The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-07
General Melee I'm Front Of the Tri-
bune, i'm Which Cabinet Officers
Became Involved.
TROOPS FINALLY CALLED IN
AND TWO OF THE MOST DIsORDERLY
MEMBERS TAKEN OUT.
M. Lyveton and Minister Wales to
Fight a Duel as n Result of
the Disturbance.

PARIS, Dec. 6.-The Chamber of Depu-
ties was the scene of violent disturbance
this afternoon, during which a general
melee occurred in the space in front of the
tribune. requiring the summoning of the
military commandant of the Palais Bour-
bon with platoon of colonial infantry,
who forcibly elected the disorderly men,
bers, who declined to retire after an order
for their temporary expulsion had been
voted
The affair was the outcome of much feel
ing which has been aroused lately between
the governments supporters and the
minority. The government had desired TO
close Parliament to-day for the holiday re-
cess, and this was resisted by the minority
on the ground that the chamber should re-
main in session to discuss the budget. The
feeling was intensified when the Revision
ist Deputy Gauthier made a savage attack
on the government for its laxity in prose-
cutting parties connected with the Humbert
scandal. Even worse than this scandal, he
declared. was the state of anarchy existing
within the courts, within the police and
within the government. He called on Min
lister of Justice Wales for an explanation
of the affair and the minister made an en-
dals of the republic were far less nunler-
Gus than those of the empire, which still
lived in memory. He closed with the as
sertion that Frederick Humbert had been
Boulangist deputy. This Immediately threw
the chamber into violent tumult, the men,
bers of the right shouting indignant de-
malls. Amid the din Deputy Coutant, So
cialist, exclaimed that Minister Valles's
statement was a lie and was known to be a
Justification of facts. President Bourgeois
sough to restore order but in vain.
The minister of justice, who had taken
the tribune, was unable to proceed against
the tumult, and, quitting the tribune, re-
sumed his place on the ministerial bench.
The group of ministers now became the
center of an angry demonstration. M.
Syveton, a Nationalist member, made his
way toward the ministers and addressed
them with angry imprecations. The friends
of the ministers and members of the Left
preclpltated themselves into the space be-
rore the tribune towards NJ Syveton and
the latter was soon seconded by scores
OF deputies from the Right. The two angry
elements surged back and forth. exchang-
ing blows with clenched fists, and for sew
erai minutes this scene of riotous confusion
continued.
Premier Combes at last separated him
self from his ministerial colleagues and
mounted the tribune in the hope that he
would be able TO read a decree of the gov
eminent suspending the session, but Depu-
ty Contant already held the tribune and re-
fused to vaeate 1t. The premier applied to
President Bourgeois, who ordered NJ. Cou-
tant to descend. but the latter again re-
fused: M. Combes withdrew and four
guards were summoned to conduct NJ. Cou-
tant from the tribune.
In the meantime the disorderly scenes on
the floor continued. many members of the
chamber seeking to gain the tribune. Find
ing it impossible to restore order President
Bourgeois declared recess
After a recess of fifteen minutes the SEES
sion was resumed and the president of the
chamber called on Nm. Syveton and
Countant to apologize for their conduct.
NJ COuntant made the first response, de-
claring that he withdrew not a word of
what he had said and the disorder again
broke out, but was quickly quelled. Presi-
dent Bourgeois then asked the chamber to
act and an order of censure was adopted
of the Left and portion of the Centre
party voting for the order. AS Deputy
Countant remained in his place the usual
formalities Of expulsion by force were
adopted and Colonel De Teisseyre, COM
mandant of the military at the Palais Bour-
bon, with platoon of colonial infantry,
was summoned. The soldiers marched into
the chamber and Deputy Coutant was es-
corted out amid derisive cries from the gov
eminent supporters and the cheers of his
friends.
M. Syveton also declined to make a re-
traction, declaring that Minister Wales was
the aggressor, and stating that he had
sent his seconds to the minister. President
Bourgeois thereupon referred the deputy's
case to the Chamber, which voted censure,
with temporary expulsion, and the presi-
dent requested M. Syveton to withdraw.
This the latter refused to do. whereupon
NJ. Bourgeois once more suspended the ses-
sion temporarily while the military con-
tingent again marched into the Chamber
and escorted Deputy Syveton out amid
cheers and groans
Order was now fairly re-established, and
the minister of justice mounted the tribune
to finish his interrupted speech in which
he defended the governments course in the
Humbert affair, declaring that all that was
possible for the government to do in the
matter had been done.
Following this the Chamber by a majority
of 336 votes to 136 adopted an order of the
day. expressing confidence in the govern
ment. The decree closing the session for
the recess was then read.
The seconds of MN. Syveton and Wales
will make final arrangements for meet
ing of their principals on Monday.