The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-08


| actionists; but this political complexion
| was afterward modified The alleged sui
| eide Of Baron Reinach upon November
| 2st had meantime created the greatest
| excitement; the papers were full OF sensa-
| tlonal rumors OF his connection with the
| Panama scandal. alleging. among other
! things, that he had poisoned himself 20
| escape exposure. The heirs Of Reinach
| applied for a judicial administrator 10
| wind UP the Baron's affairs and thus
| silence the outcry. Evidence was offered
| later before the inquring committee
| tending TO prove that Relnach had re-
| ceived money from the canal people.
| on November 2ith the committee met,
| the chairman being NJ. Brisson former
Premier Of France, and the vice-chair-
linen, NM. Clauzel de Consuergues and
roIibols, respectively, OF Republican and
| sonapartist political faith. NJ. de Les
| sps did not appear and sent n certin-
cue OF Ill health from his rural home at
La Chesnaye, near Issoudun. Here re-
por ers sought him out and said that they
foufi the great man spending all his time
In re.ding. little inclined to talk and very
deaf. The curious spectacle was now pre-
sented of two inquiries being held at the
same tine upon practically the same
| question though Of course the proceedings
differed n many important features.
The court OF appeals ON November 2ath
| called the case of the canal directors.
and adJouued until January 10. 1888.
citing all tie defendants except De Les
seps TO appesr at that time. The latter's
counsel, NJ BIboux, said that his clients
appearance would necessarily depend on
the state OF hs health. which was pre-
( carious. The Parliamentary committee
now conferred with Premier Loubet and
Minister Of justice Ricard. when IL was
/ decided not 20 ase for magisteriaI pow
! OF the data collected by the prosecution
| In the court OF appeals. Minister Ricard
then intimated that the Government would
have prosecuted Baron Reinach had no
survived.
The first witness examined before the
Parliamentary inquiry vas Deputy De-
lahaye. who had created the sensation In
the debate in the Chamber His testimony
was somewhat disappointing as he mere
ly repeated his former vague charges
mentioning, indeed, the name OF an ex-
deputy and deceased Minister OF Agri-
culture. but declining 10 give a list OF the
bribed deputies, saying he had only moral
proof against them. He mentioned GER
tain banks. however, in which proof could
be found. He said that the canal com
pany gave 100000. 70 a Paris and 500O0Jf
10 a foreign journal. The committee
wanted TO examine Editor Drumont, or
the Libre Parole. but the latter declined
TO appear unless he received a full re-
mittance OF the sentence under which be
was then IN prison. Three members re
fused to sit-Deroulede, LavatuJou and
Jo1nart.
A vote was taken in the Chamber next
day TO finally decide whether the COM
mittee should receive magstertai powers.
The motion was made by NJ. Pourquery
de Boisson in the affirmative. but the
House decided against II by vote OF "a
TO 2lS, Premier Loubet saying that moral
authority was sufficient.
Day by day the committee pursued its
Investigations. calling lnnumerable Wit
nesses. NJ. Provost de Launay testified
that De Lesseps told him that I'm order
10 get the loan bill passed he had 70 un-
dergo '1nexorable conditions" and that
Investigating Magistrate Prinet had adj
mitted finding a written list OF six hundred
brides: also speaking OF the hard bargains
made by contractors and by banks TO
float the loans.
The committee had passed In favor OF
the elimination Of Reinach's body, and on
November 18th the Marquis de la Fer
ronaye, Royalist. moved for an autopsy
In the Chamber. Minister Rlcard, on be-
half Of the Government, claimed that the
police had seen the coffin closed, and the
Project of the Seine had given a permit
for the burial and the cause OF death
had been regularly certified 10. Invesu-
gator Prinet could not examine the papers
of the deceased because his mission ended
the day prior to the death. and the Min
lister Of Justice and the Procureur-Gen-
eral had no powers 20 make domicihary
visits for such a purpose. Ricard said ne
had no suspicion OF anything being wrong
In regard 10 Reinach's death. and he de-
clared he would not move further. Bris-
son, head Of the Commission OF Inquiry,
f,l od1ptal demand for
1.-THE Government has prom
ised light; let them give it,"
Loud applause greeted these words A
call for the orders OF the day was ac-
cepted by Premier LOubet on behalf or
the Ministry in order TO cut short the de-
bate, but II was rejected by vote OF
304 TO 2l9. Brisson now moved a want Of
confidence In the Government, which was
adopted by 1893 to 3. 80 Ministerials thus
changing sides and $50 not voting at all.
So the Cabinet Of Loubet fell after an
existence Of nine months, and curiOusly
enough Brsson, who led the attack upon
It. was voted out Of Office himself IN 1855.
when his administration had attained ex-
actly the same age.
Prinet was examined by the Inquiry
on the day OF the Government
defeat. He said that while searching the
affairs OF the canal he found that mil
lions OF money had been paid over TO.
that there was ample evidence
of temptation offered to Deputies and that
q very suspicious charge Of eighty-three
millions for advertising and expenses was
found on the books OF the company. In
list Of six hundred names discovered many
were those OF Deputies.
The rext development In the proceed
ngs OF the commission was the refusal
If Procureur General Beaurepaire 20
allow it TO examine the documents and
iepositions Of Prinets investigations. be-
,aUse doing so would prejudice the case
II the indicted directors. Friction be-
ween the two tribunals judicial and par
iamentary, was very constant, and the
Public Prosecutor complained that NJ.
'rinets evidence before the parliamentary
inquiry was intended for the court OF APP
,eals and that Parliament was interfer-
ng with judicial questions. banker
FAMED Thierree told the commission that
he had exchanged twenty-siX OF his own
hecks for one amounting 10 1880 tl5t.
irawn on the Bank OF France by the
'anama Company and handed him by
Baron Reinach. Mr.. Kuhn. Renach's
,artner. said in regard 10 this that tho
heck had never been seen In the Offices
II Relnach. Kuhn & Co. The bank had
eceiyed commits sions on the first and sec
nd parliamentary loans but these had
,een paid in bonds which quickly depre-
lated and became practically yalueless
o their holders. Boudet. the ex-secretary
f the company. denied that any pay
nents had been made 10 deputies save