The proposal to extend the duration of French Parliaments from
four years to six has failed. M. Waldeck-Rousseau, after discussion with a Committee of the Senate, promised to withdraw it, saying that although in his judgment it would be beneficial, he saw that it would require more consideration than an expiring Parliament could give to it. This declaration becoming known to the Chamber, which had voted for the proposal, a discussion was demanded, but on a division it was indefinitely postponed. The reform is therefore shelved. As M. Waldeck-Rousseau was sincere in his support and the Chamber quite favourable, it is probable that the hostile in- fluence was opinion among the electors, who are unwilling to find their power over their representatives diminished. They think that if stability is desired they can secure it as well as the Deputies can, and are not so shocked by the " courting of constituencies " which marks the last year of any Parliament as conservative statesmen are. To us the single grave objec- tion to the measure seems to be that it is directly opposed to the language of the Constitution, and ought, therefore, only to have been passed by the whole Assembly sitting together to vote a Constitutional change.
