Evening journal., 1893-05-13
FRENCH DEPUTIES.
THEIR PALACE, CEREMONIES AND
lDloSYNcRAslES.

A History of the Chamber and the Euiid-
lug In which It Meets-scenes In and
Around the Palace whom the Chamber
Is In scssion-Two Salaries.
To Americans, who know that after
Fhe excitement Of the presidential cleo
ton is over there will be no change Of
importance for four years, these contin-
nal ministerial notifications of the
French cabinet appear strange, and their
effect is prei7dicial to trance both as
regards her domestic prosperity and her
international prestige. Under the di-
rectory there were two legislative bodies
the Give Hundred and the 'Ancients."
After holding their sessions in various
places-more or less convenient-it was
decided to give them the Palais Bourbon,
which had been built in 1922, but never
occupied. They took possession Of the
building in the year VII Of the republic
Q79S). During the preceding year the
necessary improvements had been made
to render it suitable for the use to which
it was then devoted.
From that time, under the different
titles Of "Palace Of the Council Of the
Five Hundred. +" "Palace of the Legisla-
tive Corps" and chamber of Deputies"
1t has always remained consecrated to
the service Of the peoples representa-
tives.
From time TO time such improvements
rs economy would permit were made,
but it was not until 1907, under Napo-
leon l, that the grand staircase, sur
mounted by the portal facing the Place
de la Concorde, familiar TO all visitors
TO Paris, was constructed. Then it was
also that the colossal statues Of Justice
and Prudence Sully, Colbert, LHopital
and D'Aguesseau were placed where they
now stand. These statues, by the bye
which look like marble, are in reality
made of stone and covered with a coat
ing of white glaze.
Under Napoleon l the building was at
first called the palace Of the Legisla-
tive Corps" and the deputies wore bril-
liant uniforms. This caused writer OF
the time to say, "He gave the deputies a
brilliant costume, embroidered with
gold. and at the same time withdrew
their right Of free speech"
It was in 1914 that the name was
changed to that the building bears to-
day, "Palace Of the Chamber Of Depu-
ties" or, as it is more generally called
now, chamber of Deputies" But il
the Legislators Of the year Of grace 1885,
do not wear gold embroidered uniforms
there still remains in their ceremonies
good deal of the pomp and ceremony
which usually appertain 20 monarchies.
The president of the chamber lives il
mansion on the Quai dOrsay, tn
grounds Of which join these surrounding
the chamber of deputies. Before tn
opening OF each sitting he is escorte'
through the long Sale des Pas Perdu
preserved for the use Of members of par
lament and iournahsts) by a detach
ment Of infantry in command of n cal
tain. The drums beat, and the proce!
sion is preceded by a gorgeously attire
usher, who announces, Monsieur
President"
Thus escorted, the president mount
his seat, high above the tribune froi
which the members speak, and immed
atelv there is a noise Of members scran
bling to their seats, like schoolboys afrai
Of being marked late. This part of Il
proceedings is about as undignihod as Il
entrance Of the president is imposing
After tapping his desk with a large papl
knife, or IN case of much noise ringir
q brass bell, the president declares Il
sitting open, and q relative silence is q
tablished for a moment. The form
business Of reading the minutes Of u
last sitting is gone through. and then Il
discussion upon the question Of the ID
begins. When unimportant, everybo,
who is not engaged in letter writii
talks. When the question before q
house sof interest, silence is maintain
until somebody sets the example of int,
rupting or perhaps insulting the speak,
Then the scene is one which has oft
been described by clever writers and a
lists, but which must be seen TO be O
preciated The ushers inside the cha'
Der, who wear evening dress, white &
and swords, have frequently TO come
tween excited deputies. who, but for tn
intervention, would often come to hlOy
These ushers form in reality the m'
conservative part Of the assembly,
they, with few exceptions, grow old
the service. They are almost as famil
with the rules OF LAt mousse aH tle lit
dent himself. and they regard new
elected members very much as an usl
in public school regards a new b
They know that every deputy dril
while speaking, and one of them is es
cially told Off to order from the bu
the particular beverage with which
speaker is won't TO moisten his pare
lips during heated debate.
It is upon these occasions that
French chamber treats the world
some Of those surprises which no fel
can understand" What is called
France le petit jeu des combinaisor
played. and often a government ma
ity Of today is turned into a minority
morrow.
The fact is. that the majority Of
deputies are men who would be Loaf
lose their pay Of 25 francs per day
the honors attached to the post Of re
sentative Of the people. That iswhy
fear Of dissolution often induces theI
rive q ministry a majority rather