was adopted. Paul Deroulede
then asked what action the disciplinary
council of the Legion of Honor had decided
TO take against DR.. Cornelius Herr. "This
man. NJ. Deroulede said, "is not 20 be left
with the insignia of the legion in his DOS
session. although grant he is most I'M
portant man to the state. for he truly holds
the reins of government" NJ. Deroulede
paused for several minutes while the Right
cheered and taunted and the Left tried 90
drown the cheers with shouted protestA
Then lac proceeded with perfect coolness 20
make q most virulent personal attack upon
M. Clemenceau. whose relations 90 NJ.
detailed description" Amid renewed
cheers from the Right and jeeTs from the
Left he declared that Nj. Herr tried 90 buy
the Boulsngists with Panama Canal Com.
pany money. but they had refused 20