The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-22
An Investigation Ordered by Unani-
nous Vote After an Exciting Debate.
The Cham Der Thrown Into Tumult Repes .edly
During the Discussion-MM. Deroulede
and Hubbard to Fight Duel.
HUGE FRENCH SCANDAL.


Bribery and Corruption Charged Against
the Panama Canal Officials.
PARIS, Nov. 21.-By unanimous vote the
Chamber of Deputies to-day agreed that
parliamentary inquiry should be instituted
into the affairs of the Panama Canal Com
pany. There was an unusually large at
tendance in the Chamber of Deputies to-
day. The public thronged the galleries.
Nearly all of the Ministers were present.
NJ. Argelies opened the Panama debate.
He said that his object was to defend
the interests of the shareholders OF the
company. II call upon the government"
sald NJ. Argelies, Ito make declaration
reassuring tho small shareholders"
NJ. De Ia Haye arose and declared: This
is question of public morality. ask the
Chamber. for the sake of my honor and of
your honor to order an inquiry into the
fact am about to submit to you." There
was O commotiOn in the Chamber for q
minute. Then a moment of suspense. NJ.
De la Haye then continued: II will give
no names. as 1 do not wish to appear as a
denunciator." When quiet was restored
the speaker continued: "The scandals in
the Panama matter exceed those of the
Wilson affair. The inquiry demanded is in
the nature of q general publication, to be
effected in the broad daylight Here the
speaker was again interrupted with an up
roar among the Deputies. When heresumed
he said: IN. De Lesseps, in 1880, had vainly
trayersed France appealing for subscribers.
when an individual, whom l shall not
name. proposed to the Panama directors 5
sy stem of lottery bonds. He was the evil
genius of the company. The directors
duped the public; be duDed the directors.
He fret asked for 5OO,0O0 francs. declared
nat he could purchase Herewith all the
necessary concIences in both mbers OF
the national legislature"
There were renewed interruptions here.
and cries of Name him. name him." nj. De
Ia Haye replied: IF you want names you
will vote for an inquiry. But | can say
that the medium of these transactions was
man named Arton, who has since lied the
country TO escape punishment for embez-
element OF q large sum from O dynamite
manufacturing company OF which he was
director" NJ. DE la Haye proceeded: There
was sum of 5000. GOO francs distributed
among $50 Deputies and q few Senators up
roar among the Deputies but the appetites
thus excited great greed. and the manage
rectors for more millions Of francs. The
money was demanded for election expenses
In the department of NOrd."
Intense excitement broke again. and M.
Floquet exclaimed: 81 was Minister of the
Interior at that time, and desire TO solemn
ly state that received nothing"
THREE NEWSPAPERS BRIBED.
M. Della Hsye waited for the confusion to
abate and then continued: Three hun
dred thousand francs was spent in buying
three papers. A Minister. now dead, asked
4e0. 600; another 100000 francs was paid for
journal of little value. but behind which
hidden influences were working. A foreign
paper was bought for 500. 900 francs, a check
for which was signed at its cffice. can
name the person who acted as messen ger
between the contracting parties" Cries
of Name him.
M. De la Hsye did not notice the inter-
rupti0n, but con tinued: Nov for the last
scandal. The committee of this Cham Der,
charged with the duty of examining into
this lottery bond scheme comprised five
favorable to and five opposed to it, The
eleventh member, before casting his vote.
offered his services to the company for
20O, 900 francs. The company refused his
proportion. He formed a sy Indicate. being
aided by o banker. and caused a fall in
the shares and compelled the company to
yield. The scheme was then approved by
the committee but the banker was not
warned in time The shares recovered and
ask me for proof. Although tho authorities
conceal evidence there are q hundred here
present who know where il can To found.
There are two categories of Deputies-thoSe 10
who received money; those who did not"
Indescriba ble proar follow ed this asser-
tion. NJ. Flouquet, President OF the Cham
ber intervened TO say: 'You cannot come
into this house and accuse the entire body" /"
There were renewed calls upon NJ. DE
Ia Have for names. He replied: Vote for
the inquiry"
NJ. Flouquet asked him to give names. as
such course would be mors digniiied
than on anonymous denunciation.
IL consider myself attacked" said the
presiding officer of the Chamber. IL am
not only unopposed TO an inquiry. but
have demands therefor signed by our col
leagues" This announcement was greeted
with prolonged cheering, curing which
NJ. De In Haye quilted the tribune. AS
he walked to his seat there was an un-
paralleled scene of confusion. He was
hissed and hooted, and q violent dispute
began at the same time between NM. Hub
bard and Deroulede
In the midst of the uproar Premier Lon
bet ascended the tribune. He was unable
TO speak Tor time. owing to the tumult.
When, finally, be was ablo to make his
voice heard. he said he would not reply to
NJ. De ls Hayes allegations. as he believed
that the charges arose from violent
political passions. The governm ent, how
ever.could not refuse the demand for an in.
| curry. 1t was In the interest of all that
lisht should be thrown upon the matter. The
| government had nothing to hide. The
Chamber agreed that O committee OF
thlrty.three should be appointed, with ex.
traordinary powers. to examine all the
| charges.
II. De Launay urged that the mos,
| searching Investigation be made, as the
responsibilities of the government, the
| press and the leading ffnanciers and con
tractors were involved.
| NJ. Cassagnac called upon NJ. De Launay
| to tell what he knew.
M. Boissy-D'Anglas interposed that M
| Cassagnac's own name had been men
toned in the lobbies.
Nj. Cassagnao Indignantly protested
| whereupOn NJ. Boissy UAnglas remarked
| that he had not accused him. He only
wished to show how abominable were DE
In Hayes charges. The members of the
| Right also shared in the mud-throwing
| NJ. German, of the department of Aisne, and
| MANAGER cf the Credit Lyonnais, and NJ
| Hely-DOi of the department or Seine
| et-Olse. and director OF the Societe Gen
| erale, denied DE Launay's statement tha
| their companies had loaned money to the
| Panama Canal Company at IS per cent In
terest.
| The Chamber then. by vote of 81 Il
244. decided that the nvestigating commit.
tee should be appointed at to-morrow's sit