Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-30
HOW PRESIDENT. FALLERES OF FRANCE HOLDS DOWN ::
HIS JOB AND SIGNS WHATEVER PAPER IS HANDED HIM

cabinet came, in time, to have real in
fiuence with it, realizing the formative
words of Grevy when he explained TO the
pope he could 90 nothing:
THE president ought to abstain from
all personal acts in government measures.
He can only offer advice to his cabinet.
He can appear before the houses only
by his cabinet-who themselves must be
obedient to their majoritiesr'
Now you see why NJ. Fallieres has no
big stick! All the sticks we're pre-empt-
ed by congressman. 3r ~,
The French people were habituated to
personal power" said M. Freycinet in bis
funeral eulogy on Grevy. "Grevy taught
them to appreciate impersonal power
which did not mean indifference on the
presidents part. He sought! to be the
guide. councillor and light of his cabinet.
He never imposed his advice, but he
never refused itc'
French cabinets really represent the
majority of congressman from month
thing. depending on many details of inter
est and policy. The French president
chooses cabinets-on condition the major
ity accepts Them, but he is no more their
master than the various cabinet members
are the masters of their departments
whose true masters are the obscure chiefs
of a vast and permanent civil service! ~
These old chief clerks are the presi-
dents revenge on arrogant cabinet mem
bers who pursue policies behind his aback.
II NJ. Fallieres can't have a policy, he
knows his cabinet don't dare have much
of one either-it can't do much to oppose
itself to the great, silent running. govern
ing machine that is behind all things in
France-bureaucracy. - Z; -
Bureaucracy's Power. =. e
Bureaucracy makes railway rates equal
and judicious. Bureaucracy makes corpo-
rations give up to the. public good. Blu
reaucracy collects the public toll from
privileges and monopolies Bureau
cracy is ready to ask of. the Bank 4of
France if there is gold enough. Bureau
crazy runs, railways. fosters art and .mu-
sic. maintains, theaters and ballets, beau-
titles the Paris streets, maintains mu-
seums in provincial towns. prevents graft
keeps police in hand. in a. word. runs all
France!
This is another reason why the presi-
dent can earn. in dignity, without much
nervousness, the sl20.OOo a. year. salary
and $4,000 year expenses" allowed
him to be a great and loose ''concil-
iator.''
Like Felix Faure and President Loubet
President Fallieres will soon begin a So
ries of great travels. In the name OF the
republic he will return the calls of the
sovereigns who have come to Paris lately.
He begins next summer. visiting the
Scandinavian Kingdoms. Norway. Swe-
den and Denmark. After that it will be
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visit to Paris intervenng-he- will go to
Russia.
All of which is orderly. agreeable and
decent. representing the combined wis
dom, tact and experience of very many
men behind the president.
only once has kindly and judicious
President Fallieres attempted single
personal act, All his life he. has been
against capital punishment. When he
was elected he knew he would have one
undtsputed power. in all its fullness.
The French president can pardon-un-
cramped by any pardon board. He said
to himself: ITO be consistent with my
tine work once-'
Unfortunately, there came up a very
hateful kind of murderer for pardon.
Soieilland. peast-assassin OF . twelve
year-old girl. would have been lynched
in the streets of Paris or Lyon. or any
country village. French mothers would
have torn him to pieces. :
wen. to be consistent-pardon. the most
atrocious. to give capital punishment a
final blow-President Fallieres took n
upon himself-quite personally-to COM
mute soleiland to life imprisonment
A Dad Break"
The cabinet had no right to know. As
a fact, the cabinet did not understand the
depth of French feeling, and it did not
even advise Fallieres to 60 slow.
And, well, the result has been wonder
fun Congressman. going home to their
constituents-in cities as in remote coun-
try districts-returned to Paris saghast
wondering If. they could be re-elected.'
"At home we hear only two things."
they say. ''Sneers because we voted an
increase OF our salaries. and fury against
the president of the republic for his par.
doning OF Soleillandr'
The pardoning of Soleilland, they, say.
has done more harm to the republic than
tine Morocco trouble, separation of church
and STATE, the proposed income tax. old
age pensions and all the other generous
but alarming projects of the present gov
eminent! STERLING HELLO.
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