The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-07-10
VITAL MEASURES
PASSED IN FRANCE
Teaching by Religious Orders
Suppressed and Term of Army
Service Reduced.
HOIsE OVER BRIBERY INQUIRY.
Committee Unfriendly TO Premier
Combes Is Compelled TO Ex-
onerate Him and His Son
From All Charges.
nv 7 COENELY,

APTNTAL BY CABLE TO THE ST. LOUIS RE-
PrBL.Ic AND THE NEW YORK HERALD.
Paris. July 9-(Copyright. lsl)-There
have been three events this week OF di-
verse Importance and, as always happens.
it is the least important OF the three
which has made the most noise.
The Senate has passed the bill sup
pressing teaching by religious orders
which mad already been voted by the
Chamber OF Deputies The Chamber
passed without important changes. the
bill reducing military service TO two years.
which had already been voted by the
Senate. These are two important votae,
Suppression of teaching by the religious
orders cannot be an Indifferent matter In
a country where the religious orders have
been for so long a time the masters OF
primary instruction, and it is not mat
ter of indifference to our individual des-
tInies or our national destinies that. aft
er having been seven years. then five, then
three military service has been reduced
TO two years.
STIRRED By INQUIRY.
Nevertheless, the public opinion has been
chiefly stirred by the fatuous Committee
of inquiry. of which have already spoken,
ap-1ointed to throw. light on the alleged at
tempt at bribery, of which the President
of the Council of Ministers tod the CHAM
Der. This committee the majority OF which
was opposed TO the Government, has nm
ished its labors and named as reporter an
Algerian Deputy, Nj. Coin BY Gint OF
wishing to compromise VI. Combes and his
son. the committee ended by making it
self somewhat ridiculous.
But the finishing stroke was given 1t by
a really remarkable affair. 1t had been re-
ported that a man had gone from farls
TO Chartreuse in the Department OF the
Isere. There was no longer any doubt
about it-that man must have been IN
agent fol the bribery. But who was this
man who went to demand money from the
monks OF Chartreuse?
One OF the crooks OF the Chartreuse;
from having seen a photograph, Indicated
NJ. Mascuraud. To understand the unlike
lhood of this accusation one should re-
member that N. Mascuraud is the man
who organized the Committee of Conn
merce and Industry. which, at the last
elections was formed by a certain num-
Der of Paris merchants and manufacturers
and large proprietors for the purpose Oh
supporting the Government.
Now. II was inconceivable that NJ. Mascu-
raud should have gone TO the monks
OF Chartreuse TO ask for money to
help elect their opponents. But this attf-
tude OF NJ. Mascuraud. who. in fact, pro-
vide funds for the Government candidates
at the general elections, brought upon him
much bitter opposition. This was shown
in the present instance. but more potent
and more numerous expressions Of SYM
pathy were offered him. and NJ. Mascu-
raud came out OF the aHalr trlumpnantly
over the unjust accusation, thanks to doc
uments proving how he spent his time on
the day he was accused Of having gone to
the Grande Chartreuse;
To sum up. the committee was obliged to
conclude its labors with a nullity and its
reporter was instructed to state In its
name that NJ Combes and his son had
nothing to do with the case any more than
NJ. Mascuraud
END OF LONG SCANDAL
Thus ends the long scandal Its cause
was the underhand methods OF the opposi-
tion. exploiting the imprudence of the
President of the Council of Ministers. who
certainly for the moment made a mistake
and who ought to have replied by silent
contempt to the calumnies Of which he
was the object
This Intervention Of the monks of Char
treuse In politics has also had a result
the consolidation of the Republican ma
jorfty, and at the present moment the
duration of the Combes Ministry only de-
pends on the will of its head. It has been
frequently said that he had the intention
of Initiating his predecessor and retiring
without being overturned. but we must
reckon with the efforts Of the majority.
who will do all 1t can to keep him in
power and especially with :he well-settled
determination of the Socialist party to
support him with energy.