The Portland daily press., 1896-05-01
VERY COLDLY.
New French Minister Unsatisfactory
to Deputies.
Me. MELINE MAKES A STATEMENT
OF THE PROPOSED POLICY.

Republicans Declare That the Ministry
feat Follows Meline's Declaration-A
Resolution Adopted Affirming Sover-
eighty of Universal Suffrage.
Paris, April 30.-M. Meline, president
OF the new Council of Ministers, made
statement Of the policy of the new Cabi
net in the Chamber of Deputies today.
The Chamber received the statement
very coldly, scarcely half OF the deputies
applauding his utteranoes, and the
Socialists interposing their accustomed
Interruptions.
Nj. Meline placed the fiscal reforms as
M alters of the first Importance. The
probate laws and the laws regulating
traffic in drink, be said, would be intro
duoed In the budget and would be oper-
ated under system which dispensed
with the inquisit0r or any other arbitrary
measures, and assure better division of
direct taxation, thus relieving the small
tax payers The government, he said,
would virtually apply the economies
which the nation demanded and simplify
the present complicated administration.
They would also spare no effort to aid
uA1o AuoCIC6tb Va aSl liOulpuICs w COllplok6
nominal defence, to regulate the hours
of labor and the liability of employers,
a nd organize pension funds.
The prosperity of the nation he declared
depended upon parliament abandoning
sterile discussions and limiting them to
legi Station, which would serve the inter-
ests of the working classes.
The stagnRtiOn of business is chiefly
caused by an uncertain and narrow
policy. Order and progress of labor were
imperative and equally advantageous in
home and foreign affairs. France. he
said, was weary Of agitation and wanted
a truce from enfeebling dissensiona. In
conclusion, he said he felt convinced
that parliament would respond to the
ministers to carry out their policy Of peace
and progress.
NJ. Goblet, Republican dicsl-Sooial-
| st, offered an Interpolation saying that
under the circumstances of it's formation,
the cabinet violated parliamentary rules.
The cabinet, he declared, did not repre-
sent the Republican majority of the
chamber. 1t was the result Of plot
formed. by the moderates who. in order
to give the country such ministry, had
pre- ykeed conflict between the Senate
and Chamber of Deputies The Premier,
he said, must render an account of his
violation of the Constitution. The pro-
graInme of the cabinet was contrary to
the demand of majority OF the cham ber
as eyinced by its rejection of
the income tax. 1t was, in fact, min
istry, In defiance of the majority.
M. Deschanel. Republican, said that
universal suffrage was certainly supreme
To declare that the Chamber of Deputies
was omnipotent and the Senate power
less. was the negation Of the sovereignty
of the people. The Bourgeois cabinet, he
said had for five months exercised upon
the Chamber sort of moral blaolzmail.
The president, M. Brisson, interrupted
the speaker and demanded he Withdraw
his expression in regard to the late min
istry. M. Deschanel modified the express
sion by substituting the words, "outside
the chamber" for upon the chamber" !"
and continued, saying that during his
term of office as president Of the council
of ministers. NJ. Bourgeoise had not exc
cuted a single reform. but had merely
propagated the Colleotivist doctrines.
Ex-Premier Bourgeiossmaintained that
either dissolution of the Chamber or
revision of the constitution was the only
proper solution of the situation.
Premier Meline replied thatsthe Cham
Der must now choose between the policy
of conflict with the Senate or a policy
Of Cancellation.
The Chamber, s79 to a51, refused to give
pIlorlty 10 tne proposal OF NJ Henr1 hlo-
ard, rearing the Chambers right to
preponderance in the representation of
the principal Of universal suffrage.
The Chamber adopted a resolution,
which received 500 affirmative votes,
affirming the sovereignty Of universal
suffrage. M. Girault Republican Radi-
cal, shouted: '"I5 is useless to read it.
The cabinet is unconstitutional. A tum-
ult ensued. After 1t subsidized M. Darlin
proceeded with the reading, at the con-
clusion of which he was applauded