The Cairo bulletin., 1914-07-15
R|0T|NC IN
P0RTUCESE
PARLIAMENT
v Il i~ba -- IA&El
Spectators Draw Pistols and Defy
the Police to Gust
4 Them.
DEPUTIES FIGHT EACH
OTHER USING CANES
Premier Machado Pacifies Them
and Terminates d Dsgraceful
Scene.

Paris, July 14---Although the
Tortugesc have had four yearss ex-
perience with Republican govern
ment. recent dispatches from Lisbon
have Indicated that the legislative
machinery is still far from working
smoothly. There is hardly a day
when there are not riotous scenes
in the parliament buildings. The
galleries of both houses are filled
With armed partisans who applaud.
deride, denounce or hiss the utter
ances of the speakers.
The fact that the presidential and
parliamentary elections. the second
in the history Of the new roplbliC.
are pending has lately brought the
struggle fo- power to a high pitch
of excitement. The decree of the
government fixing the day OF cleo
tions has not been issued, but 1t IS
expected that they will be held the
latter Part of August or early in
September. DR.. Hanoel Arriapa, the
first president under the new con
stitution cannot DE candidate for
re election.
rhe election OF the president is
made by the two houses of parlia-
ment. The cDmocrats, led by DR.. AL
fonso Costa, have majority in the
present House of Deputies. A typi
cal scene was witnessed there re
Gently when the RevolutiOnists,
whose chief Il Or, Almeida, accused
the Democratic ministry of conniy-
ing at gross frauds in connection
with n concession TO Antonio Maria
da Silva. formerly minister of pub
lie works. to exploit the water pow
er of Rodman falls, which engineers
consider adequate to supply power
anl light to Lisbon and all of its
surrounding provinces. Silva is now
director of posts and telegraphs and
one of the triumyirate ruling the
powerful secret society, known As
the Carbonaria, with its 10000
members
The society is sort of govern
ment in the shadow alongside the
government in the open. Cabinets
come and go while the Carbonaria
exists always. Only vague rumors
of intrigue and conspiracy within
the society reach the public, but
there are frequent instances of the
power the society wields.
Debates on the water concessions
were postponed by furious cries and
disorders in the galleries of the
chamber recently. The spectators
were all armed with revolvers.
When the president of the chamber
ordered the police to clear them
out, the factionists in the galleries
united against the officers and, re-
volvers in hand. n.assed at each en-
trance to the house defying the po-
lice to lay hands on any one. As a
result of parleys, the police agreed
to make no arrests provided the
spectators agreed to leave gu etl ,
as they did
In the meantime the deputies
were using canes and fists upon one
another. DIR. Bernardino Machado,
the premier. who is conspicuous for
his refinement and culture, ran
from group to group begging the
members. in the name of the Repub-
lie, to desist. He, because of his
transparent honesty and extraordi-
nary devotion to high principles, is
respected by every one, and he sue
ceeded this time, as he has done
many times before, in bringing
about temporary calm and reconcile
alton.
Machado. surrounded by poll
ticians of doubtful merit fighting
for their own interests, never lost
faith in the Republic. He declined
the premiership because he thought
the office could be used to placate
the ambition of some other leader,
but warning groups would rather
trust him Es their first minister than
any one of their opponents