New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-15
DEBATE OVER DUEZ
B4RTHOU'S DEFENCE.
Opposition Holds the GOUern-
ment to Blame.

resumed In the Chamber of Deputies
to-day. and NJ. Millerand. Minister of Public
Works, Posts and Teiegraphs, took the
tribune to defend himself against insinu-
ations. He characterized as fables the
rumors that he had received $4,000 in fees
from Duez and that he had accepted 5000
hush money. He explained that he had
pleaded a case for Duez in 1901. but only
because the suit involved complicated ques-
tons relating 10 the law itself. For this
service he received a fee of 5000. The
minister declared that his political life was
an open book, which contained nothing OF
which he was not proud.
NJ. Barthou. Minister OF Justice. followed
NJ. Millerand on the platform. and said
that 1t was intended 10 conceal nothing
He explained that Duez had been appoint
ed on the urgent recommendation OF NJ
Imbert. and that NM. Lecouturier and
Manage the two other chief liquidators.
had had the Endorsement of the Public
Prosecutor az the formal suggestion OF the
chancery. The latter statement caused
sensation in the chamber.
VI. Barthou continuing. said: Nothing
will be concealed. We intend TO PROBE this
affair and 10 ascertain whether there Is
any gangrene in our judicial organization
The minister paused for a moment during
the applause that greeted this statement
and then added IF anybody is responsible
he will be punished, but 1t is not a party
question The speaker was interrupted at
this point by NJ Delahaye, who shouted:
THAT was the cry at the time OF the
Panama scandal
Plans TO Appeal from Judgments.
ATinist Rarthou replied that Parliament
was equally responsible with the govern
nent. and then announced that IL was the
-purpose Of the government to appeal from
thu Judgment in the liquidation cases
wherever it was possible. saying that a
circular containing instructions TO this eff
feet had already been sent TO the Public
Prosecutor. NJ Labor. Radical Republican.
here interrupted with the comment: These
measures come TOO late. The government is
responsible"
Amid many sharp Interruptions the Min
lister OF Justice reviewed the Chartreuse az
fair arguing that the government was
powerless. as the court at Grenoble had ex-
amined and rejected the hypothesis Of coll
fusion among NM Lecouturter, Cusenier
and Duez, and had condemned NJ. Mariner.
the head of a rival concern, to pay Lecou-
turier 100000 damages. He said that the
case against NJ. LecOuturier had not yet
entered a criminal phase. In conclusion he
announced that the government proposed
to reorganize tina corporation. and that the
official receivers who now enjoyed a mo-
nopoly, would Introduce the most rigorous
inspection and make the corporation collec-
lively responsible for individual defalca-
tons.
/ Paul Beauregard. PrOgreSSive-R Republican,
said amid cheers from the Right that the
republic did not belong to the majority.
whose initial mistake was the adoption of
the policy of confiscation. He insisted that
NJ Barthou was not frank. What the coun-
try wished TO know he said. was how 1t
happened that the Chartreuse property.
where liquors we're manufactured by the
Chartreuse Fathers worth millions Of
francs. had been sold for ECO francs
Ca0o.0OO You told the country" said NJ.
Reauregard. addressing the Minister OF JUS
tice, that the property Of the congrega-
tons furnished billions OF francs. Where is
I it?''
M. Labor Makes Sharp Attack.
NJ. Labor agreed that Minister Barthnu
was lodging the real issue. and he warned
the majority, TO which the Minister be
| longed, that 1t could not afford TO be
placed In an equivocal position before the
country. He added: Promises by the gov
eminent will not suffice The country can
not understand a renewal OF such scan
dals." At this point combination of the
Right and Centre forced an adjournment
/ The cipher list Of persons who NJ Duez,
the embezzling uquidator Of the properties
Of the religious orders. says received hush
money from him, promises TO play in the
present scandal a part similar TO that of
the famous check book of VI. Thierret which
served to compromise 50 many French pol
iticians in the Panama Canal affair. No
names, however, have yet been published
/ The Journal says that 1t has proof that
all OF Duez's operations were tainted with
fraud and collision. The paper says that
establishments worth 10000 were sold for
5000 while some were leased for period
OF thirty years under private understand
ings by which DueG was TO receive large
annual "rake-offs."
FUNERAL OF DR. lUEGER.