The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-12-21
DisgracefuI Actions in the Chamber
of Deputies Caused by
THE PANAMA CANAL SCANDAL.
Rouvier on the stand Made n Generai
Denial and Challenged Investigation-
Torrents of Abuse Heaped Upon Many
Members and Several Bedlams Loosed.

celVed an appllcatlou lOr authoii'y ="
prosecute Nj. Rouvier, ex-minister of
finance; Jules Roche, ex-minister OF com
merce; Emmanuel Arene, member OF
Corsica; Antonin Proust, member Tor
Deux Sevres; Baron Jean de Soubeyran,
member for Loudun, and Joseph Dogue
de la Fauconnerie, member for Orne, all
OF whom are charged with having been
compromised in the Panama canal scan
dal.
NJ. Rouvier appeared before the stand
ing committee, of which he Is member,
in his own defense. He said there wa
nothing in the documents seized to prove
| that he ever received a check from any
body in the interest of the Panama Canal
Company. He had always deemed II hls
duty to preserve silence as regards certain
facts. The accusations
Made Against His Honor
and integrity had relieved him OF such
obligation, and he would now speak on
| in the Chamber without reserve.
Before the Chamber resumed busines
| this statement had gone abroad and caused
| intense excitement in the lobbies. Th'
| galleries were packed. Not dozen seat
| in the whole auditorium were vacant. Tn,
report of the special committee was read
| by Chairman Alexandra Millerand. Ii
favored the granting OF the application
for authority to prosecute Deputy Arene,
charged by NJ. Androeux, late prefect oil
| police, with corruption in connection
| with the loan OF 1888. M. Arene arose and
protested his innocence. He made merely
| a general denial.
| NJ Rouvier then assembled the tribune.
| The first words of his defense were deliv-
| cred amid oppressive silence. After re-
| minding the chamber OF his hitherto un-
exceptionable record, and the obligations
| TO official secrecy which had previously
| cln ha
general denial that he had accepted check
from the Panama Canal Company or their
| agents, or had any discreditable connec
tion OF any sort with the company's en-
terprise. He was now ready to
Tell the whole Truth.
When he came into power, he found
chat the secret service fund was entirely
Inadequate for the defense OF the Repub-
lie, and he had recourse to his persona
friends for sufficient money TO tide Owe
the temporary difficulty. The confusion
| grew steadily in the Chamber as the Dep
uties became convinced that NJ. Rouvie
was evading the issue. Loud murmurs o
protest greeted his first statement as L
the secret service fund, and when he sug
gested that the suspicious checks wer,
| contributions OF his personal friends, t.
| the support OF the government, there wa
an outbreak of howls and derisive laugh.
| ter.
Raising his voice so as to be heard abovG
the uproar, M. Rouvier shouted: "Wha
did, all public men have done. Had J
not adopted that course, the men now in.
terrupting me would not be seated OF
these benches"
Bedlam broke loose the moment tho
words were uttered. Deputies rose anC
shouted back to the speaker, and other
lhouted for the names OF the friends. nj
Rouvier made three attempts to be heard
but his voice was inaudible. After tn
demonstration had spent itself, he con
inued 81 am perfectly ready to go be
ore any tribunal. have nothing to fear
never derived the slightest benefit from
he Panama Conai Company. i never de
ended its interests. / challenge investi-
,ation."
This peroration provoked another hos
lie demonstration. When order haC
1een restored the report OF the specia
committee in favor OF the prosecution was
ldopted.
Paul Deroulede then asked what actor
the Disciplinary Council
of the Legion OF Honor had decided tC
lake against DIR. Cornelius Herr.
"This man." Nj. Deroulede said, "is not
% be left with the insignia OF the Legion
in his possession, although, grant he II
Z most important man TO the state, for h'
ruly holds the reins CO government"
NJ. Deroulede paused for several min
dtes while the right cheered and the lef
tried to drown the cheers with shouted
protests. Then he proceeded to make
yirulent personal attack upon NJ. Clemen
ceau, "whose relations to NJ. Herz," h.
said, "are too well known TO need detailed
description" Amid renewed cheers from
The right and jeers from the left he de
,lared that Herr tried to buy the Bou
langists with Panama Canal money, bu
they had refused to touch IL. Despite Nj
Flobuet's repeated protests, cries OF "Dis
solution" and general tumult, which ex
tended TO the topmast gallery, NJ. Derou
lede again addressed himself to NJ. Glenn
enceau. "Why did this Herz give 10000
francs to la Justice9" he shouted. NJ
Clemenceau, white with rage, shakin
both fists toward NJ Deroulede, shoute
back in anger. which nobody could hea
q. in the general confusion.
I NJ. Clemencesu replied that NJ. Derou
lede's attacks were pernicious, shameless
D and without foundation. Although h
{ had no written proofs OF his innocence
he defed NJ. Deroulede to substantial
4 he charges just made. He would not an
= swer these braZen ISLANDERS in the Cham
Der, but would
{ Demand Personal Satisfaction
after adjournment. The attacks OF IL
last speaker upon NJ. Herr were based O
talsehood and Imagination. NJ. Clemer
: ceau praised Herr aud said he was Boz
langer's devoted friend. In conclusion
Clemenceau cried out: "Deroulede hi
= accused me OF betraying my country h
!, Introducing foreign influence; DerouleC
: lies.n
After another scene OF wild disorde
u Lucien Millveyoe, Boulsngist deputy Z,
e somme, rose TO defend, as he said, tl
: memory Of Gen. BoaiAngsr against q
l. statement concerning the friendship b
" tween Herr and this great man. lie tn,
, let loose torrent OF abuse on NJ. Clemei
l. cesu, accusing him Of accepting millio
II In brides and OF advising the abandon
l. ment Of Egypt TO the French goverl
ment.