The herald., 1893-01-27
ALMOST READY FOR THE JURY,
The Panama Canal Trial Draw
ing to a Close.
M. Barboux's Eloquent Argument for
the Defense.
A Stormy Debate in the Chamber @
Deputies Over the Secret Ser
vice Fund-Oid Charges
Renewed.

By the Associated Press.
PARIS, Jan. 26.-Barboux concluded
his address on behalf of the accused
Panama canal officials today. In elo.
quent, scathing language he denounced
the blackmail and corruption 30 terribly
palpably rife in connection with the
Panama enterprise. He caused a sensa.
tion by an unexpected, whitening attack
on ex-Minister Floquet.
"Why" exclaimed Barbour vehe-
mently, sis the former minister who
directed the distribution of the press
subsidies not sitting alongside the pris-
oners?"
Barboux deliberately paused, as if he
left the shaft which he had aimed
quiver in the minds of his listeners !;
then, resuming, he spoke in
scathing language of the men who
chiefly profited by the Panama COM
pany's lavish expenditures. He re-
ferred to Reinach's relations with high
officials of Paris and of the intimach of
Herr with leading personages in the off,
cial world, and closed with a tribute to
the lofty reputation of Ferdinand de
Lesseps and touching appeal in behalf
of his clients.
M. Barbour was followed by M. Du-
butt, who spoke on behalf of Marius
Fontane and demanded the acquittal of
his client. The court then adjourned
until Tuesday.
M. Franqueville, the examining magis-
trate in the Panama canal case, signed
report and delivered it to NJ. Bourgeois,
minister OF justice. 1t exculpates Depu-
ties Roache and Arene and Senator
Thevenet.
The discussion of the budget was con-
tinued in the chamber of deputies to.
day. When the appropriations for the
ministry of the interior were reached
Millevoye, Flourens and several others
severely criticised the course of the gov
eminent regarding newspaper corre-
spondents, and argued that such places
should be held by Frenchmen who
would be under the control of the gov
ernment.
Albert Chiche, Boulangist deputy for
Gironde. opposed voting secret service
fund on the ground that the fund was
used for political purposes by the gov
ernment in power.
Ribot replied that the fund was indis-
pensable, especially at present. The
government would regard the vote on
The question as one of confidence. As |
regards the disposition of the fund, the |
deputies must trust the probity of the |
government.
La Provost de Launay. who followed
NJ. Ribot, began an attack upon the |
governments, position toward the
Panama scandal.
q r1hs snI,
DeLaunay's speech became an uproar !
when Paul Deschanel deprecated the re-
dections upon the governments inten-
lions, and turning to Jules de La Have
demanded that he now name tho $50
deputies whom he described as the re-
cipients of Panama bribes.
De la Haye replied: "Most of you |
know who they are.'
''Name them!'' "Name them !" came
from all sides.
''I am not here to name them," ans
wered De la Haye. "It is for the law |
to discover the Names"
M. Bourgeois, minister of Justice, re-
piled to De La Hayes accusation at
length. He regretted. he said, to hear
De La Haye again repeat his charges
without giving any proofs of their truth.
M. Ribot addressed himself to De La
Hayes charges and made final appeal
for secret service fund. In conclusion
M. Ribot earnestly exhorted the depu-
ties to trust the government, vote Sec
ret service fund and save the French
people from agitation which would
shake the republic.
The fund was voted by 303 deputies
against 1872, and the entire budget OF
the ministry of the interior was then
approved.