The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-29
OVER $60,O00 SUBSCRIBED TO THE FUND.

South OF France Railway Syndicate, due |
to an accusation made in the Chamber by |
NJ. Rouanet. NJ. Rouanet declared that |
NJ. Edmond Magnier, Senator from Var
and at that time chief editor OF the Evene-
ment, had received $500 francs as part OF
the profits of the syndicate, which had
been organized by the late Baron de
Reinach of Panama canal notoriety.
Later report was made by NJ. Flory,
the otncial accountant in the inquiry
which supplied overwhelming evidence
against the members of the syndicate.
The railway in question was short one,
built with few branches in two or three
departments of Southeastern France. Cor
ruptlon of officials and other illegal prac-
tlces were resorted to to obtain the con-
| cession for the road and it's branches and
guarantee of interest on the capital,
which was watered to an incredible extent.
The budgets of the departments were Grip
| pied for years to come to build and sup
port the railway, which passes through
| region incapable of furnishing traffic of
| any consequence.
| The result of the inquiry was the arrest
| of number OF politicians and dishonest
contractors. 1t appears from the charges
made by NJ. Rouanet in the Chamber of
| Deputies to-day that there was disposi-
tion on the part of the Government to
| shield those concerned in the scandal with
| the exception of Senator Magnier. How
| ever this may be the fact remains that NJ.
| Magnier was indicted, but before he could
be brought to trial he disappeared. Sub
| sequently he returned to Paris and sur
rendered himself to the authorities. He
| was tried, convicted and sentenced to one
years imprisonment and to pay fine of
! 100 francs.
| The excitement caused by the overthrow
| of the Government was all the more in
| tense, as the defeat of the Cabinet was,
practically speaking totally unexpected.
| The opinion expressed in the Gaulois that
it was possible that the Ministry would be
driven out of Office on M. Rouanet's in
terpellation in no wise voiced the general
view, and in political circles scarcely
| doubt was entertained that the Govern
ment would be successful in securing from
the Cham Der vote of confidence. The
result of the vote came a bolt from the
blue sky to many of those whose vote was
adverse to the Cabinet.
In his speech on his Interpolation M.
| Rouanet reiterated his statement that the
facts of the fraud had long been known to
majority of the members of the Cham
ber, 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. Tarieux,
Minister of Justice, should give the names
of the real benefactors of the frauds and
that the Government should prosecute the
| offenders.
NJ. Rouanet was followed by other
speakers for and against the Interpolation
and then NJ. Tarieux ascended the tribune
and made a brave defense of the Govern
ment. He scoffed at the suggestion that
the Government was screening culprits
and declared that the late Baron de
Reinach, who was badly mixed up in the
Panama canal scandal was the only per-
son who had benefited by the frauds. NJ
Tarieux gave the names of the members of
the railway syndicate and the number of
shares held by them. He concluded by
appealing to the Chamber to cast a sensible
vote on the Interpolation.
The Centrists warmly applauded NJ.
Tarieux on the conclusion of his speech,
and it seemed as though the debate had
ended in favor of the Cabinet. But Mr..
Jourdan, a Republican member, inter-
vened, and in a satirical speech rebuked
the Ministry for playing cruel comedy.
NJ. Charles Pelletan, Radical Republi-
can, then emphasized the judicial paradox
of acquitting Martin, Andre and Robin
and condemning Magnier. He insisted
that documents had been eliminated from
the brief at the trial of the first named
and that the Government had connived at
the elimination.
: M. Tarieux again stated that it was i'm
possible for the Government to prosecute
those who he'd not incurred penal respon-
sibilities.
NJ. Ribot, the Prime Minister, then
offered 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 stated. Shortly
after the withdrawal of the Ministers for
the purpose of rendering their designations
to President Faure, the Chamber took an
adjournment until November 4.
The resignation of the Cabinet was
formally handed to the President at the
Palace of the Elysee this evening. 1t is
expected that the next Cabinet will con-
sist of geois-Peytral com mbination.
"
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