New-York tribune., 1902-12-07
DEPUTIES IN FREE FIGHT.
BATTLE ROYAL WITH FISTS IN THE
FRENCH CHAMBER.
PALAIS BoURBoN-sITTING SUSPENDED.
DISORDERIY MEMBERS ELECTED


Paris. Dec. 6-The Chamber of Deputies was
the scene of violent disturbance this afternoon,
during which general melee occurred in the
space in front of the tribune. requiring the
summoning of the military commandant of the
Palais Bourbon with a platoon Of colonial in
fantry, who forciby elected two disorderly
members who declined to retire after an order
for their temporary expulsion had been voted.
The affair was the outcome Of much feeling
which has been aroused lately between the gov
ernrnent's supporters and the minority. The
government had desired to close Parliament to-
day for the holiday recess and this was re-
sisted by the minority, the ground that the
Chamber should remain in session to discuss
the budget. The feeling Intensified when
the Revsionist Deputy Gauthier made a savage
attack on the government for it's laxity in prose-
cutting parties connected with the Humbert
scandal. Even worse than this scandal. he de-
clared the state of anarchy existing WITHIN
the courts within the police and within the gov
ernment. He called Minister of Justice
Vale for an explanation of the affair. and the
minister made an impatient rejoinder, declar-
ing that the scandals of the republic were far
less numerous than those of the empire, Whlch
still lived in memory. He closed with the as
sertion that Frederick Humbert had been a
Boulangst Deputy
CALLED MINISTER LIAR.
This Immediately threw the Chamber into
violent tumult the members of the Right shout
ing indignant denials. Amid the din Deputy
Coutant Socialist exclaimed that Minister
VaIle's statement lie, and was known to
be a Justification of facts. President Bourgeois
sought to restore order but in vain.
The Minister of Justice who had taken the
tribune, unable to proceed against the
tumult, and. quitting the tribune. resumed his
place on the ministerial bench The group OF
ministers now became the centre Of an angry
demonstration. NJ. Syveton Nationalist mem
Der, made his way toward the ministers and ad-
| dressed them with angry imprecations. The
friends of the ministers and members of the
Left precipitated themselves into the space be-
fore the tribune toward NJ. Syveton, and the
latter was soon seconded by scores of Deputies
! from the Right. The two angry elements sursed
back and forth exchanging blows with clenched
fists and for several minutes this scene of riot
! Gus confusion continued. Premier Comoes at
/ last separated himself from his ministerial col
/ leagues, and mounted the tribune, in hopes that
| he would be able to read decree of the govern
/ ment suspending the session, but Deputy
! Coutant already held the tribune, and refused
to vacate it The Premier appealed to President
Bourgeois. who ordered NJ. Coutant to descend.
| but the latter again refused. and NJ. Combes
| withdrew and four guards were summoned to
! conduct NJ Coutant from the tribune.
CHAMBER TAKES RECESS.
! In the mean time the d!sorderiy scenes On
! the floor continued many members of the Cham
Der seeking to gain the tribune. Finding 1t H.
possible to restore order, President Bourgeois
! declared a. recess.
After a recess OF fifteen minutes the session
/ was resumed and the President Of the Cham
| Der called on NM Syveton and Coutant TO
! apologize for their conduct. NJ. Coutant maze
| the first response, declaring that he withdrew
| not a word OF what he had said. and the dis
| order again broke out. but was quickly queied.
| President Bourgeois then asked the Chamber to
| act and an order of censure with temporary
! emulsion was adopted all the members of the
| Left and a portion of the Centre party voting
| for the order. AS Deputy Coutant renamed III
| his place the usual formdlitieS of expulsion by
| force were adopted, ana Colonel dc Te66eyT6r
| commandant 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 escorted out,
amid derisive cries from the government sup
| porteeg and the cheers uf his friends.
| NJ syveton also declined TO make retTactlon,
| declaring that Minister Vale the agsressor,
and stating that he had sent his seconds to the
minister President Bourgeois thereupon re-
| ferred the Deputys to the Chamber, which
voted censure, with temporary expulsion. and
! the President requested NJ. Syveton to with
| draw This the latter refused to do whereupon
| NJ Bourgeois once more suspended the session
temporarily while the military contingent again
| marched into the Chamber and escorted Deputy
Syveton out amid cheers and groans
WILL, WIND UP WITH DUEL
Order was now fairly re-established, and the
| Minister of Justice mounted the tribune to
| finish his INTERRUPTED speech, in which he de-
| Tended the governments course in the Humbert
| case declaring that everything possible for the
| government to do in the matter had been done
Following this the Chamber, by a decisive
rosiorIry of .3336 votes TO 1876, adopted an order
! of the dav expressing confidence in the govern
ment. The decree closing the session for the
| recess was then read -,
make final arrangements for a meeting of their
principals Monday
k4DDyCKS SEES THE PRESIDENT