The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-01-16
CONBES CABINET SOON ID RESIGN VIII Abandon the Field After
 Bitter Struggle LOUBET'S MOTHER IS DEAD This Adds to the Confusion in France and No Tin. Has Beer Set
 for Naming the New
 Ministry.
LOUBETS MOTHER IS DEAD

Paris, January 15.-The ministry of NJ Combes after emerging successfully from it's bitter midnight struggle in the Cham l Der of Deputies, has decided to abandon the field while some portion of it's pres tige still remains. and has signified it's intention of resgning. Official announce ment of the reslgnauons has not yet been made, but M. Combes has definitely stated the intention of himself and his colleagues, and the termination of the ministry after tempestrous career of three years. only awaits the formal sub l mission of the letters of retirement
 Friends of the ministry maintain that it's retirement is voluntary, as M. Combes has succeeded in resisting the efforts to compel his fall. The opositon however. halls the decision as a victory claim ing that the small majorities for the ministry last night left NJ. Combes shorn of effective strength to carry out his policies.
 M. combes called at the Elysee palace today for the purpose of comforting with President Loubet, but the latter was over whelmed by the critical illness of his mother, who died at 8 o'clock this after ncon
 The Presidents affliction prevented any l discussion of the cabinet situation and complieates the time when che resgna- | tions will be submitted. It had been in- | tended to hold cabinet meeting on Tues day, at which the anal disposition of the | retiring members was to be taken, but President Loubet's departure for Monte | limar to attend the funeral of hls mother has deferred final action.
 Premier Looks Careworn
 Premier Combes received the various | ministers during the day. He looked | careworn after ten hours of parliament tary battle, in which he occupied the floor for three hours and wag the. cen ter of q continuous attack during the re- maining hours. He spoke freely of the intention of his cabinet to retire as a whole and outlined the details of it's | closing work. He regards the retirement as wholly voluntarily, as the votes last night although showing small majori- ties, gave enough margin to permit of | carrying on the ministerial programme. | However. he considers that his departure | will facilitate the realization of the pro- | gramme instead of nterrupting 1t, since | his successor will be able to unite the | discordant clements which have become | hostile to him.
 It Is conceded that Nr Combes' volun- | tarily withdrawal will permit him to ex- ercise powerful and probably decisive | influence in the choice of his successor. similar to that which M. Waldeck- Rous- seau exercised when voluntarily reln- qnishing power.
 Next Cabinet is Uncertain.
 Who will form the next cabinet is not yet certain. The logic of the situation appears to point to M. Rouvier and his | name Is most mentioned He Is acceptable | both to M. Combes and those who are re- | boiling against his authority. However. l if M Combes exercises the authority to name his own successor, he nay designate | M Brisson. who. president of the l Chamber of Deputies assisted in the ex- | ecution of the M. combes programme. | The names of M Miller and Poincaire. | Doumer and Clemenceau also are promi- rently mentioned, their strength deDend- ing upon latef combinations in the ma iority groups However the personal in- nuence the President usually exercises Is | obscured by death within the household. making the outcome of the reorganiza- ton of the ministry increasingly doubt ful.
 The effect of the change upon the gov- I ernments policies Is not considered to he | great. The new ministry will have the | same majority as that supporting Premier | Combes and so there can be no radical | cndnEe. ms mHJpTllN mas ftptHifulN up- | held M. Combes position tending toward | separation of church and state. It Is ex- | pected, therefore. that the programme re- | lating to the situation will be carried. al- | though M. Combes retirement probably will exercise a moderating tendency
 outcry Against Secret Reports.
 The issue which proved most decisive in hastening the resignations Of the mn- 1 isters was the popular outery against se- | cret reports on the lives of army officers. | The change will undoubtedly insure the | abandonment of the last vestige of this situation. The enactment of an income tax | and other important matters will not be materially affected. Premier Combes was waited upon this evening by number of members of the chamber who urged that he reconsider his decision to resign, but he positively refused to do so.
 | owing to the death of Mime. Louhet, the presentation of the resgnations of the | ministers has been deferred until We'd nesday morning. President Loubet will begin on Wednesday afternoon consulta- tions for the formation of new cabi- et M Rouvier appears to be practically decided upon as the future chief of the ministry. but 1t Is understood that he asked M Delcasse and M. Berteaux to re- tain the foreign and war portfolios re- | spectvely
 Irntil the decision of the cabinet to re- sign is officially communicated to Pres ident Loubet who alone is empowered to | receive it. there will be no interruption l of work