New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-25
FRENCH DECORATIONS.
The Bill in the Chamber of Deputies to
Abolish Them.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: The French Chamber of Deputies has recent
Iy voted urgency for the discussion OF BILL
submitted by the Socialist Deputy Mrman, In ia
vor of the abolition of all decorations In France,
including even that of the Legion OF Honor. Leon
Mrman. it may be noted, is not an important per-
sonage He is about thirty eight years or age, anu
was formerly a professor of mathematics ana
later journalist. That his proposition meets with
the strong opposition of the Ministry can readily
be understood when consider what potent
substitute for official patronage the various decora-
tive orders afford to the administration
In France the Ministry, we all know. is de-
pendent for it's continuance in power upon the
good will of a majority Of the Deputies, who can
put it out Of Office at any time by vote OF wanA
of confidence The Deputies are elected for four
years and until the expiration OF this period the
Chamber can only be dissolved by the President
of the Republic with the consent OF the Senate
which consent is very rarely given; so that the
Deputies pretty sure of serving out their four
years term. no matter how often they may upset
the Ministry. It is, therefore, very essential for
the Ministry to retain the individual support OF at
least majority of the Deputies. party dis
cipne is very lax and the Chamber is split up into
a number of small groups. which form and are
dissolved not much by reason Of party principles
according 10 the interest of the individual Depu-
ties Of which these groups composed.
In general. each Deputy goes up to Parliament
with a lot of electoral debts toward his constitu-
ents to be nquidatcd. II possible, at the public ex
pense and he practically notifies the Ministry that
If it wishes his support, 1t must find places for his
list Of candidates and must begin public works in
his electoral district for the benefit of the con-
tractors and workingmen who have secured his
election With these demands the Ministry en-
beavers TO comply and The result is a constantly
increasing number OF supernuous officials and Of
costly ana more or less needless pubic WORKS:
From this it follows that while the population Of
the country remains stationary the public debt is
growing with frightful rapidity until it now ex-
ever, would be still greater were it not for the
gion Of Honor, Agricultural Merit etc, Every
Frenchman desires passonately to be DECORATED
for refusal of official patronage and public works
ey Jew Of the more GI als
should become a law the effect upon the French
1t would seem, however, that the French people
would have little difficulty in finding more potent
French Prime Minister had power similar to that
of the English Prime Minister and could dissolve
try whenever vote of want of Confidence is passed
against him. he would be independent of the
of the latter would care to incur the risks
a new electoral campaign simply to punish the
Deputies demands for patronage or public works
It may also be observed that If all financial Iegs-
Iation original ted with responsible Minister in
England. and not with the Individual Deputies or
saving would be effected in the finances of France
serand the French Ambassador. said La France
representee en- moissonneuse n'ent enthusiastic
Dersonne This is true and nitv ,tIs that n is
true, for If La Belle France were only more OF
would not now be confronted with the terrible evil
Of depopulation and the gallant old French race
Of seeing itself receding and more each year
before tho increasing number of immigrants
descendants. are gradually supplanting and super
seding the French race in France.
New-York Dec %, 1908