The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1900-01-22
FRENCH POLITICS
ARE INTERESTING
Government Gained Victory Over
the Nationalist.
THE EXPOSITION BUILDINGS.
American Section Receiving Many Fa-
yorable Notices from the French
Press-"They Have PLACE
Worthy of Them,

Paris. January 21.-The ministry. of.
NJ. Waldeek- Rosseau, which its MAJ
tional opponents declared was tot
tering to Its fall and would receive its
death blow Immediately upon the reopen
ing of parliament, has secured a fresh
lease of life in the very first week of the
parliamentary session 10y the substantial
majority it received on the vote of conf
denee in the chamber of deputies on the
attitude of the government toward the
strikers at st. Etinne
Early in the week the nationalists were
more rejoieed over an important check to
the government school project, but Thurs
days victory sha altered their hopes and
leaves the cabinet in an Unexpectedly
strong position, which encourages it to
persist in its projects.
This situation, it is believed, will have an
indirect bearing upon the prospects of the
American reciprocity treaty, which despite
the sanguine predictions of the officials
here, was thought in some quarters to be
lmperilled by the influential industrial and
agricultural opposition. The fact that the
governmentsis entitled to count on a strong
backing revealed by Thursdays vote
on the strike Interpolation may induce ii
to endeavor to force the treaty through.
The test of the governments Strength,
however, will take place shortly in the
chamber of deputies on the naval proposal,
which involves an expenditure of 576 200, 900
francs of which 5OOOOOO0O francs is to be
devoted to the reorganization of the
fleet
The chamber of deputies, practically the
whole week, was devoted to the discussion
of the railway budget during which several
speakers compared a number of features
of French railway workings with the
American system. M. Valiant, socialist
deputy representing one of the Seine dis
tricts, demanded the adoption of the Amer
lean system of automatic car couplers, de-,
tclaring that half the mortality among
French railway men was due to the imper-'
feet French system of couplers. =
American System Under Consideration =
The director of railroads replied that this
matter was under consideration, and that
undoubtedly perfect system would be in
| augurated. =
The most interesting contest in the COM
ing election is in the constituency of Loire
in Freiuer. where General MERCER, the in
veterate antagonist of Dryfus and one of
/ the nationalist is pitted against the gov
eminent candidate, a radical. ~
President Loubet recently gave clever
| setback to the nationalist claim of his
unpopularity in the army by a pretty dis
play of tact. The occasion was the recent
shooting party at Rambouillet near Sc
vile. Instead of issuing formal invitations
to the officers of the garrison and the pro-
vincial authorities, President Loubert an
nounced that they need only inscribe them
selves on, the list of guests with the re-
suit that practically every military official
in the vicinity Joined the president.
M. Picard, commissioner general of the
Paris exposition, announces that most of
the buildings are now in an advanced stage
of completion, and the exposition will open
on the advertised date.
The American section is the subject of
many appreciative notices in the press. ~
The Republic Franchise says: From
every point of view the United States will
have place worthy of Them" and adds
that it considers that the exhibition Of