The record-union., 1895-10-29
Faure's Ministry 0yerthrOWn on
Railway Question.
GREAT EXCITEMENT WHEN IT WAS
ANNOUNCED.
A Number of Politicians and Dishon-
est Contractors Under Arrest-The
Next Cabinet, 1t is Believed, VIII
tion.

/
tion.
! PARIS, Oct 28.-The Ribot Ministry
has been overthrown by an adverse vote
on Mr.. Rouanet's Interpolation in the
Chamber OF Deputies, condemning the
| Governments course in regard to the
Southern railway scandals. The Gov
ernment was defeated by vote of 80 to
/ I'll. After the adverse vote the Minis
! ters filed out OF the chamber to carry
| their designations 10 President Faure at
the Elysee. Great excitement prevailed.
Deputy Rouanets motion, which was
adopted and caused the overthrow of the
Ministry, was as follows: 1.-THE Chamber
of Deputies considering it proper to in
| terGict its members from taking part in
| the operations of financial syndicates, is
resolved to throw complete light on the
affairs of the Southern railways and in
vites the Minister Of Justice to fulfill all
! his responsibilities"
The Ministry which has just gone out
of office was constituted January u, 1888.
! ten days after the election of Nj. Il elk
taure as President OF the Republic. 1t
/ was constituted as follows: President OF
! the Council and Minister of Finance, Nj.
/ Ribot; Minister OF The Interior, NJ. Ley
CUES: Minister of Foreign Affairs, NJ.
! HanotauX; Minister of Public lnstruc-
tion and Worship, NJ. Poincare; Minister
OF Commerce. NJ. Andex LIE Bon; Minis
! ter Of Agriculture, \ Nj. Gedaud; Minister
/ OF Marine, Vice Admiral Besnard; Min
lister Of War. General lamont.
Like the preceding Ministry of NJ. Du-
puy, the Ribot Cabinet has been over
thrown on railway question. Some time
/ since magisterial investigation into sthe
connection OF certain French Senator'S
and Deputies with the South of France
/ railway syndicate was had, due to an
/ accusation made in the Chamber by NJ.
| Rounet. NJ. Itounet declared that NJ
! Edmond Magnier, Senator from Var.
and at that time chief editor of the Evene-
ment, had received 81, 800 francs as part oil
! the profits OF the syndicate, which had
bean organized by the late Baron dc
keinach OF Panama Canal notoriety.
Later a report was made by NJ. tIory,
the official accountant in the inquiry,
which supplied oyerw whelming evidence
against the members Of the syndicate.
! Ine railway in question was short one,
| built with few branches IN two or three
| departments Of Southwestern France.
Corruption of officials and other illegal
practices were resorted TO to obtain the
concession for the road and its branche es
] and guarantee of interest on the capital,
which was watered to an incredible ex-
tent. The budgets Of the departments
were crippled for years 10 come to build
and support the railway, which passes
| through region incapable of furnishing
a trai1lc OF any consequence.
The result of the inq quiry was the arrest
OF number OF politicians and dishonest
! contractors.
1t appears from the charges made by
/ NJ. Rounet III the Cham ber of Deputies
! to-day, That there was disposition on
/ the part of the Government to shield
those concerned in the scandal with the
exception OF Senator Magnier. However
this may be, the tact remains that NJ.
Magnier was indicted. but before he
could be brought TO rial he disappeared.
| subsequently he returned to Paris and
! surrendered himself to the authorities.
| He WIS tried, convicted ana sentenced to
! one years Imprisonment and to pay a
( line Of 100 francs.
/ The excitement caused by the over
/ throw of The Government was all the
more intense, as the defeat of the Cabinet
was, practically speaking, totally unex-
/ pected. The opinion expressed in the
/ GaulOis that 1t was possible that the
| Ministry would be driven out of Office on
NJ. Rouneps Interpolation in no Wise
voiced the general view, and in political
! tnat the Government would be success tul
! In securing from the Chamb Der a vote OF
! confidence. The result OF the vote came
| as bolt from the blue sky even TO many
of those whose vote was adverse to the
Cabinet.
In his speech on his Interpolation NJ.
Rounet reiterated his statement that the
facts OF the fraud had long been known
10 majority of the members of the
! chamber. but that they had maintained
an icy attitude when the suggestion was
made that the real culprits be prosecuted.
He concluded by demanding that NJ
/ Irairaux. Minister of Justice should
give the names OF the real benefiters of
The frauds and that The Government
should resolutely prosecute the offenders.
NJ. ROunet was followed by other
speakers for and against the interpella-
( ton, and then N. 1rairiux assembled the
: tribune and made brave defense OF the
Government. lie scoiled at the SuggeB-
ton that the Government was screening
cul prits, and declared that The late Baron
( de Reinach, who was badly mixed UP in
/ the Panama Canal scandal, was the only
person who had benefited by the frauds.
The Centrists warmly applauded NJ.
/ Trairiux on the conclusion OF his speech,
and il seemed as though the debate had
ended i'll favor OF the Cabinet.
But II. Jourdan, Republican men,
/ ber, intervened, and in a satirical speech
rebuked the Ministry for playing a cruel
comedy.
NJ. Charles Pelletan, Radical Repub-
lican, then emphasized the Judicial para
dox of acquitting Martin. Andre and
Robin and condemning Magnier. Holm
sisted that docments had been eliminated
4 from the brief at the trial OF the first
named, and that the Government had
/ connived al the elimination.
/ Nj. Iriariux againistated that il was inn
possible for the Government to prosecute
those who had not incurred penal re-
sponsibilities.
NJ. Ribot, the Prime Minister, then Of
fered TO accept the order OF the day pure
and simple, but the offer was rejected.
The vote on the Interpolation was then
taken with the result above stated.
After the withdrawal of the Ministers
for the purpose OF presenting their resig-
nations to President Faure, The Chambe
took an an adjournmentto November 4th.
The resignation OF tho Cabinet was
formally handed TO the President at the
Palace Of the Elysee this evening.
Ii is expected that The next Cabinet vii
consist of Bourgeous-P Peytral combina-
tion.
DIXON AND CRIFFO.