NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE Government of M. Casimir-Perier, which seemed so strong last week, has fallen suddenly. The Minister of Public Works, M. Jonnart, was asked on Tuesday whether he had allowed the delegates elected by the employes of the State railways, leave of absence to attend the meetings of the rail- way workmen's Federation. M. Jonnart replied in the nega- tive, adding that the State which paid its workmen out of the Budget could not allow them to join a Union, the principal business of which was to discuss wages. M. Millerand, the Socialist leader, thereupon declared that the service could not be injured by allowing 180 men out of 300,000 leave of absence, and moved that the Chamber invite the Minister of Public Works to respect the law. The Premier thereupon demanded the Order of the Day pure and simple, but was defeated by 251 to 217, a majority of 34. A resolution proposed by M. Ramel, identical in meaning with M. Millerand's, was then carried by -251 to 223, a majority against Government of 28. M. Ramel is a leading clerical Member of the Right, and his action, in which nineteen other Members of the Right joined, was intended to punish the Ministry for their rebuke to the Nuncio. It should be noted, however, that even in the strictly Repub- lican party, 232 Republicans voted against the Government, and only 182 supported it, a difference of 50.
