New-York tribune., 1902-06-15
NJ. LEON BOURGEOIS.
TIE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE FRENCH
CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES SCENES
AT THE ELECTION.
Paris. June 3.

first time Sunday, and elected NJ Leon Bour-
peo!s provisional president by 303 votes. against
oe7 given his only opponent, NJ Paul Des-
chanel who occupied the post during the last
legislature This is the logical result Of the Re-
,,ubIican and Radical Socialist victory at the
recent general elections and serves trust
zrorthy barometer indicating the trend Of pewer
IN thu French Parliament. 1t will be recollected
that the ministerial majority in the last Cham
rar was from seventy 20 eighty votes, while that
RI u. Leon Bourgeois On Sunday thirty-six
votes put as a number of stalwart Republicans
voted for NJ. Deschanel for personal reasons. it
nav be safely predicted that on purely political
ofAsrions :he policy adopted by the Waldeck-
rousseau Cabinet has the approval of major
itv larger than in the last Chamber
Sundays vote moreover. shows that the
+ye of gravity OF the Chamber. is usually the
case after general shaking up. has shifted
toward the radical left. and this majority will
issue the steering directions TO the Cabinet
which viii succeed that of NJ. Waldeck-Rous-
seau. and which will in all probability contain
= good leavening Of the outgoing ministry. NJ.
neIcssse for instance, who has gained strength
and prestige by the recent visit to Russia. is
likely TO retain the portfolio Of Foreign Affairs
IN the next Ca binet.
The Parliamentary session Sunday was
usually picturesque, and afforded a striking
contrast TO a first days sittings Of the House of
12epTeSenIaLlNSS at w hdSu4lSlOI- II NdS d Inc,
warm afternoon. AS early as l o'clock hundreds
Of srnartIy appointed carriages drew up in the
,,aved COURTYARD OF the Palais Bourbon. Half
al hour later the crimson lined anphitheatre
was Ihronged with spectators the larger pro-
rortion Of whom were women in dainty sum-
r,er costumes and delicious hats, trimmed with
lace fruits and flowers About the same time
The Deputies began TO assemble in the large
marble anteroom called the sale des pas per
N< s-r- 1rhla .
replica of the LAGOON.
Suddenly there was a loud roll Of drums. pre-
ceeed by terse military commands. a double
row Of troops Of the Republican Guard. IN their
neat blue uniforms. faced each other, and as
the soldiers presented arms the Deputies in
Indian file walked TO their places. At the head
OF the Deputies. and attired in evening dress
and white cravat, marched NJ Rauline, the old
est deputy who by law presides at the maiden
meeting Of the legislature NJ. Rauline is a well
preserved man, with snow white whiskers. By
g singular coincidence On Sunday was his eigh-
tieth birthday. AS the Deputies entered The
amphitheatre, women scanned their faces with
opera glasses, ana there was murmUr and
rustic o. sIlken gowns, just as at a fashionable
theatre on q first night
At last the 591 Deputies were seated accord
ing 10 Parliamentary tradition-Royalists. Bo-
napartisrs, RAactionaries TO the right. and the
Socialists al the extreme left while Republicans
Of various stripes filed the intervening benches
lust in front Of The tribune the ministerial
benches which on Sunday were vacant NJ
Meiine, the leader Of the Protectionist Repub-
llcans, gIided about with frigid smile. N.
Boni de Castellane stood near the statue of
Justice. toying with his watchchain. NJ Doumer,
ex-Ticeroy Of Indo-China, to-day Deputy and
Tomorrow perhaps something greater sat in
his seat with his arms folded. II. Paul Des-
chanel S0ninXlile COuntenance, sat
motionlsss and watched the proceedings NJ
Ribot walked slowly about chatting amiably
with few friends. NJ. Leon Bourgeois wiped
his eyeglasses now and then and looked rather
bored, and chatted with his neighbors.
There were three delicate little taps from NJ.
Rauline's ivory paper cutter. and the venerable
chairman made a graceful academic speech
recommending peace and fraternity, and con-
cludiag by expressing sympathy with the popu-
iatioa OF Martinique. After this the election OF
the provisional president Of the chamber was
IL order. Eighteen assessors were chosen by
lot The youngest Deputy, N Stanlslas &c
CastelIane, was appointed guardian Of The elec-
to1al Urn. rear which he stood like sentry
during the voting. NJ Rauline then plunged his
hand into his silk hat and drew a letter. which
was D.; accordingly the voting was to begin
with the deputies whose names begin with D.
a Republican Deputy, N. Drake. jumped W
and proposed that the balloting should be by
call OF name The Chamber adopted this sug-
gestion by a general uplifting Of hands. The
chairman OF age. N. Rauline. then called each
Deputy by name beginning with NJ Dansette,
Deputy from the Department Of the North, and
each man IS he voted mounted the steps OF
the tribune and dropped his vote in an urn, ana
IS ne descended the tribune by the steps at
the other end he dropped in another urn cara
with his own name as a check to his vote. All
boll~ 1-Sn NJ R2Cline
announced the result OF the balloting- II. Leon
Bourgeois obtained 303 votes. and n. Paul
Deschanel had 2S7. The Republicans and Radi-
Gals and Socialists sprang to their feet and gave
ringing cheers n. Baudry-d'Asson, fre-eat-
ing Royalist, shouted. Down with ali Jews and
Free afasonsv' The Radicals retorted with
cries OF. .Vive la RepubliQue! Down with the
priests
N Leon Bourgeois. in taking the Speakers
chair made a short but loudly applauded speech
He thanked the House for the honor conferred
upon him. and pointed out that the first sittings
for which he had been elected provisional presi-
dent would not be occupied by any political or
social debates. but simply with the verihcation
Of the powers exercised by universal suffrage
This simply routine parliamentary work.
but most essential and he felt sure that dep
uries would regard il their duty 10 De plIl-
less against elecJioneering fraud and corruptlon
he referred 10 the recent visit Of President Lou
bet TO Russia; ne spoke feelingly OF the Mar
Unique disaster, and after communicating 10 lhe
Chamber messages from the parilaments OF
Hungary, Italy. Brazil and Chilli the sitting
ended
II is considered almost certain that N. Leon
BouTgeolsS provisional eiecton VIII DC HIdue
celnitiVe as soon as the validity Of the electons
has been decided, ana he VIII thus become the
third parsonage in the hierarchy Of the repup-
lie. The initial act of the new French Chamber
has been TO remove from the presidential chelr
oh nzE- EDa1 nj a