Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-06-29
FRENCH SCHOOL QUESTION.
Debate in Senate on Replacing Religious
Schoolhouses Draws Big Crowd.

Paris June 28-In the Senate, Sat-
urday. the debate on the government
nroiect requiring cornrunes to build
schools to replace those of the religious
congregations brought out divergency
of views from Premier CombcS and
Former Premier Waldeck-Rousseau,
the latter re-entering the debates for
the first time in months. M. Combea
supported the law, and M. Waldeck-
Rousseau, who followed, pointed out
the enormous cost involved in the pro-
iect--nearly $25, 900, 000-and urged eau
ton lest the benefits of the law of 1901
be checked.
Mollowing NJ Waldeck- Rousseaua
speech, the Senate, by 1873 to 95 votes,
decided to discuss the law in detail.
This constitutes a partial check to the
government plan to limit debate to
discussion of the measure as whole.
The temperance of M. Waldeck-
Rousseau aroused intense interest, and
his opposition to the policy of his sue
cessor as president of the council Gre
ated a sensation. His speech, immedl-
ately following that of Premier Combcs,
emphasized the divergence of the opin-
ions of the present and former presi-
dents.
This, following the narrow govern
ment majority in the Chamber, Friday,
| led to much extended comment regard
| ing the permanency of the Combes
| cabinet.
The president of the council in his
| speech gave no evidence of any inten-
| ton to retire, but said that group of
senators did not intend to permit minor
/ reverses to prccipitate n cabinet crisis.
M. Waldcck- Rousseau's opposition as
sumed added significance because of it's
being made on the eve of the summer
| adjournment of Parliament of the pres
ent season.
| Only a few days of the session remain
| to NJ. Combes to secure the passage of
the balance of the measures making up
| the general policy of the government.
| In connection with the disbanding Of
| the congregations three important meas
| IrcS are still before the Senate, first,
| providing for the non-authorization Of
| female orders; forbidding former mem
| bers of congregations to teach during n
viding that lay schools shall take the
| place of those under control of the con-
gregations which have been closed.
The last mentioned was the subject Of
| crowded. The premier in his speech sup
ported strongly the necessity for lay
schools end denied the claims that the
| establishment of such schools would in
volve enormous cost. He complained that
| whenever it was sought to carry out the
school law, the opposition organized dis
order and riots. and he finally declared
| himself strong in the confidence that the
| country and the law were behind him. d.
! NJ. Waldeck Rousseau spoke with much
| vehemcnce Referring to the law Of 1901
| he said that measure had precise and
| definite objects, but that this fact seemed
| to have been entirely lost sight of, in
proof of which he asserted that the gov
| eminent was trying to obtain results
which the law never contemplated. 1t
! was impossible, he said. to carry out in
a few months law passed after 80 years
| of effort, affecting thousands of persons
| II do not blame the energy of partisanS
| whose policy is all or nothing, he con-
tinued but what is needed is the appli-
| cation of the law. not less firm, but more
patient and moderate. We did not claim
to settle by the legislation of 1901 all the
France from the relations between the
state and religious faith"
Speaking to NJ. CombeS, the former
premier said: IF you want the country
to follow you, you must justify DEGREES
against religions by regularly voted laws.
| have protested too strongly against
secret courts-martial to approve the Sc
creCy of your procedure.
The latter remark is taken to refer to
the plan to secure the adoption of tn"
nea sure as whole, without discussion
| in detail.
The Senate passed three sections Of the
| measure and the debate was then post
poned until Tuesday.