Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-10-29
MINISTRY FALLS.
French Cabinet Members Hand Res
ignations TO President Faure'
Railway scandals Finally Cause Downfall Of
n. Riboi's Ministry.

p.,;. oot 2s.-In the Chamber OF
no,n,,as today. NJ. Rouanet. Socialist.
,n.da IN interpellation in regard to the
Cnn,be,n Railway scandals and In a
sr,oocb condemned the government fol
,patino senator Magnier scapegoat
wh,lo SHIELDING much worse culprits than
he. The vote by which the motion OF
Rouaner was adopted stood 80 to I'll.
The motion was az follows:
1.-The Chamber of Deputies, considering
IL ,roner TO interdict its members from
taEina nar In the operations Of financial
evndicates. is resolved &c throw complete
I;ob. nm the affairs of the Southern rail
wavs and invites the minister of justice
TO fnifl all his responsibilities. F"
Immediatey upon the adoption of the
mo,ion the ministers filed out of the
CD amber for the purpose of proceeding to
the palace of the Elysee, the residence OF
President Faure, and placing their resigna.
tions in his hands
The downfall of the cabinet caused
great exciteD ent in the city and there was
a large crowd Of persons about the cham
Der The excitement was all the more
intense, as the defeat Of the cabinet was,
practically speaking, totally unexpected.
Shortly after the withdrawal of the
ministers. the Chamber took an adjourn
ment until Nov. T. The resignation OF
the cabinet was formally handed to the
President IL is expected that the next
cabinet will consist of Burgois- Petraya
combination.
The ministry just gone out of office was
constituted, Jan. 81 1895, 10 days after
the election Of Felix Faurc as President OF
the republic. Some time ago a magistral
investigation was begun into the connec-
ton of certain French senators and
deputies with the South of France Rail
way syndicate, due to an accusation made
in the Chamber by NJ. Rouanet.
NJ Rouanet declared that Edmond
Magbier, senator from Var and at that
time chief editor of the Evenement, re
ccived 81, 500 francs as part of the profits
of tho syndicate organized by the late
Baron De Reinach Of Panama canal
notoriety.
Later. report was made by M. Flory,
the official accountant in the inquiry,
which supplied overwhelming evidence
against the members of the syndicate.
The corruption of Off ,ials and other lille
gal practices were resOrted to to obtain the
concession for the road and guarantee the
interest on the capital, which was watered
to an incredible extent.
The budgets of the departments were
crippled for years to come to build and
support the railway, which passes through
IL region incapable of furnishing traffic OF
any consequence.
The result of the inquiry was the arrest
of number of the politicians and dis
honest contractors. 1t appears from the
charges made by NJ. Rouanet in tht
Chamber of Deputies that there was dis
position on the part of the government tt
shield those concerned in the scandal
with the exception of Senator Magnier
NJ Magnier was indicted, but before he
could be brought to trial, disappeared
Subsequently returned to Paris and sur
rendered himself TO the authorities. He
was tried, convicted and sentenced to one
years Imprisonment and to pay fine o
100 francs.