The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-20
FRANCE SEEKING
BETTER METHOD
Present System of Electing
President Is Found
Unsatisfactory.
OPEN TO iNTRIG U e S
Also Creates Atmosphere of
Doubt. Which Should
Not Exist.

Paris January i9.-Public opinion in
France is undoubtedly DESTROYS of a
change Ina the mode of electing the Presi-
dent of the republic. The present meth
cd whereby the Senate and Cham Der
meet on d given day at Versailles ana
vote without debate or previous open
discussion is felt to be unsatisfactory.
leaving the position Of the chief of
state at the mercy Of intrigues and
creating an atmosphere OF doubt.
which II IL felt ought not 20 exist.
No one wants 10 re-estahlish pie
cite as that means more often that pup
lie opinion is swept away by some cur
rent rather than consulted. Allied to
this desire for a change in the mode or
election is a desire for change in the
type of President. The Constitution
gives the French President immense
powers, the right 70 initiate legisla-
ton. TO dissolve the Chambe with the
agreement of the Senate). and 70 decide
the disposition Of land and sea forces.
to mention only three instances. but
no President ever thinks Of using these
powers.
Undoubtedly the Agadir crisis and
the realization OF what the country lost
by having it's foreign affairs handled IN
auick succession by different ministers,
those of Brand, MONS and Caillaux
has had d great share in bringing about
the present feeling that things should
be different.
A full congress on January u would
mum Der sg7. 5s7 Deputies and 800 Senators.
but there are always some vacant seats
and some absentees through Illness
Tho only task of the National Assent bly,
viii be TO elect President. taking bal
lots until some one has obtained an
absolute majority.
If as has happened. ii member Of the
congress should seize the opportunity
- So no IffF
his propoasl would not be listened to- az
a National Assembly must be consti-
tufed for that purpose expressly before
II can revise the laws OF the Constitu-
ton.
The congress can choose any one a.
President-a Senator. Deputy or one
that Is neither. There rs no age limit
DeDuty must be twenty-five years of
age and must have fulfilled his military
service: a Senator must be forty and
must enjoy his civil and political rights,
as we'll as have fulfilled his military ser
vice.
But for the presidency the Assembly
OF 1915 refused to accept the proposed
age limit OF forty or 70 add any other
limitations. being convinced that no
one not enjoying his civil and political
rights would ever have d chance or
election The only claimants expressly
barred are members Of royal families
that have reigned in France
Feminists have maintained that the
Congress could elect q woman. although
the text of the Constitution speaks of
.Ic President" only. in the masculine.
and not OF La Presidente- Neverthe-
less the Assembly is absolutely sover-
cign and nothing prevents female can
didate procIaiining herself ready to re-
ceivc votes
If a new President Is succeeding one
who has died in office he II invested at
once after the vote at Versailles in the
Cabinet allotted 10 the President OF the
National Assembly. who performs the
ceremony Of investiture in the presence
Of the Ministry
The newly elected President does not
have TO take the oath OF fidelity to the
Constitution which was cXacted during
the Second Republic. he only assures the
mem bers Of the Cham Der and Senate Of
his intention TO observe the Constitution
by messages sent on taking office
Scattering votes are registered al
most Congresses. Pasteur. for instance.
obtained one vote when Carnot was
elected and NJ. Paul Deschanel OBJ
tanned ten when Loubet was chosen. al
which election Henri ROchefort polled
q vote
been long enough TO use up eight
Presidents four of whom resigned De
fore rho completion of their terms.
iwo died in once and three only com
pleted their normal septennate-
It will be noted that "A President
elected to succeed one VINO has not
completed his seven years OF Office,
owing TO death or resignation. Is elected
for full seven years. not merely 20
complete the period his predecessor
The President OF the Republic is
paid in advance. so that should a
moor man be elected he needs have no
anxiety as to how to face the expenses
of his frst weeks OF Office: On Febru-
airy IS the first day he VIII De IN onice.
will wait upon him and present him
with A hundred thousandfranc notes
$4,000.