Evening star., 1907-08-19
PARASITES OF PARIS
OPEN TRAFFIC IN HoNORS AND
OFFICES.

Special Cablegram to The Star.
PARIS. August l9-Several scandals con-
nected with the government service con-
tinue to attract public notice. Some re-
marks contained in a leading article In the
Journal des Deibats are interesting. This
newspaper says that every new minister
now surrounds himself with a number OF
young men who have no experience OF life
or of business because he cannot refuse
relative or an influential legislator. Many
of these young people do not earn a penny
a chaIwoman would disdain, but they know
that their future IS assured. This para
sittsm Is Of rather recent date. Formerly
a chef de cabinet and an assistant were
enough for a minister and clever and ex-
perienced mon were chosen for such posts.
They consulted the directors of the differ
ent departments. and, as they were Already
in good positions. they did not spend most
of their time In securing good places in
view Of the day when the cabinet would
fall. They were proof against certain
temptations to which mere lads easily sue
cumb
Ministers. continues the Journal des De-
bats do very wrong when they surround
themselves with youths who do not always
know how to spell, and they render a bad
service to these lads when they expose
them to solicitations against which they
have not learned to defend themselves. No
wonder that respect for authority should be
declining among the masses when they see
old officials ordered about by boys and rib
bons distributed by, young men who have
not yet attained their majority. We do not
even speak Of the lndelicats traffic which
occurs. or is said to occur. These are cases
with which the law courts have to deal.
and they arc exceptional. What b more
common. and practically more serious. ID
the discredit thrown on these modest dis
tinctions by the bad use made Of them and
resist the pleasure Of paradins or exas-
gerating their importance. It II high time
that these bad political and administrative
should make, it q rule not to consider their
private offices as outlets for all the useless
people in their encourage. Cabinets are
thirty attaches. and it Is usual to count q
full dozen today.
The Journal des Debats concludes by say
ing that the public services are being doubly
disorsanized under the dissolving action Of
the scandalous promotion given to at
taches de cabinet or private secretaries.
when they leave: and and hy a,o the olunders com. ON
same thing Is being said more emphatically
in certain other contemporaries
AZ an instance Of IL the fiasrant a abuse to
tence just passed BY Paris police court
on M. Ricciardi, who was attached to the
ministry Of the interior when d. Combes
was president Of the council and minister
OF the interior, and on NJ Rousseau, man
Of business. may be cited: Throush the
medium OF ~ Roussean ssda,at;o1 ~; Riestsrdl d. had
get a former hutssier in the department Of
the Orne appointed to the ONCE Of tuge do
paix. AS the nomination was not made
the ex-huissier lodged complaint. with the
result that MN. Rousseau and Ricciardi
were tried by the ninth police court Of
Paris on the charge Of swindling. corrup-
ton OF functionar1es and completely. They
were acquitted as regards the accusation
of swindling. but were found guilty Of tho
second ofense. NJ. Rfcardf was sentenced
to six months imprisonment, and NJ. Rous-
seau to four months Of the same penalty
Each must also pay a~fine Of 80.