Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/267

 1899.] France. — The Socialists and the Cabinet. [259

dent and his ministers left the tribune prepared for them. On the following day M. Alicot in the Chamber endeavoured to show that the Ministry had tolerated this display of the red flag, but with- out any success.

In another little skirmish, however, the Government was less fortunate. A bill dealing with the scholastic system had been prepared, and M. Eibot, as president of the Committee of Public Instruction, requested that it should be submitted to his board. M. Levraud, on the other hand, proposed that a special committee should be appointed to report on the bills, but to the surprise of many by 298 to 265 votes the Chamber supported M. Ribot's contention. A few days later it transpired that a majority of the committee had expressed themselves opposed to the bill, of which the discussion was thereupon postponed, nominally until after the Budget, but in reality indefinitely.

The general discussion on the Budget of 1900 was at length opened (Nov. 21) with a cheerful speech from the Minister of Finance, who, although giving expression to very wise resolu- tions, failed to carry them into effect. There was little or no delay in dealing with the sections of the Budget concerned with home or foreign affairs, but the Chamber in several cases asserted its powers by accepting amendments proposed by members in search of local popularity. It was almost in vain that M. M6sureur, the president of the Budget Commission, opposed these untimely bids, but the Chamber would come to no final conclusion, and ultimately provisional measures to meet current expenses had, as usual, to be adopted.

The most interesting debate arose on the Budget of Public Worship, when the revelations made by M. Turinaz, Bishop of Nancy, to the Papal authorities on the shameful way in which the young girls placed in the Convents of the Good Shepherd were treated. A lively discussion ensued, and ultimately M. Fournifere obtained a promise that these establishments should be subjected to a careful inspection.

A general congress of Socialists was called together early in December to discuss the question of the propriety of M. Millerand having accepted a seat in the Cabinet. The rival schools of MM. Guesde, Brousse, Jaur6s and Vaillant were altogether at variance on the point, but the eloquence of M. Jaur6s brought about an almost miraculous understanding, and when the con- gress closed (Dec. 9) the party had consented to a thorough reorganisation of its ways. A general committee was to oe instituted of representatives of the various groups ; its powers, which were considerable, were to last until the following con- gress, and meanwhile the various Socialist organs were to be placed under strict supervision.

But whilst the Socialist schools and parties were uniting in a single group with a view of gaining power the Chamber of Deputies was gradually transforming into an academic debating club, and instead of devoting itself to its chief duty, the con-

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