The Savannah morning news., 1902-12-07
HAD A FREE FIGHT
FRENCH CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES A
ROWLING MOB.
MILITARY WAS CALLED IN.
To ESCORT VOLATILE DEPUTIES
FROM THE HALL.

General Melee Occurred in Front of
the Trfbune-Minister Accused a
Deputy of Having Been a BOuIan-
Eist, and This Set the Minority on
Fire-There Was a surging Mass
of Deputies, and Many Blows Were
Exchans ed-DucI Between the De-
putty and Minister Threatens.
Paris, Dec. s.-The Chamber of
Deputies was the scene of violent dis
turbance this afternoon, during which
a general melee occurred in the space
in front of the tribune. requiring the.
summoning of the military comman-
dant of the Palais Bourbon with pla-
toon of colonial infantry, who forci-
bly, 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 governments 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, on the ground
that the chamber should remain in
session to discuss the budget
The feeling was intensified when Re-
visionist Deputy Gauthier made a saw
age attack on the government for its
laxity in prosecuting parties connected
with the Humbert scandal Even
worse than this scandal, he declared,
was the state of anarchy existing in
the courts, with the police and within
the government. He called on Minister
of Justice Vale for explanation of the
affair, and the minister made an en-
phatic rejoinder, declaring that the
scandals of the republic were far less
numerous than those of the empire,
which still lived in memory. He closed
with the assertion that Frederick
Humbert had been a Boulangist dep
uty.
This immediately threw the chamber
into violent tumult, the members of
the Right shouting denials. Amid the
din Deputy Coutant Socialist, exclaim-
ed that Minister Valle's statement was
a lie and was known TO be a falsifica-
ton of facts.
President Bourgeois sought to restore
order, but in vain.
The group of ministers now became
the center of an angry demonstration.
N. Syveton, a Nationalist member,
made his way toward the ministers
and addressed them with angry i'm
precautions. The friends of the MEM
bers and ministers of the Left pre-
cipitated themselves into the space be-
fore the tribune towards M Syveton
and the latter was soon seconded by
scores of deputies from the Right The
two angry elements surged back and
forth, exchanging blows with clenched
fists, and for several minutes this
scene of riotous confusion continued.
Finding it impossible to restore or
der, President Bourgeois declared a re-
cess. After a recess of fifteen minutes
the session was resumed, and the pres
ident of the chamber called on M
Syveton and Coutant to apologize for
their conduct. M: Coutant made the
first response, declaring that he with
drew not a work of what ne had said
and the disorder again broke out, but
was quickly quelled.
President Bourgeois then asked the
chamber to act, and an order of CEN
sure was adopted with temporary ex-
pulsion, all the members of the Left
and a portion of the Center party
voting for the order. AS Deputy Cou-
tant remained in his place, the usual
formalities of expulsion by force were
adopted, and Col. de Teisseyre, COM
mandant of the military at the Palais
Bourbon, with platoon of colonial in
fantry, was summoned. The soldiers
marched into the chamber and Deputy
Coutant was escorted out amid deri-
sive cries from the government sup
porters and the cheers of his friends
M. Syveton also declined to make a
retraction, declaring that Minister
Vale was the aggressor, and stating
that he had sent his seconds to the
minister. President Bourgeois there
upon referred the deputy's case to the
chamber. which voted censure, with
temporary expulsion, and the Presi-
dent requested NJ. Syveton to with
draw. The latter refused to do this,
whereupon NJ. Bourgeois once more
suspended the session temporarily,
while the military contingent again
marched into the chamber and escort
ed Deputy Syveton out amid cheers
and groans.
Following this the chamber, by de-
cisive majority of 1856 votes to 1855.
adopted an order of the day, express
ing confidence in the government The