The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-12-21
DEPUTIES ACCUSED.
sensational Scenes in the French
Senate Chamber.
RoUVIER ANSWERS HIS AooUsERs.
M. Paul DerouIece Makes ViruIent
Attack on NJ. Clemenccau, Sec
onded by NJ. Mnlevoye and the
BouIangists in the Senate.

Of the chamber of deputies, announced
TO the house yesterday that he had re-
ceived from the procureur general an ap-
plication for authority to prosecute NJ.
Rouyier, ex-minister Of finance; M. Jules
Roche ex-minister of commerce; En-
manuel Arene, member for Corsica; An
toin Proust, member for Deux Severes;
Baron Jean de Soubeyran, member for
Loudon, and Joseph Dugue de la Fau-
connerie, member for Orne. The appli-
cation was made on tho ground that the
examining magistrate of the Panama
canal case had received many check
stubs in which appeared the initials of
deputies, and that compromising evil
dence against the individuals in question
had been laid before the parliamentary
investigating commission, especially as
TO the part they took in the lottery issue.
The application could not be granted
without the consent of the house, as the
deputies under the law were exempt
from certain legal proceedings. Tho
chamber decided that the standing COM
mittees should meet and consider the APP
plication.
In the senate and the lower chamber
special committees were elected to con-
slider the applications of the procurer
general, and both were understood to
favor the prosecution Of ex-Minister
RouYier.
In the senate NJ LIE Roger, the presi-
dent, stated that he had received a de-
mand for the prosecution of Senators
Renault, Albert Grevy, Beral, Theve-
not and Deves for the part they had
taken III the affairs of the canal com
pany The matter was referred, a S in
the lower chamber, to the standinn COM
mittees.
NJ. Rouvier appeared before the stand
Ing committee, of which he is member,
In his own defense. The report of the
special committee, read by Chairman
Alexandra Millerand, favored the grant
ing of the application for authority to
prosecute but in the intense anxiety of
the moment it was hardly noticed. All
waited impatiently for the explanations
of the accused members. Deputy Arene,
charged by NJ. Androux, late perfect of
police, with corruption in connection
with the loan Of 1888, was the first one
10 protest his innocence. He made
merely a general denial. .....
Rouvier's Defense.
As NJ. Rluvier assembled the speakers
tribune every deputy leaned forward in
All attitude Of close attention, and the
first words of his defense were delivered
amid oppressive stillness. After remind
ing the chamber of his long public serv-
ices, his hitherto unexceptiOnable record,
and the obligations to official secrecy
which had previously closed his mouth,
he made an emphatic general denial that
he had accepted checks from the Pan
anna Canal company or their agents, or
had had any discreditable connection OF
When he came into power he found that
the secret service fund was entirely in
adequate for the defense of the republic.
As, in order TO govern we'll, he and his
colleagues must have the money which
the secret service fund lacked, he had
recourse TO his personal friends for suf-
hcient money to tide over the temporary
diffit ulty.
The confusion grew steadily in the
chamber rs the deputies became con-
ginCed that NJ. Rouvier was evading the
issue, Loud murmuls of protest greeted
his first statement as to tho secret service
fund and when he suggested that the
suspicious checks We're contributions of
his personal friends 10 the support of the
government there was an outbreak of
bowls and derisiye laughter, Raising
his voice so as to be heard above the up
FUar, NJ Rouvier shouted:
"What ] did all public men have
done. Had | not adopted that course,
the men now interupting me would not
be seated on these benches"
Bedlam Breaks Loose.
Bealam broke loose tho moment the
words were uttered. Deputies rose and
shVuted back to the speaker and others
shouted for the names of the friends. M.
Rouyier 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 be-
fore any Tribunal. have nothing to
fear. never derived the slightest ben
eft from the Panama Canal company. l
pever defended its interests. I challenge
Investigation.
This perorHtion provoked another hos
tile demonstration. When order had
been restored the report of the special
committee in favor of the prosecution
WAS adopted. NJ. Paul Deroulede then
asked what action the disciplinary coun-
Gil of the Legion of Honor had decided
10 take against Dir. Cornelius Herse.
"This man." NJ Deroulede said, lis not
TO be lett with the insignia of the legion
In his possession although grant he is a
most important man 10 the state, for he
truly holds the reins of government" ="
M. Deroulede made most virulent per-
BOnal attack upon NJ, Clemenceau,
4 "whose relations to NJ. Herse, he said
''are too well known to need detailed
description,
Amid renewed cheers from the right,
and ieers from the left, he declared
that NJ. Horse tried to buy the Boulang-
lists with Panama canal money. but
they had refused to touch it. Despite
NJ. Floquets repeated protests, cries of
"dissoiutlon and general tunult
which extended to the topmost gallery,
NJ. Deroulede again addressed himself to
NJ. Clemenceau. "Why did this Herse
give 100000 francs to La Justice;' he
shouted, M. Clemenceau, while with
rage, sprang to his feet, and shaking
both fists toward NJ Derouede. shouted
back an answer which nobody cou Id
hear in the general confusion. NJ
Derouiede closed with an attack on the
''mutuHl benefit association, not of So
cialists and revolutionaries, but of rich
Gen and of rich mems pamperers.
Clemenceau Threatens Duel.
NJ. Clemenceau replied that NJ. Derou-
lede'3 attacks were perniCious, shameless
and without foundation. Although he
had no written proofs Of his innocence
he deiied NJ. Deronlede to subStantiate
the charges made. He would not answer
.IneS0 DtHEtn SidHueEs III tue ClihinUeTt
but would demand personal satisfaction
Immediately after adjournment. The
attacks of the last speaker upon NJ.
Herse were based on falsehood and imag-
ination. DIR, Herse had served France
faithfully as soldier and physician.
Bonlanger himself had not a more de
voted friend than Dir. Herse. NJ. Glenn.
enceau acknowledged that La Justice
had supported capitalists occasionally,
but denied that il had ever promoted
business enterprises In the interest Of
DR.. Herse. In conclusion NJ, Clenen-
eeaa cried out
Deroulede has accused me of betray-
sng my country by introducing foreign
influence. Deronlede liesm
After another scene of wild disorder,
Lueien Millevoye, Boulangist deputy
for BONNIE, rose to defend, as he said, the
memory of General Boulanger against