The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-27
Senate Begins Discussion of the
Troublesome Budget for
the Coming Year.
ECONOMY is IMPERATIVE.
Reduction of Military Service and
Prohibition Against Religious
Orders Increase Expense
of State.
BYJ. coRNELY.

SPECIAL BY CABLE TO THE NEW YoRE
HERALD AND THE ST. LOUIS REPUBLIC.
Paris, Dec. 26.-(c'opyright, 1s0s.SThe
week opened by an election for a mem
Der Of the Chamber Of Deputies In the
District OF Saintes, where a supporter Of
the Ministry was elected over monarch
list. The ministerial adherent had more
votes and the monarchist less votes than
In 1902.
Next day the Chamber took up the Al
gerian budget, that is to say, one of the
most insoluble Of colonial questions to
wit: Whether Algeria ought to cease to be
colony, in order to be Incorporated In
the national history, Of which It would
form new departments, or whether It
ought to remain colony with Governor
General
The Senate also began the discussion Of
the budget Of 1904. already completed by
the Chamber Of Deputies. and which it
purposes to finish in a hurry. The Report
er General Of the Senate Is NJ Anton Du-
bost a greatly esteemed and hard-working
member, who thinks, with all the persons
Of good taste, that stop must be put to
expenses because the tax paper cannot
be asked to bear heavier burdens Never
theless, the money Is needed.
The new law reducing military service
to two years requires millions Then there
are the old-ase pensions and laws for the
protection Of children as well. The only
means recommended by. NJ. Dubois Is to
state by effecting economies in the War
Department, and, above all, in the navy.
These economies will be achieved. he
says. by having done by private industry
and which costs very much more
NJ. Rouvier is Of this opinion, which is In
accordance with common sense. too. But
NJ Dubost. NJ. Rouvter and common sense
are not capable of forming a parliament
airy group, still less majority.
COMBESs LATEST MOVE.
To re-enforcs and keep occupied the ma
jority which he has In the Chamber Of
Deputies. NJ. Combes has just had distrib-
uted copies OF the bill forbidding religious
orders to take part In any kind Of teach
begin by this measure, for on it he has q
majority. And the proof Of 1t was fur
nished last Sunday by NJ. Meline himself
mont Me He has bee a e eseteS fssm %
the Department Of the Vosges, and It be-.
came necessary TO name his successor az
Deputy. NJ. Meline took part in the
one who has declared that he Is support
er Of the Ministry and partisan Of the
law against the congregations.
plebiscitary candidacy Of M. Flayelle, the
entire Republican party ought to form q
solid Block in favor of the ministerial
candidate. Thus we behold NJ. Meline re-
instated in the block which he has not
ceased to denounce and converted to the
law against the congregations, which he
has not ceased to crfticise.
Evil tongues say that u. Meline is max
Ing this sacrifice out of animosity toward
NJ. F1ayelle, who has been his rival for q
very long time in all elections
In Paris we are threatened, but not very
seriously, with strike entirely confined
to those concerned with food What will
cause the failure Of this strike is the fact
that time for it has been badly chosen.
1t is the season OF holiday gifts, and the
leaders Of the strike are trying to infiu-
ence against the Senate a public opinion
which for a long time has been favorable
and sympathetic.