The herald., 1895-10-29
A FRENCH CABINET CRISIS
Growing Out of Alleged Official
Corruption
CANAL AND RAILWAY SWAG
A Vote of Confidence Asked for and
Refused
Many Deputies Profited by the Railroad
Steals, but the Defeat of the Govern
ment Was Unexpected


fARIS, Oct. 2S.-In the cham Der of
| 'puties NJ. Rounaunet, who has been
| prominent in exposing those who were
connected with The Panama canal and
southern railroad syndicates, questioned
the government regarding the South of
Francs railroad scandal, it being alleged
that a number of senators, deputies and
Others haye made large profits from the
company by fair or unfair means. lie de-
clared that the good repute of parlIa-
ment was in yolved and asked for expla-
nations as to the partiality which had
b en- shown toward those involved in the
| scandals, claiming that the auth orites
had been afraid to prosecute them be-
cause the ueputies and senators involved
with the late Baron Reinach, of Panama
canal fame, had disposed OF $3.50, 900
! francs in devious ways on behalf of the
! southern railways. He demanded that
the minister OF justice, NJ. Trarieux, pub
lish the documents in the case which
were in his possession, and which would
throw ligh on the subject.
| NJ. Binder, mem Der of the Right. tnen
charged the minister with culpable negl-
gence and demanded that the guilty be
punished.
NJ. TraIieux replied, denying that he
mad long had in his possession docu-
ments which required the arrest of M.
Edmond Magnier, formerly senator of
Var and recently editor-ln-chief of the
Evenment, who was sentenced to a term
OF Imprisonment for having received part
of the profits of the syndicate.
| Continuing, the minister OF Justice said
| ,,,bo iDol; :;
il had incriminating evidence it had
prosecuted the parties involved. No dep.
uty, be added, was included among the
guilty arties.
Amid continued Radical Interruptions,
NJ. TrarIeu1 managed to say, in addition,
taht several names were known to the
government as having figured in the re-
port OF the expert M. Flory, the official
| accountant. who made an inquiry into
| the finances of the South of France road.
He was interrupted by excited voices of
| names, names. names.'
In reply Nj. Trarieux said:
."RonvioIr, Jules Roche, Esennc, Delo.
! niels, Bardoux and others
When he was able TO make himself
heard the minister of Justice added that
! those whose names bad been mentioned
| han explained their position, and he con-
cluded with the remark.
TIE chamber knows the truth AID if
parlldment CO0SiuerS It's dignity ana
| honor compromised the government will
join the chamber in voting for repressive
measures, and in the face OF these expla-
nations asks the chamber for a vote of
con tidencs.'
Ine order of the day. pure and simple,
| was then submitted to the cham ber and
rejected by vote of 406 to 105.
NJ. Haberts then moved that the cham
ber agree to prohibit mem bers of parla-
ment from joining in financial syndi-
Gates. The motion was accepted by the
premier, NJ. Ribot, and WAS adopted
unanimously
later NJ Runaunet submitted a mo-
iton demanding that full light be thrown
upou the South of France railroad scan
das and asking the government to prose-
cute those VINO have been found to be
implicated in them, and submitted to the
chamber the report OF the expert who
inquired into the finances of the com
pany.
NJ. Ribot thereupon said it was useless
! to submit the expert S report, and as to
the prosecutions, he added that the work
of justice had been accomplished and
| could not be reopeneI.
NJ. Rounaunet nation asking for an
| explanation as to the partality which
| had been shown toward those involved in
the = apdals, claiming that the authorities
! had been afraid to prosecute them. and
demanding that the minister of justice
]
were IN his possession, Was then adopted
| by vote of 275 10 1856
A fter the adoption of this motion the
| ministers left tine chamber OF deputies in
+ n body, amid ironical ridicule, and went
| to the Eiysees palace, where they handed
in their designations 20 President Faure,
| " no accepted them. The chamber of
deputies was adjourned for week.
The ministry which has just resigned
was formed on January 18th by M. Ribot,
after the fall of the Dupuy ministry. 1t
was c,,mposs ed of the following IN EN- bers:
| NJ. kibot, premier and minister of in
ance; NJ Hanotauv, minister of foreign
! affairs; General Xeurllnder. minister OF
war; Admiral Besnard, minister of ma.
rine NJ. Trarieux, minister of justice; NJ.
| Leygues. minister of interior; NJ. Poin-
| care. minister OF public Instruction and
worship; NJ. Dithuuy Dutemps, minister
| OF public works; NJ lie bon, minister OF
agricultufe; NJ. Chautemps, minister OF
| the colonies.
The defeat OF the government is sur
| prising, in view OF the sweeping charges
made against tho senators, deputies, ans
| even ministers involved, fist of all, in the
| Panama canal syndicate and more re
| Gently in the South of France railway
management scandals, which became pub
lie as the result OF an investigation made
bv Nj. Flnry, the official accountant of
the ompany. brought about nv accusa-
| tions against various prominent men
| made in the cham Der of deputies and by
Nj. Rounaunet which eliminated re-
Gently in the arrest, trial and i'm mpri SON
ment of NJ. Edmond Magnier. formerly
senator OF the Var and ecitor-in-ohief of
/ the Evenmeut. who is said to have re-
ceved the sum of 81, 800 francs as part of
the profits OF the syndicate referru to.
| The Figaro recently said that the fol.
| lowing named mem bers OF tie cnam ber
| uf deputies who were mem bers of the
South of France railway syndiate. made
the profit set against their names: Jules
Roche, ~. 600 franos; M. Rouvier, $3.50;
NJ. Etenne. 5000: NJ. Doloniele, 5000; Nj.
| Passy, |, $50; Nj. Lemerier. 45o0
The Figaro added that these deputies
were not prosecuted because the official
accountant, NJ. Flory, was of the opinion
that the formation of tbs syndicate was
perfectly regular, and therefore its mem
| bers were not guilty of corruption.
| 1t is presumed that it was upon this
subject that the debate arose which even
| tually resulted in the defeat OF the gov
| arnmsnt. the latter having control OF the
| railroads of France.
| Ex-senator Magnier, as cabled to the
) Associated Press at the time, was found