The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-01-27
FRENGHsLAWMAKERS
And Interesting Notes on Their
) Parliamentary System.
FRENCH CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES
Needs Some Check on 1t, Because of
It's Chief Amusemeat Which is to
Discrodit sIlnlstrIes-some Pecu.
liar Features of the Legislative sys.
tenn.
5L.alal corapona.nc, b d. lnleltasnc.t.

but acasual run OF the history Of France
since her terrible defeat by Germany,
may be surprised TO learn that in deter,
mining the form OF the constitution by
which she is now governed, q control'
ing influence was exercised by the mon
archists, With theirnumbers so great
~ reduced as they are at present,
it seems almost incredible that in
the general assembly which was elected
Unpopular vote to provide for the crisis
ofls7l, this party should have had a
majority. Such was the fact, however,,
only for the inability Of those support
ing the different claImanta to pool their
issues, the events OF the last two decades
might have turned out quite differently.
AS IL was, the monarchists, find
ing 1t impossible TO agree amongst
themselves, made terms temporarily
with the republicans. Not all, oil course,
but sufficient number, at any rate, to
carry through the constitution OF 1875;
and one Of the conditions of this mem.
orable fusion was that the two chambers
should be retained. The republicans
were committed both by tradition and
conviction to the one chamber prin.
ciple. But upon this point the royal
lists were memorable, and hence the leg
islatiye power was vested jointly in q
senate and a chamber OF deputies, and
one can only suppose that this two.
house plan ia still retained, now that
the republicans arc so largely in the
ascendant, because experience has
shown that what was accepted at first
simply as an expedient, 10 of practical
utility, not to say necessity, in carrying
on the government.
That the French chamber Of deputies
needs some check upon It, there can be
no reasonable doubt. To become thor
oughly convinced OF this ono has only
10 attend q few OF its sessions, or, for
that matter follow for time the nc.
counts one may get OF them in the
daily papers A body which finds It's
chief amusement in discrediting minis.
tries, and which treats its leaders
much as a child is won't totreat its play
things, setting them up merely for tho
purpose, ms it would seem. OF
toppling them over again, may only re.
fleet only too we'll some OF tho traits OF
the French nation, butt Is scarcely the
sort Of tribunal to be intrusted with eX-
elusive powers over the destinies ofthat
nation. For tho facility with which
heloses his head, the French deputy
has no equal. This trait may be q
freakish development OF the law OF he.
redity, due to'the fact that in times
gone by CD many OF his predecessors
lost their heads In another way. But
there he is, 10 whatever causes he may
owe the eccentricities which have made
him famous, always ready with an Tin.
terpolatiun," and always prepared to
follow 1t up, il needs DO, with u duel;
the embodiment Of suayitY at one mo-
ment, and the next an incarnation OF
furious hatred; loading tho ministry
with compliments at one session and
blythe time another session Convenes
ready to lick it out Of doors.
FEW COOL HEADS.
1t would BIO a gross exaggoratlon to
imply thar all the deputies are OF this
type. There are cool heads even in
France, nor can it be doubted that in
the French chamber OF deputies men
may be found who, in tho ability to
look calmly at both sides OF question
and to act like reasonable beings under
the fro Of ridicule or opposition, would
do credit to even so solemly respectable
body as the British house OF com.
mons. But such men are surely not in
the majority there, nor are they the
men who give the chamber its charac-
ter. The average deputy and tho one
most on view Is unquestionably Of the
type we have sRetChed, who ia never
happy unless he is out OF sorts with
somebody, and who always has, it
would seem,. not only the proverbial
chip on lis shoulder, but q couple OF
seconds dangling at his heels. The sort
OF scenes which disgrace Washington
only about once in a quadrennium,
and Westminster at still longer inter.
walls, are:of such frequent occurrence in
the legislative halls Of France that nov.
city loving Paris has become satisfied
with them. We have known single
; session to produce three fsticuG en-.
counters and to lead to as many duels,
not to speak OF tho number of times tho
lie was exchanged, and though such q
batch OF incidents" as the French
like to call them, is somewhat in excess
OF the ordinary output, one may safely
anticipate that II there is anything ex.
citing on hand-like the Panama affair
-seenesand incidents moro or less dis
graceful will be enacted every time
these French Legislators come together.
The senate Ia more self.contained
body, az one might naturally expect 1t
TO be. The senator must have passed
his fortieth, year, while the age limit for
the deputy ceases at twenty.avej and
perhaps further guaranty OF self con.
troll in the upper house 10 afforded by
the manner in which 1t IL formed.
Deputies are chosen by direct vote OF
the people. Tho electorate consists,
with o fow exceptions who are dis
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. reasons, OF all malea
over twenty.one years Of age, and at a
recent date tho voting lists showed a
total OF nearly eleven millions. All
these have d vote in sending men to tho
lower house, but the senate, like our
own, 10 elected by q different process.
Y THE REPRESENTATION.
Each department or county Is repre-.
sented in the senate by from one to ten
chosen men, and the choice is made by
taort Of county assembly composed OF
tho deputioa Tor the county, with sever.
al county officers, Ike commissioners
and judges, aud Of delegates specially
elected Tor the purpose In tho several
cominuhea or townships. This process,
tis needless TO say, produce class oil
men somewhat superior, on tho average,
q those forming the lower house. In