The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-03
Pathetic Appeal of the Noted
Statesmen to the
Deputies.
SO A OMMISSION is NOW
APPOINTED.
Revival of the Bank Scandals, In
Which Even King Humbert
Figures.
Special Dispatch to THE CALL

ROME, Dec. 2-To-day the Cham Der OF
Deputies appointed a commission of five
to inquire into the charges against Signor
francesca Crispi, former Premier, in con-
nection with the Bank of Naples scandals
and the alleged illegal traffic in decora-
tions. The proceedings are the result OF
a recent decision OF the Italian Court OF
Cessation, which quashed the judicial in.
dictment brought against him on the
ground that the ordinary tribunals OF JUS
tice were not competent to deal with such
charges brought against former member
of the Government or his conduct while
in the Government. The Court of Cessa-
ton held that such charges must be dealt
with by Parliament, which was the con-
tentIon OF Signor Crisp, and the judicial
proceedings were thrown out.
The special commission was appointed
after an impressive speech by Signor
Crispi, in which he declared that be de-
sired the most ample and complete dis
cussion of the whole question, and did not
dread the light, which. he said, could re-
veal nothing against him.
II am the victim of calumny," he as
serted, sand should have brought suit
against my calumniators if the matter
Signor Crispi recalled his past labors on
behalf of Italy, and he admitted that
there had been times when ne had erred.
He claimed, however, from his conquerors
an unbiased judgment, and asserted that
he was prepared to testify before the COM
mission and to omit nothing, so that the
matter might be probed to the deepest,
adding pathetically, "but it will be very
hard at IS, after devoting sixty-three
years TO the service of my country"
This passage of the speech provoked vio-
lent interruption. and the president of the
Chamber formally warned two Socialist
deputies, who were particularly virulent.
Signor Crispi, after order vas restored,
said: II remain calm, even in the face of
my adversaries' invectives. l have
serene conscience, and l shall die. when
my time comes, with the name of Italy
upon my lips. But l ask to be allowed to
pass my last days quietly. If Italy needs
me l shall always be ready TO serve her,
but l do not have and never have had
am bition for power"
At the conclusion of his speech a num-
Der oil deputies gathered about him to
congratulate HIM and to shake his hand.
Signor Crispi, the most brilliant Italian
statesman since the days of Cavour, is
| called upon TO face, in his extreme old
! age, not accusations of political crimes
| but ordinary felonles. He has already
! been subjected to the humiliation of mag
| isterial examination in connection with
| charges of completely in the frauds that
wrecked the Bank of Naples, the Bank
Romona, the Bank OF Sicily and other
kindred institutions. The Crispi Cabinet
was driven from office as the result of
| these scandals.
! In each case the insolvency of the bank
| 70 hos L.
through the blackmailing extortions TO
! which 1t was sub iected by leading poll
ticians and Government officials of the
day. Most of this dishonesty took place
| during the administration OF Crispi. Not
even his most relentless enemy has ever
| accused him of plunderlng the banks TO
his private resources. On the contrary, his
! countrymen, for the most part, accept
| his assertion that the money exported
| from these institutions was used by him
| for the secret service of the Government
! and in electoral expenditures
| Unfortunately for him the judicial au-
! thorltles who inquired into the circum-
! sances that led TO the failure of the banks
| discovered that among the most voracious
| OF the plundefers was Signora Crspi the
veteran Statesman's wife. 1t was stated
/ at the time that from one bank alone
something like 100000 francs (about
/ 81. O0O,O0J) found its way into her private
banking account; and it was urged and is
sill urged that SIgnor CrIspi, not being a
rl1" man, MIST have known OF his wife's
pres Try demands, as in no other way
could az nave accounted for the large
sums OF money she expended upon her
! establishment while he was in power
Last spring, when the matter WAS be-
fore the courts. friend of Signor C1ispi
| undertook 10 explain the transactions
which led to the collapse of the Bank of
Naples. According to this story Signor
! Crispi just before tie elections in 1895.
asked the Bank of Naples for a loan OF
100000 lire for election expenses. the
money 10 be repaid TO the bank from the
| secret service funds. Then came the
| downfall of the Crispi Cabinet, with only
a little more than half the loan repaid.
Crispi told King Hum bert of his pre-
dlcament and his Maj sty gave 100, 600
edness, Baron Blanc furnishing what was
| necessary 10 make up the full amount
! Thus, according to the story, Signor
Crispi repaid the bank in full.
When the accusations recently before
the courts and now before the special COM
mission OF the Chamber of Deputies were
being revived, with the talk of prosecu-
ton, Signor Crispi FASTENED from Naples
! to Rome. demanded an audience with the
! King, showed him the receipt of the bank
| for full payment and demanded that his
Majesty put an end to what Crispi char
acteriZed as 1.-The cam paign OF Injustice"
The ex-Premier, according to the story,
declared that unless his prosecutors were
called of he would defend himself to the
last, adding, 'ln such case. sir, two
persons will 60 into exile-I as poor
man and you with your Millions
The Socialist press interpreted his au-
dacious language to be a threat of dis
closures; that In consequence OF tip
King Hum bert had saved the whole mat
ter of his large deposits in the Bank of
Naples lust before tne crash came