The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-01-15

The Ministry of M, Dupuy Steps
Down and Out.
THE COURTS VERSUS LAWMAKERS.

ent Chamber Desires to Amend OF Revoke. !
PARIS. Jan. 15.-The cabinet resigned
yesterday, having been defeated in the
chamber of deputies on the question Of
giving priority TO an order of the day.
Sunday evening NJ Barthou, minister Of
public works, resigned his Office for the
reason that the council of state had de-
cided against him in the matter Of guar
anteeing the interest of the southern rail
way lines. 1t became generally known
that NJ Alexandra Millcrand, the well
known Socialist deputy and editor in chief
of The Petite Bcpublique Franchise, would
interpcllate the government in regard to
M. Barthous resignation, and that the
government would reply thereto Conse-
Quently q 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 question Of
whether the chamber of deputies is supe-
rior to the courts of France, and whether
the chamber is able to set aside the consJi-
tuition at will. In 1888 the government
made a contract with the Orleans and
Midi railways under the terms Of which,
in return 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 companies took a 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 ordered the
directors to indorse their bonds to the eff
feet that the guarantee expired in 1914
The directors refused to do so, and the
case was then taken to the council OF
state, which, in such matters, is the final
court of appeal. The council on Wednes-
day last decided that the guarantee was
perpetual. This decision, which major
ity in the chamber of deputies claimed the
right to reverse, was a complete negatlon
of the contention of the cabinet and NJ.
Barthous action on the railways guar
antee.
In submitting his Interpolation M. Mil
lerand said it was not M. Barthou alone
who had brought before the council of
state the conventions between the state
and the railway companies but the whole
| cabinet. The decision of the council Of
| 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
mtting to the council of state a question
| which purely belonged to the chamber Of
| deputies to decide.
NJ. 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
,,,1
prosecution of NJ. David Raynal, who rep
resents 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 a resolution
censuring the government for putting be-
| fore the council of state litigious ques-
tion and demanding that an inquiry be
made into the conduct of NJ. Raynal.
NJ Raynal agreed to the demand that
an inquiry be made into his conduct and
said: Il am certain that / shall be able tc
confouud those who are thirsting for scan
dals and hungering for calumnies"
Prime Minister Dupuy then ascendet
the tribune and declared that after NJ
Raynal's accepJance Of the demand for an
inquiry the government would not op
pose it.
After further discussion the motion o
NJ. MiIerand was carried by vote of 20;
to 20
Eleven other orders of the day were sub
mitted. Priority WAS given by a vote o
2y3 TO 23l 60 one by NJ. Joseph Pourquer,
de Boisscrin, Radical Republican, callinl
upon the government 10 vigorously de
fend the rights OF the state as affected b..
the decision OF the council of s6ate. Prim
Minister Dupuy declared that if this Orde
} OF the day should be adopted the govern
ment would resign. A vote was finally
taken on NJ de Boisserin's motion, witt
the result that it was defeated, the vot
I, standing 246 in favor to 264 against.
After several speeches and declaration
had been made the chamber voted upon
proposal to grant priority to a motion b
Professor Emile Trelat, Republican, which
of all the orders of the day, was the onl
one accepted by the government. Thi
order of the day declared that the govern
, ment adhered to the doctrine of the sepaPa
tion of powers and the non interference O
the chamber with the judicial functions c
the council of state
Priority was refused to this motion by
vote of 263 to 24l.
When the result of the vote was an
). nounced the ministers left the chambe
and proceeded to the Palace Of the Elyse
: where they submitted their designations
President Casimir- Perier
After the departure of the ministers IL
house unanimously adopted a motto
made by NJ Charles Krantz Liberal h
publican, who was commissioner gener
y of the French section of the Chicago exp
sition, reserying the rights Of the state
regard to the railways guaranteed.
1t is generally expected that M. Bou
% geois, minister of public instruction in Il
cabinets of NM Freycinet and LoubC
u and minister of justice in the Ribot cal
n net, will succeed Prime Minister Dupuy
h Governor Lewelling Retires.
% TOPEKA, Kan Jan. 10. - The mil