The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-12-21


dent of'tho chamber of deputies, an
nounced to the house to-day that he
had received an application for au-
thority to prosecute NJ. Rouvier, ex-
minister Of finance; n. Jules Roche,
ex.ministcr Of commerce; Emanuel
Arene, member for Corsica; Antonio
ProustO, member for Deux sevres;
Baron Jean DeSoubeyrau, member for
Louden, and Joseph Duge de LaFau-
connerie, member for 0rne.
Tho application could not be granted
without the consent OF the house OF
deputies as, under the law. they were
exempt from certain legal proceedings.
The chamber decided that the standing
committees should meet and consider
the application. The sitting was then
adjourned.
In the senate NJ. Leroyer, the presi-
dent, stated that he had received a de-
mand for the prosecution OF Senators
Renault, Albert Grevy, Beral, Theyenot
and Deves for the part they had taken
Ill kLlS Va bLlG OuAlhL SCIl PhAYs
The matter was referred, as in the lower
chamber, 10 the standing committees.
In the senate and the lower chamber
special committees were elected to con-
slider applications OF the pro6ureur gen.
erRl and both were understood to favor
tho prosecution OF ex-Minister Rouvier.
N. Rouvier appeared before tho
standing committee of which no Is a
member in his own defence. He was
glad, he said, of an opportunity to ex-
plain his position. There was nothing
in the documents seized to prove that
he had ever received check from any
body in tho interest of tho Panama
Canal Company. The accusations made
against his honor and integrity had re-
lieved him Of such obligations and he
would now speak out in the chamber
without reserve.
When the chamber resumed not
dozen seats in the whole auditorium
were vacant. Tho report OF the special
committee, read by Chairman Alexan-
Dire Miller and, favored the granting Of
the application for authority to prose-
cute, but in the intense anxiety OF the
moment 1t was hardly noticed. All
waited patiently for the explanations OF
tho accused members. Deputy Arene,
charged by n. Androux, late project OF
police, with corruption in connection
with the loan Of 1888, was tho first one
to protest his innocence. lie made
merely general denial.
AN EXCITING SCENE.
As NJ. Rouvier assembled the speakers
tribune every deputy leaned forward
in an attitude of close attention, and
the first words of his defense we're do.
livered amid impressive stiffness.
He made an emphatic general denial
that ho had accepted checks from the
Panama Canal Company or their agents,
or had had any discreditable connec-
tion OF any sort with the company'a en-.
terprise. Present circumstances had
relieved his tongue Of the gag imposed
upon it by ministerial duty, and he was
ready to tell the whole truth. When
hc came into power he found that the
secret service fund was entirely inade-
Quate for tho defense of tho republic.
AS, in order to govern well, he and his
colleagues must have tho money which
this secret service lacked, he had re-
course to his personal friends for sutti-
cient 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 dorisivo laughter
Raising his voice 80 as to be heard
above tho uproar NJ. Rouvier ehouted:
what did, Ill public mon have done.
Had not ad opted that course, the men
now interrupting me would not be
seated on these benches." Bedlam
broke loose the moment the words were
uttered.
Deputies rose and shouted back to
tho speaker, and others shouted for the
names OF tho friends. NJ. Rouvier
made three attempts to be heard, but
his voice was inaudible. After the
demonstration had spent itself he con-
tinued: II am perfectly ready to go
before any tribunal I have done moth
ing to fear. 1never derived the slight.
est benefit from the Panama Canal
Company. l never defended Its inter.
ests. challenge investigation"
This peroration provoked another
hostile demonstration. When order
had been restored the report OF the
special committee in favor Of the prose-
cution was adopted.
NJ. Paul DeRoulede then asked what
action the disciplinary council OF the
Legion Of Honor had decided to take
against DR.. Cornelius Herr.
"This man." DeRoulede said, "is not
to bo left with the insignia OF the legion
in his possession, although ! grant he
he Is most Important man to the
state, for he truly holds the retns OF
government"
N. DeRoulede paused for several min
utes while the Right cheered and the
Left tried to drown the cheers with
shouted protests. Then he proceeded,
with perfect Coolness, to make q most
violent personal attack upon ". Glenn.
enCeau, whose relations to nj. Herz"
he said, "are too we'll known to need de-
tailed description"
Amid renewed cheers from the Right
and ieors from the Loft lie declared that
NJ. Horz tried to buy tho Boulangists
with Panama canal money, but they re-
fused to touehit. Despite n. Floquets
protests, cries OF "dissolution" and a
general tumult which extended to the
topmost gallery. NJ. Roulede again adj
dressed himself to NJ. Clemenceal.
"Why did this Herr give 200, GOO francs
to LdJuAice2' he shouted. NJ. Clemen-
ceau, white with rage, sprang to hia
feet, and shaking both fsts toward ~: