New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-10
FRENCH DEPUTIES TERMS.
INCREASE FROM -FOUR TO SIX YEARS
VOTED BY THE CHAAIBER-wILL
PROBABLY BE REJECTED
BY THE SENATE.
BY THE SENATE.
Paris. March ..


forth a number Of proposals for electoral re-
form. including, as usual the scheme to revert
"a the system Of 'scrutin dc liste'' instead Of
+he present method Of -scrutin d'arrOndisse
r1ent" under which Deputies are chosen by
ssrarate districts Just as representatives are in
she United States. Strenuous attempts have
been made in the last ten days by Nationalist
and Socialists 10 secure the adoption of the
.s,-7,-ir de liste" by which all the Deputies for
whole department would be elected one
.,rgae ticket. bar this plan now seems TO be
definitely shelved-
The Nationalists and reactionaries have also
enaeavored to make voting compulsory. but this
rroiect has also been set aside inapracticable.
n Paul De Cassagnac. the champion Of the
r7onaparrists and Deputy from Gers. has been
seeking 10 recall the device adopted during the
Second Empire Of allowing the active army 10
vote The proposal TO extend the period Of the
mandate Of Deputies from four years as at
present TO six years recently adopted by
the Chamber Of Deputies by a surprise vote
without discussion Notwithstanding the benevo-
lent neutrality Of NJ. Waldeck-Rousseau and the
Cabinet * is not considered likely that this i'm
rortant measure will become law. Nevertheless.
the vote OF the Chamber adopting this radical
change in the constitutional law promulgated
nv the National Assembly in 1870 IS significant
IS the most interesting question so far presented
nv the electioreering contest
The Senate last Saturday chose its Commits
sion on Electoral Laws. and eight Of the nine
members Of this commission are opposed to the
nroiongation Of the mandate of the Deputies.
II NAV be taken as certain that had the Cham
her voted the six-year mandate after due de-
liberation and discussion. the Senate out Of
aefere1ce and sympathy, would have ratified
tho vote but il is notorious that the majority in
the chamber that voted for the six-year mandate
have since excused themselves and have indi-
xsaualiy retracted their hasty decision by which
this little coup detat was accomplished. This
Is in itself a remarkable feature Of French par
ua-nentary government. showing into what con-
fusion the present Chamber has fallen. and is
nerhaps without a parallel either in the United
states OF Great Britain. Meanwhile the Sena-
tors merely take note of this ebuition Of their
frisky colleagues at the Palais Bourbon and
proceed TO annul the decision.
Those who defend the six-year mandate sub
n1itted by NJ. Pourquery de Boissertn, and
adopted by the Chamber, say that Il Will effect
great saving Of time and money. They say
thar with the six years period there will be in
case Of necessity the safeguard Of dissolution
by the President of the Republic provided for
By the constitutional law of 1870. AS matters
The first year is devoted TO squabbies caused by
the selection Of numerous committees, the cleo
non Of officers OF the Chamber putting in add
donal chairs and desks for some odd dozen
Deputies and TO matters Of trivial internal de-
,an Of no public Importance. L takes the new
Deputies At least year TO settle down TO their
business, and the last OF the four years session
is taken UP with wild and feverish efforts 10 get
reelected and all useful work is neglected.
Among the abest advocates Of prolOnging the
electorate from four years 10 six is NJ Yves
Guyot who is Of opinion that the six years
mandate would result in four years work in
stead Of only two years work, as is now ad-
uitted to be the case. NJ Yves Guyot says
that greater stability in the legislature is in
dispensable 10 secure anything approaching
q thorough serious discussion of important and
complicated measures. Toward the end Of the
fourth or fifth year the government might irai-
tate the example Of Austria and Italy and dis
solve Parliament. In this way the elections
would take place the times most desirable
to ascertain the opinion Of the nation, and the
last years OF the session presenting scandal
for parliamentary rule spectacle Of incoher-
ence and anarchy. a general pillage and plum
der Of public money for purely selfish electoral
interests would be avoided
Those who oppose the idea of lengthening
years Of ali French parliamentary sessions have
been lamentable and repugnant But the Senate
sufHces as q check upon the excess Of election
eerinz expenditure. Besides Il the Chamber
should ever really feel rernorse and penitence
FOR its extravagant freaks and outbursts Of
childish passion IL has only 10 ask the Presi-
dent OF the Chamber 10 revise the regulations
Of debate. But 10 give the Deputies two addi-
tiona years of tenure, il is said and ito reserve
their privilege Of irnprovising the dilapidation
CT al the chapters Of the budget, is 10 go d.
rectly against what those who propose the six
years term Of Office want TO avoid. The six year
men would feel at liberty TO plumber more and
more Bad Chambers should last four years in
stead Of six. The power Of Deputies for doing
mischief would be Increased On the other hand
the sovereignty OF univsrsal suffrage would ne
diminished. The taxpayer would not benefit by
the change. The hope Of dissolution would be
myth. The Deputies would be more powerful
Once seated in their armchairs for six years
they would work every imaginable influence
for all il might be worth 10 retain office to
the last second Of their tenure
The six year Deputies would not support a
Cabinet that would propose dssolution-and, ac-
eording 10 the constitutional law, the President
OF the Republic cannot promTlgate the decree OF
dissolution OF Parliament except upon the ad-
VICE OF the Cabinet The Cabinet would De aDle
TO win the good graces Of the Deputies and
manipulate votes by merely inserting In the
ministerial declaration that it would refrain
from proposing dissolution Besides. IL any one
suggested dissolution il would only be neces-
sary to defeat any such project by invoking the
'aelnory Of the famous monarchical dissolution
OF May 10. 1877. which nearly overthrow the
Republican regime
another argument adduced by the opponents
Z OF The six years tenure is that the new Cham
Der which VIII be elected in April May. viii,