The Indianapolis journal., 1895-01-15
Either Nj. bourgeois or NJ. Loubet
Likely to BE Intrusted with FOrn-
Formation of n New Cabinet.
WHATCAUSED THE TROUBLE
ATTEMPT OF THE CHAMBER TO
UsURP JUDICIAL POWERS.
An Old Railroad Contract That Has
Involved-An Anarchist Joke.

PARIS Jan. 1.-THE Cabinet resigned to-
day, having been defeated in the Chamber
of Deputies on the question of giving prior
ity to an order of the day. Last evening
NJ. Barthou, Minister of Public Works.
signed his office, for the reason that the
Council of State had decided against him in
| the matter of guaranteeing the interest OF
| the Southern railway lines 1t became gen
orally known that NJ. Alexandra Mileraud,
| the well-known socialist deputy, and editor
| in chief of the Petite Republique Francaise,
would interpellate the government in regard
to NJ. Barthou's resignation, and that the
government would reply tnerero. Conse-,
quently large crowd gathered in the cham
ber to listen to the proceedings.
1t was known that the position of the Cab
met was not as secure as. it might have
been, and the enemies of the government
had hopes that the debate would result in
its overthrow. These hopes were realized.
The question which led to the resignation
of the Ministry is wide one. 1t is really
question of whether the Chamber of Depu-
ties is superior to the courts of
France, and whether the chamber is
able to set aside the constitution.
at will. In 1895 the government made a
contract with the Orleans & Midland rail-
years, under the terms of which in re-
turn for certain facilities for the trans
portation of war material, the government
guaranteed the interest on the bonds of
the railways. The government held that
the guarantee expired in 1914, but the di-
rectors of the company took different
view and construed the agreement to mean
that the government guaranteed the interest
in perpetuity. Suits were brought in the
courts to settle the question In June last
Mr. Barthou or1eretf fheM directors to in
dorse their bonds to the effect that the
guarantee expired in 1914 The directors
refused to do SO and the case then
taken to the council of State which, in
such matters is the final court of appeal.
The Council on Wednesday last decided
that the guarantee perpetual. This de-
cision, which a majority in the Chamber
of Deputies to-day claimed the right to
reverse, was a complete negation of the
| contention Of the Dupuy Cabinet and of
Barthou's action on the railways guarantee
and consequently the latter yesterday
signed and the proceedings in the cham
ber to-day led to the resignation of the
other members of the ministry.
'MILLERAUD'S DEMANDS.
In submitting his Interpolation. M. Mil
| leraud said it was not Barthou alone who
had brought before the Council of State the
| contentious between the State and railway
L
| ception of the Council of State, therefore,
| affected the entire Cabinet, yet only
| Minister, Mr.. Barthou, had taken the cor
| rect attitude and resigned. The Ministry
was also to blame for submitting to the
Council of State question which purely
| belonged to the Chamber of Deputies to
| decide NJ. Milleraud demanded that an
| inquiry be held to determine whether
| grounds existed for a criminal prosecu-
4 ID Nj,
| OF Public Works in the Ferry Cabinet OF
! 1888, in which year the governmena entered
| ieraud submitted to the House resolution
| censuring the government for putting before
the Council of State ltigious question and
| demanding that an inquiry be made into the
conduct OF NJ. Raynal.
| Raynal agreed to the demand that an in
qury be made into his conduct, and said:
Il am certain that shall be able to con-
found those who are thirsting for scandals
and hungering for calllmnleS
| Prime Minister Dupuy declared that after
| RaynaPs acceptance of the demand for an
| it, referring to the order of the day, Du-
| puy reminded the Chamber that the ques-
iion of the period during which the interest
| guarantees would remain in force. had it.
already been raised, and that the Chamber
sats 10 dea wsh the aueston appauee
| from the Center) Continuing, Dupuy said:
The decision has been given ar and we can an.
+. decided the principle. In the case of pro-
| tests, the Chamber must judge whether the
| fice. III. Barthou resigned because he re
| garded the decision of the Council of State
not have the same reasons for adopting
| that course. If it had resigned spontane-
| ously it would have failed in its duty. The
! Cabinet accepted the decision of the Coun-
| Gil of State, while regrettins the Ministrys
attitude speeches and statements to have
| been more concerned than his colleagues in
| the decision of the Counci. OF state He re-
signed because the decision established a
precedent from which the railway COM
panles would desire to profit, He. there
| fore, declined to be humlllated before the
| railway companies.
VOTE ON ORDERS OF THE DAY
| Dr. Chapuis, Radical Republican, sub
| mtted the following order of the day: 1.-THE
| chamber regretting the erroneous and dan
| gerous Interpretation placed tby the gov
| ernment on the decision on the council of
| state. passed to the order of the day This
| was adopted, and the motion of Milleraud
! was then carried by a vote of 25s to 225.
Eleven other orders of the day were sub
| mitted. Priority was given by a vote of
| 293 to 231 to first calling on the government
to vigorously defend the rights of the state
| of state.
Dupuy declared that If this order of the
| day should be adopted, the government
/ vote was finally taken on the latter
at featea the s vote @ standing sas IN favor 'e to
| 26s against.
After several speeches and declarations
/ had been made. the Chamber voted on a
proposal to grant priority to motion
made by Professor Trelat, Republican,
| which, of all the orders of the day, was
| the only one accepted by. the government.
/ This order of the day declared that the
government adhered to the doctrine of the
separtion of power and the noninterfer-
/ ence of the Chamber with the Judicial
functions of the Council or State. Priority
was refused to this motion by a eSof 26s
TO 221.
| When the vote was announced the Min
l listers left the Chamber and proceeded TO