Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-12-21

Floouet. President OF the Cham
Der OF Deputies, announced to the
house to-day that he had received an
application for authority to prosecute
NJ. Rouvier, ex-miniSter OF finance; III.
Jules Roche, ex-minister OF commerce;
Emanuel Arene, member Tor Corsica;
Antonio ProuSte, member Tor DeuA
Sevres; Baron Jean DeSonbeyran, mem
for Louden, and Joseph Dugne De La
Fauconnerie, member for Orne.
The application could not be granted
without the consent of the House OF
Deputies as members, under the Id"
were exempt from certain legal pro-
ceedings. The Chamber decided that
the standing committees should meet
and consider the application. The Sit
ting was then adjourned.
In the Senate, NJ. Leroyer, the Presi-
dent. stated that he had received de-
mand for the prosecution OF Senators
Renault, Albert Grevy, Beral, Theyenot
and Deves for the part they had taken
in the affairs of the canal company.
The matter, was referred, as In the low
er chamber, TO the standing committees
In the Senate and the lower chamber,
special committees were elected TO con-
slider applications of the Procurur Cen
eral. and both were understood to favor
the prosecution Of ex-Minister Rouvier.
NJ. Rouvier appeared before the stand
ing committee, of which he is mem
Der, in his own defense. He was giad'
he said, of an opportunity to explain MS
position. There was nothing IN the
documents seized 10 prove that he hau
ever received check from anybody In
the interest of the Panama Canal Com
nanv. The accusations made against
| his honor and integrity had relieved
him of such obligation, and he would
now speak out in the chamber without
reserve.
When the chamber resumed not
dozen seats in the whole auditorium
were vacant. The report OF the speclai
committee was read by Chairman Alex
andre Miller, and favored the granting
of the application for authority to pros
ecute. but in the intense anxiety OF the
moment it was hardly noticed.
All waited impatiently for the expla-
nations of the accused meQbeTs. -Qen-
aSS'oIs 80 ~ SIIafgeu SIs Uy NJ. Androux, late
prefect of police, with corruption in
connection with the loan OF 1883, was
| the first one to protest his innocence.
He made merely general denial.
AS M. Rouvier ascended the speakers
tribune every deputy leaned forward in
an attitude Of close attention, and the
first words of his defense were
delivered amid oppressive still
ness. He made an emphatic
general denial that he had accepted
checks from the Panama Canal Com
pany or their agents, or had had any
discreditable connection Of any sort
with the company's enterprise. Present
| circumstances had relieved his tongue
of the gag imposed upon it bV minis
terial duty and he was ready TO tell the
! whole truth When he came into pow
er he found that the secret service fund
was entirely inadequate for the defense
| Of the republic. As, in order TO govern
well, he and his colleagues must have
! the money which this secret service
fund lacked, he had recourse TO his
personal friends for sufficient money to
tide over the temporary difficulty.
Loud murmurs Of protest greeted his
| first statement as to the secret service
| fund, and when he suggested that the
suspicious checks were contributions OF
his personal friends to the support OF
the government there was an outbreak
of howls and derisive laughter. Rails
| ing his voice so as TO be heard above the
uproar, M. Rouvier shouted: "What |
| did. all public men have done. Had /
not adopted that course the men now
| interrupting me would not be seated on
| these benches"
Bedam broke loose the moment the
words were uttered. Deputies rose and
shouted back TO the speaker, and others
| shouted for the names of the friends.
! NJ. Rouver made three attempts TO be
| heard, but his voice was inaudible.
After the demonstration had spent
! itself he continued:
Il am perfectly ready to go before
any tribunal. l have done nothing TO
! fear. | never derived the slightest
benefit from the Panama Canal Co. |
never defended its interests. l chal-
lenge investigation.
This peroration provoked another
hostile demonstration. When order had
been restored the report Of the special
committee in favor OF the prosecution
was adopted. N. Paul DeRoulede. then
asked what action the disciplinary
council of the Legion of Honor had de-
cided to take against DR.. Cornelius
Herr.
"This man." DeRoulede said, sis not
to be left with the insignia Of the legion
in his possession, although grant he is
a most important man TO the State, for
he truly holds the reins OF govern
ment."
NJ. DeRouede paused for several
minutes while the Right cheered and the
Left tried to drown the cheers with
shouted protests. Then he proceeded
with perfect GOODNESS to make most vio-
lent personal attack on NJ. ClemeDcean,
whose relations to NJ. Herr. he said, are
too we'll known TO need detailed descrip-
tion. Amid renewed cheers from the
Right and jeers from the Left, he declar-
ed that NJ, Herr tried to buy the Bou-
langists with Panama canal money, but
thew had refused to touch IL.
Despite NJ. Floquet's protests, cries Of
''dissolution," aud q general tumUlt,
which extended TO the topmost gallery,
M. Roulede again addressed himself T.
NJ. CIemenceau. s'Why did this Herr
give 200, 900 francs TO La Justice" he
shouted. M. Clemenceau, white with
rage, sprang 70 his feet, and shaking
both fists toward NJ. DeRonIede. shont-
ed back an answer. which nobody could
hear in the general confusion. nj. De-
Roulede closed with an attack on the
Mutual Benefit Association, not Of