Arizona silver belt., 1893-09-30
FRENCH DEPUTIES.
THEIR PALACE, CEREMONIES AND
 lpIosYNoRASlES.

Around tho Palace When the Chamber Is Tn session-T'wo Salaries.
 To Americans, who know that after the excitement of the presidential cleo iicn is over there will be no change. of importance for four years, these contin. nal ministerial notifications of tho French cabinet appear strange, and their effect is prejudicial to France both as regards her domestic prosperity and her international prestige. Under the di; | reetory there wert two legislative bodies the "Five Hundred" and the "Ancients." After holding their sessions in various places--more or less eonvenient---it was decided to give them the Palais Bcdfbon, which had been built in l722, but never occupied. They took possession of the building in the year VII of the republic Q79e). During the preceding year the necessary improvements had been made to render it suitable for the use to which 1t was then devoted
 From that time, finder the different titles of "Palace of the Council bf the Five Hundred" Palace of the Legsla- tive Corps" and Chamber of Deputies" it has always remained consecrated to the service of the peoples fepresenta- tives.
 From time to time such Improvements as 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, L'Hopital | and D'Aguesseau were placed where they now stand. These statues, by the bye, which look like marble, are in reality made of stono and covered with coat ing of white glaze.
 Under Napoleon the building was at first called the Palace of the Legisla- | tive Corps, and the deputies wore bril. liant uniforms. This caused O writer of the time to say, "He gave the deputies brilliant costume, embroidered with gold, and at the same time withdrew their right of free speech.
 It was in lSli that the namo was changed to that tho building bears to- day, Palace Of the Chamber of Depu- ties, or, as it is moro generally ealled now, Chamber of Deputies" But if the legislators of the year of grace 1893 do not wear gold embroidered uniforms there still remains in their ceremonies q good deal of the poinp and ceremony which usually appertain to monartlies.
 The president of the chamber lives in mansion on the Quai d'Orsay, the grounds of which join these surrounding the chamber of deputies. Before tho opening Of each gittipg be is escorted through the long Salle des Pas Perdsg reserved for the use of members of par. hafnent and journalists) by dctach- ment of infantry in command of q cap. tain. The drums beat. and the proccs- sion Is preceded by q gorgeously attired usher, who announces, Monsieur le President"
 Thus escorted, the president mounts bis seat. high above the tribune from which tho members speak, and iinmedi- ktely there Is noise of members scram- bling to their seats, like schoolboys afraid of being marked ate This part of tn. proceedings is about us undigniiled as the entrance of the president is imposing After tapping his desk with large paper knife, or in case of much noise ringing a brass bell, the president declares tE. sitting open, and relative silence is cs- tablished for q moment. The formal business of reading the minutes of ihs last sitting is gone through, and then the discussion upon the question of the day begins When unimportant, everybody who is not engaged in letter writing talks. When the question before the house is of interest, silence is maintained until somebody sets the example of inter. rupting or perhaps insulting hespcakcr.
 Then the scene is one which has often been described by clever writers and art ists. but which must be seen to be ap- preciated The ushers inside the cham her. who wear evening dress, white ties and swords, have frequently to come be- tween excited deputies. who, but for their intervention, would often come to blows.
 These ushcrs form in reality the most conservative part of the assembly, for they, with few exceptions, grow old iii the service. They are almost as familiar with the rules of the house as the presi- dent himself, and they regard newly elected members very much as an usher in a public school regards a new boy. They know that every deputy drinks while speaking, and one of them is espe. cially told of to order from the buffet the particular beverage with which 3 speaker is won't to moisten h1s pafched liIs during a heated debate
 It is upon these occasions that the French chamber treats the world tc some of those surprises which no fellow can understand" What is called ir France le petit jeu des combinations i: played, and often government major. ity of today is turned into a minority to morrow.
 The fact is, that the majority of ths deputies are men who would be loath tc lose their pay of 25 francs per day and the honors attached to the post of repre- sentative of the people. That is why th, fear of dissolution often induces them tC give ministry a majority rather thar provoke its overthrow and the crisis con sequent thereon.
 Two ministerial portfolios are espe cially coveted--those of the .hterior ant fnance--for besides the importance o, the posts there is an ancient custom il connection with them. The day aftel the acceptance of the portfolio one of tn, grave, white necl1tied, sword bearing ushers calls upon each minister ant hands him an envelope containing 50 ,00' francs for frais de displacement, or nov ing expenses. If be retains his portfolio but single day, he never returns th' S12,000, nor is he expected to-Nev York Sun.