The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-01-15
THIN CRISIS IN FRANCE
The Ministry Of M. Dupuy Steps
Down and Out.
THE COURTS VERSUS LAWMAKERS.

Tho designations Brought ABOUT by .
Perpetual Railway Subsidy Granted by
y Former Government, which the Pres
ont Chamber Desires to Amend or Revoke.
PARIS, Jan. 15-The cabinet resigned
yesterday, having been defeated In the
chamber Of deputies on the question OF
giving priority TO ap order Of the day.
Sunday evening M. Barthou, minister OF
public works, resigned his office for the
reason that the council Of state had de-
oided against him In tho matter OF guar
anteeing the interest of the southern rail-
way lines. 1t became generally known
that M. Alexandra Millerand, the well
known Socialist deputy and editor in chief
of The Petite Republique Franchise, would
interpellate the government in regard to
M. Barthou's resignation, and that the
government would reply thereto. Consc-
quently large crowd gathered In the
chamber to listen to the proceedings.
The question which led to the resigna-
tion Of the ministry, which has precipi-
tated a grave and difficult political crisis,
Is a wide one. 1t is really a question OF
whether the chamber Of deputies Is supe-
rior to the courts Of France and whether
the chamber Is able to set aside tho consti-
tuition at will In 1888 the government
made q contract with the Orleans and
Midi railways, under the terms Of which,
in return for certain facilities for tho 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 companies took different
view and construed the agreement to
mean that the government guaranteed the
In in ott1it Snita hrnuRlt
in the courts to settle the question.
In June last Mr.. Barthou ordered the
directors to indorse their bonds to the eff
feet that the guarantee expired in 1914.
The directors refused to do SO, and tho
case was then taken to the council OF
state, which, in such matters, is the final
court of appeal Tho council on Wednes-
day last decided that the guarantee was
perpetual. This decision, which q major
fly in the chamber of deputies claimed the
right to reverse, was complete negation
of the contention of the cabinet and NJ.
Barthou's action on the railways guar
antee
In submitting his Interpolation NJ. Mil
lerand said it was not NJ. Barthou alone
who had brought before the council Of
state the conventions between the state
and the railway companies, but the whole
tlDlutt. nG uttlhlOu VI buC touhSl Vi
state therefore affected the entire cabinet,
yet only one minister, NJ. Barthou, had
taken the correct attitude and resigned.
The ministry was also to blame for sub
hitting to the council Of state question
which purely belonged to the chamber OF
deputies to decide.
M. Millerand was frequently interrupted
during the course of his speech by mem
bers of the center. He finally demanded
that an inquiry be held to determine
whether grounds existed for a criminal
prosecution of M. David Raynal, who rep
rcsents the Fourth district of Bordeaux in
the chamber and who was minister Of
public works In the Ferry cabinet of 1888,
in which year the government entered into
the contract with the railways. M. Mil
lerand submitted to the house resolution
censuring the government for putting be-
fore the council Of state n litigious ques-
ton, and demanding that an inquiry be
made into the conduct Of NJ. Raynal.
M. Raynal agreed to the demand that
an inquiry be made into his conduct and
said: 81 am certain that 1 shall be able to
confound those who are thirsting for scan
dals and hungering for calumnies."
Prime Minister Dupuy then assembled
the tribune and declared that after M.
Raynals acceptance of the demand for an
inquiry the government would not op-
pose 1t.
After further discussion the motion Of
M. Millerand was carried by vote Of 1853
to 225.
Eleven other orders of the day were sub
mitted. Priority was given by vote Of
293 to 231 to one by NJ. Joseph Pourqucry
de Boisserin, Radical Republican calling
upon the government to vigorously de-
fend the rights of the state as affected by
the decision of the council Of state. Prime
Minister Dupuy declared that II this order
of the day should be adopted the govern
ment would resign. A vote was finally
taken on NJ de Boisserin's motion, with
the result that it was defeated, the vote
standing 246 in favor to 264 against.
After several speeches and declarations
had been made the chamber voted upon a
proposal to grant priority to motion by
Professor Emile Trelat, Republican, which,
of all the orr RS of the day, was the only
one accepted by the government. This
! order of the day declared that the govern
ment adhered to the doctrine of the separa
ton of powers and the Northumberland of
the chamber with the judicial functions OF
the council of state.
Priority was refused to this motion by q
vote of 1858 to 241.
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 adopted a motion
made by NJ. Charles Krantz, Liberal Re-
| publican, who was commissioner general
of the French section of the Chicago expo
sition, rcserying the rights Of the state in
regard to the railways guaranteed.
1t is generally expected that NJ. Bour-
geois, minister of public instruction in the
cabinets of MN. Freyeinet and Loubet,
and minister Of justice in the Ribot cabi-
net, will succeed Prime Minister Dupuy.
Governor Lewolling Retires.
TOPEKA, Kan Jan. 10. = The mild,
bright weather yesterday made possible
the inaugural parade that had been
planned in connection with the ceremonies
which at noon retired Governor Lewelllng
and placed at the head of the state affairs
of Kansas Governor Morrill, and a full COM
PIGMENT of Republican officials, which con-
stitute the state cabinet The ceremonies
concluded with grand ball last night
Tho Weather.
For eastern Pennsylvania and New Jer-
sey, fair; westerly winds. For Delaware,
District of Columbia and Virginia, fair;