The record-union., 1895-01-15
CABINET CRISIS IN FRANCE.
MINISTERS SEND IN THEIR RES
IGNATIONS,
Having Been Defeated IN the Chamber
of Deputies on a Question of the
Order Of the Day.
srecIaI to the REcoRD-uN1nr

'ol'ecjai 10 the ENECORD-UNlQE.
PARIS, Jan. 1.-THE Cabinet resigned
to-day, having been defeated in the
Chamber OF Deputies oil the question of
giving priority to an order of the day,
Last evening NJ. Barthou, Commissioner
OF Public Works, resigned his Office for
the reason that the Council Of State had
voted against him in the matter OF guar
anteeing the Interest OF the southern
lines.
1t became generally known that NJ.
Alexander Milne and the well-known
sociallstic deputy and editor-iu-cnief OF
the Eette E@DHUtiqHe fTtylcC3Se would
InLerpolate the Government in regard to
NJ. Barthou's resignation, and that the
Government would reply thereto. Con-
seQuentIy large crowd gathered in the
Chamber to listen to the proceedings. Ii
was known that the position Of the Cabi-
net was not as sure as 1t might have been,
and the enemies OF the Government had
hopes the debate Of the day would result
Ill its overthrow. These hopes were re-
allied.
The question which led to the over
throw OF the Ministry is a wide one. 1t
Is really question as to wh6ther( the
Chamber IS able TO set asiue the Consbitu-
tiOn at Will. In 1SS2 tie Government
made contract with the Orleans and
Midi Railroads, under the terms Of " hIch
IN return for certain facilities in the trans
pOrtation OF war material, the Govern
Ineut guaranteed the interest on the bonds
OF the railways. The Government held
that the guarantee expired iii 1914, but
the directors OF the companies took q
different view, and construed the agree
n6nJ TO mean that the Government guar
antead the interest ia perpetuity. Suits
were brought III the courts to settle the
question. In June last NJ. Barthou or
der6d the directors to iudorse their bonds
TO the effect that the guarantee expired in
1914 Tie directors refused to do so, and
the case was then taken TO the Council OF
State, which, IN such matters, is the final
court Of appeal. The council on Wednes-
day last decided that the guarantee was
perpetual.
This decision, which majority in the
Chamber claimed the right to reverse,
was complete negation of the conLen-
ton OF the Duprey Cabinet, and NJ. Bar
thOu's action on the railway guarantees.
consequently the latter yesterday re-
signed, and the proceedings in the CHAM
ber to-day led to the resignation of the
other members of the Ministry. In sib-
mittIng his Interpolation, NJ. Milleraud
said u was not Barthou alone who had
brought before the Council OF State the
conventions between the State and the
railroad companies, but the whole Cab
met. The decision Of the Council of
State, therefore, affected the entire Cab
met, but only one Minister, Barthou had
taken the correct attitude, and resigned,
The Ministry was also to blame Tor sub
mitting to the Council OF State ques-
ton which belonged to the Chamber of
Deputies TO decide.
NJ. MIlIeraud demanded that an INQUIRY
be held to determine whether grounds
existed for criminal prosecution OF NJ.
David Raynal, who was Minister OF Pub
lie Works in the Ferry Cabinet Of 1883,
in which affair the Government entered
into the contract with the railways. NJ
Mileraud submitted to the House a resO-
luton censuring the Government for lay
ing before the Council of State litigous
questions, and demanding that an inquiry
be made into the conduct of NJ. Raynal
Raynal agreed to the demand that an
inquiry be made into his conduct, and
said: Il am certain that l shall be able to
confound those who are Ghirsting for
scandals and hunCerlng for columnies."
DR.. Chapuis, Radical Republican, sub
mitted the following order Of the day:
The Chamber, regrettIng the erroneous
and dangerous Interpretation placed by
the Government on the decision of the
Council OF State, passed to the order OF
the day" This was adopted and the
motion of AIiueraud was then carried by
a vote of 253 10 .z23. Eleven other orders
OF the Gay We're submitted. IrlCr1ty was
given by vote of 293 to 23l TO one call
ing on the Government TO vigorously de-
fend the rights Of the State as affected by
the decision Of the Council of State
Dupuy declared that if this order of the
day should be adopted the Government
would resign.
4 vote was finally taken on the latter
motion with the result that it was de-
teated, the vote standing 2t6 in favor of
1t TO 264 against it.
After several speeches and declarations
had been made, the Chamber voted OH
proposal 10 grant priority to a motion
made by Professor Trelat (Repu blican).
which, of ali the orders of the day, was
the only one accepted by the Govern
ment. This order of the day declared
that the Government adhere to the doc
trine of separation of powers and the
of the Chamber with the
judicial functions of the Council of State
Priority was refused to this motion by
vote of 236 TO 24l.
When the result of the vote was an
nounced the Ministers left the Chamber
and proceeded to the Palace of the Elysee,
where they submitted their designations
TO President Casimir Perier.
After the departure of the Ministers
the. House unanimously. on motion
made by NJ. Kranz Iiberal- bIican),
reserved the rights OF the State in regard
to the railroad guarantee. The House
then adjourned.