The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-16
PANAMA CANAL SCANDAL
A LIVELY DEBATE IN THE CaAM-
BER OF DEPUTIES.


Ribot Make Strong Speeches.
PARIS, Dec. ia cabinet meeting was
held at the Elysee to-day. NJ Bourgeois,
minister Of justice, announced tha the would
oppose in the Chamber Of Deputies the pro-
posal of M. Pourquey dc Bossevain to In
vest the Panama investigation committee
with judicial powers. The conflict bet ween
the Panama investigation committee and
the judicature still continues with venge-
ance, The members of the commission
acknowledge that they have received most
valuable help from NJ. Prinet,
the judge d'instruction, who has thrown
much light on the transactions of the
company. The lawyers on the other hand
headed by the former procureur general,
Nj. Quesnay de Beaupraire, and Nj. dc
River, president of the appeal court, en-
phatically repudiate the action of NJ Prinet
and energetioally protest against the viola
tion by parliament Of legal precedents and
privileges.
BEAUPRAIRE VERY oUTsPoKEN.
NJ. Quesnay de Beaupraire was the most
outspoken on the subject, and even hastened
on the proceedings in the Panama case. lest
parliament should get before the law in the
matter, attain a dangerous popularity and
Va cobo u pAbCducllb AOT III JuulClal
questions which would cramp the action of
presiding judges.
When the question came up in the Cham
Der OF Deputies to-day the galleries were
crowded. Every deputy was in his place
and an atmosphere of intense excitement
pervaded the house.
NJ. Hubbard, member for Seine-et- Disc,
opened the discussion by calling for imme-
diate discussion OF the Boissevain proposals,
and NJ Ribot. the premier, supported the
motion.
M. Brisson president of the investigating
committee, moved that the chamber ad-
journ.
The committee, he said, would have no
difficulty In fulfilling its task under exist
ing circumstances. II, however, NJ. Bois-
sevain's proposals were brought to discus
sion with the approval of the chamber the
committee would support them. IL the
name of the committee M. Brisson then
made an attack upon M. Ribot and NJ.
Bourgeois. He accused them OF not show
ing proper zeal In pressing forward the in :
vestigation and of giving but half-hearted
support to the Investigating committee.
BOURGEOIS REPLIES
M. Bourgeois answered for the govern
ment. The ministry, he said, was deter
mined to bring the matter to a settlement,
and he stated briefly the reasons OF the
~~@ SFPS'AA4 sAS
bill.
The question was put to a vote amid some
confusion, and the decision In favor of pro-
ceeding with the discussion of the bill, in
accordance with the governments desire,
was carried by 424 against 1ee.
Immediately after the vote ft was re-
ported that in consequences of this reverse,
NJ. Brisson would retire from the presi,
denoy Of the committee.
OBJECTIONS OF THE MINISTRY.
The way to the consideration OF the
Boissevain bill was clear aud III. Bourgeois
proceeded to state forcibly the objections Of
The ministry TO it. The time had come, be
said, to determine whether the executive
power should be placed In the hands Of the
committee. The proposal to do 80 struck
blow at fundamental OWL rights. 1t would
transfer the executive rights In this matter
from the government, which was respon-
sible, TO body which was responsible to
nobody. Here NJ. Bourgeois was inter-
rupted by repeated cheers from the depu~
ties and the galleries.
A VITAL ISSUE.
Continuing, he warned the house that
they were not voting on O mere question of
parliamentary procedure, Out upon q mat
ter involving the existence OF the repub-
lican institutions 10 France. They had to
deal with the enemies of the republic, with
men whose plan of campaign has dissem-
mated ceaselessly among theIpeople caumny
and venomous falsehoods. In view OF these
tactics 1t was the duty Of all republicans to
unite In support Of the government The
ministers wished TO have a searching inquiry
but the scope and character of this inquiry
must conform with the fundamental prin-
ciples Of the state. II this matter could not
be decided once for all al the present sitting
Of the chamber, the cabinet would resign.
RIBoT DEFENDS THE GOVERNMENT.
III. Brisson replied that perhaps the minis
try was the power most inimical to repub~
ltcan union. This innuendo aroused storm
OF protests, amid which NJ. Ribot rose 1t
was Of supreme moment to the republic, he
said that the government should have the
support of the united republicans. The gov
ernment had decided TO institute fresh legal
proceedings calculated to throw the utmost
possible light upon the canal company's
affairs. LAppleuse.l He did not think The
chamber desired to restrict the functions of
the government. At the same time any
cooperation OF the government I'm the in
vestgation must be voluntary. The gov
ernment was not to be forced.
DEEP LAID PLOT.
After a few remarks 10 the effect that the
debate had developed 30 that 1t must result
in vote Of confidence or no confidence, NJ.
Ribot spoke sarcastically of certain mem
Derb WuOso Hodl AOT bu6 integrity or the
deputies and Minister'S evidently screened
deep laid plot. The prosecution had been
regarded by these men as a means,
not for holding up to scorn
guilty individuals, but for bring
ing into world vide contempt cher.
ished institutions of France. M. Ribos
closed with an eloquent appeal to the re-
pubioans 20 rally round the flag of the re-
public and stand shoulder to shoulder with
the government, which held the flag aloft.
This they should do for the honor OF those
who, for the last twenty years, had directed
the policy Of the nation.
RIBoT WARMLY APPLAUDED.
LONDON, Dec. 15.-The Paris correspond
eut Of the Times says: M. Ribot's fine and
impressive speech was greeted with the
warmeSt applause. In spite OF the rumors,
do not think the cabinet will resign. A
CLEAN of common sense was displayed by
even the small ma jority for the government.
IL not a signal for fully recovered
calmness and dignity, it at least shows the
implacable and INSCRIPTIONS enemies of
the republic that the moment of revolution
has uot yet arrived. The sitting was GER
tainly the gravest and might have been the
most decisive of the last twenty years."
AN ATTACK ON DE FREYcINET.
n. Leprovost dc Launay, member for
Cotes-du-Nord, who followed M. RiDot, ac-
cused M. dc Freyclnet, minister of war, of