New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-07-05
TOPICS IN PARIS.
Change in DiOorce Laac-ActuaI
ArtiHerN Test Of BattLeship.


Copyright: 1903: BY The Tribune Association)
Paris July 1.-THE Chamber of Deputies, just
now closing its doors for the summer holidays.
leaves displayed in its shop windows a
and costly toy called income tax. which NJ.
Rouvier, Minister of Finance, feels confident
will be popular, and which is sure to be dis
cussed during the dog days with bitter ami
mostly. NJ Rouvier has now become a sort OF
French Goschen. and his supremacy in financial
matters is unquestioned by the opposition.
NJ. Rouviers patriotic denunciation yesterday of
the clerical and reactionary attempts to under
mine the republican regime by injuring the
national credit and urging thrifty peasants to
withdraw their deposits from the government
savings banks has greatly strengthened the
position of the Cabinet before the country.
Another decidedly popular action of the cham
Der the abrogation of the clause in the
divorce law which prohibited the party against
whom the divorce had been decreed subse-
quenty to marry his or her accomplish This
is regarded by the Conservatives as a tremen-
dous breach in the stability of the institution
of marriage, and the entrance of a lever that
Will eventually destroy family stability. The
socialists, on the other hand. rejoice and con-
slider they have signal victory in the
campaign for the free union of men and women.
The immediate effect of the abrogation of the
law is that no less than ifty-fve declarations of
intended marriages of persons against whom di-
vorce was decreed with their respective core
spondents have been formally made in Paris
and the Department of the Seine within the last
forty-eight hours.
The Chamber departs leaving foreign rela--
tions in a more satisfactory condition than for
many years past. France feels genuine sat
sfaction at finding herself once friend
" terms with England and Italy. The impos-
ing preparations for President Loubet's visit to
London seem to be wiping out all traces of
Fashoda and the Transvaal The world of art
and bohemianism has been completely by
Leon Bonnat's glowing descriptions Of his visit
TO Windsor Castle and the cordial welcome
corded to Frances foremost portrait painter.
Indeed the only foreign country just now in
the bad books of the French is Servia. The
keynote of popular feeling is being hit off in a
huge caricature to-day exposed for sale al all
the newsstands and railway stations represent
ing King Peter ascending the steps of his new
throne aided by Servian generals and states
men: one of whom whispers confidentially to the
King: Take care your majesty and not slip
because the blood has not yet had quite time
10 dry"
In naval circles comment is aroused by the
determination of Camille PeIletan Minister of
Marine. 10 submit the new ana Iully up 10 QaJe
battleship Suffren TO actual artillery test off
Brest. The experiment at first denounced
as sheer madness and wanton extravaganza by
civilian critics. but the technical naval men now
declare that this experiment as revolutionary
il may seem, is of the highest value and the
decision of the minister is fully approved The
object of the tests is not TO find out whether or
not the armored plates of the Sufrens turret
can be pierced by the 800 miIlmetre gun. which
is the most powerful arm possessed by the
French Navy. That experiment has already been
made with the Suffren's turret plates in the
usual way at L'Orient but the idea of the Suf-
fren experiment, during which the Massena will
actually open fire with her 305 millimetre guns
on the Suffren, is to ascertain what effect the
303 millimetre gun viii have the rotary ma
chinery meehanisms of aiming and the general
working of the Suffrens turrets when prepared
for action As the shock Isl the principal ele-
ment in the test the Suffrens turret will be
covered by supplementary armor as a protec-
ton This sensational naval experiment which
approaches nearer to real warfare than any