Conventions. Florida held the statute to be constitutional. Appeal was taken, and about the beginning of this year the United States Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the State court. The amount involved was about $20,000. Three conventions were held early in the year. The National Tobacco Growers' Convention assembled at Ocala, Jan. 12. Delegates from a large number of States were present. On Jan. 20 the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast and Harbor Defense Convention assembled at Tampa. Twenty-two States were represented. A permanent organization was made and resolutions were adopted looking to the securing of more adequate coast defenses in the Southern States. The National Good Roads Congress met at Orlando, Feb. 2. Legislative Session. - The Legislature met April 6 and adjourned June 5. Charles J. Perrinot was elected president of the Senate and Dennett H. Mays Speaker of the House. The Governor recommended in his message that the Legislature provide for an increase of revenue by imposing a collateral inheritance tax, restoring the tax of $1 which the revenue law of 1893 required before any civil action could be docketed in any court other than a court of a justice of the peace, and which was omitted from the revenue law of 1895. He also favored a tax of $6 in civil cases where a jury is demanded, a tax upon extradition warrants, the assessment of bank stock as railroad property is assessed, and measures for securing fuller assessment of personal property. He recommended action in regard to the suppression of lynching, to convict labor, for better protection of game and fish, for the establishment of a reform school, and for the creation of the officer of auditor. Balloting for a United States Senator to succeed Wilkinson Call began April 21. The leading candidates were Senator Call and W. D. Chipley; George P. Raney, W. A. Hocker, R. A. Burford, and M. H. Mabry also received votes. Toward the end of the contest Mr. Call withdrew and his supporters went to J. N. C. Stockton. Finally the supporters of Mr. Stockton and Mr. Hocker united and chose Stephen R. Mallory as their candidate, and he was elected on the twenty-fifth ballot by a vote of 53 to 44. He spoke in the House of Representatives after his election, saying that he " indorsed all the planks of the Chicago platform, dwelling particularly on the financial question and advocating the free coinage of silver at a ratio of 16 to 1, regardless of foreign countries." The Governor had appointed John A. Henderson to fill the seat in the Senate during the special session, but he was not admitted. Resolutions proposing amendments to the Constitution as to bonds, as to establishment of courts, and relating to the legislative department were passed. A bill was passed creating a State railroad commission. The committee to decide upon the best method for employment of State convicts reported that they deemed it inexpedient, in view of the financial condition of the State, to make any change, as such would involve cost out of proportion to the benefit; and they therefore recommended the passage of a resolution calling for bids for lease of the convicts for the ensuing four years, and providing that all bids should be submitted to the Legislature. Action was taken in accordance, and but one bid was received, offering $20,000 a year on the basis of 700 convicts; this was deemed too low, and the bid was raised to $21,000 for all the convicts, without reference to number, and in this form it was accepted. An act was passed providing for the location and erection of a State reform school. The committee to investigate the Treasurer's office in regard to the loss of State funds in the Merchants' National Bank of Ocala (see under “Banks," in this article) made a report, sustaining the charges against the Treasurer, showing a total shortage in his accounts of $50,987, and recommending that he be requested to resign at once, and, in case of his failure to comply, that steps be taken to remove him from office. In accordance with the report, a committee of the House was appointed to draw up articles of impeachment, which they presented May 20. charging him with loaning money to the bank knowing it to be insolvent, with unlawfully loaning State money to others, with investing it in uses and enterprises not for the purposes of the State, with depositing $254,124 in various banks without adequate security, with exhibiting a trial-balance sheet purporting to show cash on hand and deposits amounting to $343,127.39, which was more than $2,000 above the actual amount, with making fictitious and irregular entries, and with reporting that there was no money on deposit at the Merchants' National Bank when there was $32,927 there. The articles were accepted, and a committee from the House appeared before the bar of the Senate and impeached the Treasurer. He was summoned to appear and answer the charges, but before the time appointed he tendered his resignation to the Governor, and it was accepted. Both Houses were notified, and the House sent its committee to the Senate to ask permission to withdraw the charges. After much discussion, the Senate, sitting as a high court of impeachment, refused permission. The House then adopted a resolution withdrawing the articles of impeachment, and discharged the prosecuting committee, in consequence of which the court of impeachment was adjourned. Suits were brought against the Treasurer and his bondsinen. Acts were passed amending the law relating to embezzlement by public officers, and to define and declare what is prima facie evidence thereunder, and that with reference to an examination of the State Treasurer's office by the Governor, and monthly statements to the Governor; also an act authorizing the Governor, Comptroller, and Treasurer to deposit the public moneys in such banks in the State as shall furnish collaterals, providing for the sale of such collaterals, and prohibiting the Treasurer from depositing any moneys in any bank without the consent of the Governor and the Comptroller. Amendments were made to the election lawsregulating primaries, to prevent the use of money for political purposes by corporations, and amending the provisions for registration and holding of general and special elections. The revenue laws were amended, and provision was made for the levy of a tax of a half mill for payment of pensions. Several acts were passed in regard to the taking of fish. Two acts concerned phosphates-providing for the appointment of official samplers of phosphates, and requiring the sampler of each port from which phosphates are shipped to inspect every car of phosphates arriving at such port for shipment, and to issue certificates for it. The Sanibel Island Railway and Construction Company was incorporated; also the West Florida Gulf Coast Railroad, the act providing for its organization, construction, and operation, and for issuing bonds and granting lands in its aid; also the Alafia, Manatee and Gulf Railway Company; and the Tallahassee and Central Florida Railway Company, with grant of lands to aid in its construction. The time for the beginning of work on the Titusville, Canaveral and Peninsular Railroad and on the Jacksonville and Tampa Bay Improved Rail way was extended; and also the time for the completion of the main line of the South American and International Railroad; and the charter of the Carrabelle Railroad was extended. Amendments were made to the laws in regard to the giving of bonds in judicial proceedings: to the acquisition of liens by persons in privity with the owner, and by those not in privity with the owner; to the examination of accounts; to the selling of liquors in counties or precincts voting against such sales; to the fine-and-forfeiture fund in the counties, the payment of criminal costs, and the provision for the feeding of prisoners and hire of convicts; to the granting of permits for the sale of liquors, wines, or beer; to the protection of growing crops; to examination and licensing of pilots: to the classification of sawed pine timber; to the disposition of the proceeds of life insurance; to trespassing on farms and gardens; to the prosecution by the State of violations of the prohibition regulations; to the construction of railways by companies incorporated in other States. Resolutions were passed requesting the representatives of the State in Congress to take steps to have the President, Vice-President, and Senators elected by popular vote; requesting them to use their efforts toward securing an appropriation for deepening the harbor at Boca Grade: and asking Congress for an additional appropriation for the improvement of the Appalachicola river, including the cut-off and the lower Chipola river. Various other memorials to Congress also were adopted. Other acts of the session were: Imposing a penalty for landing sick seamen or paupers in the State. Encouraging and protecting growers of artificial sponges. Relating to fire insurance policies-prescribing a rule of evidence and measure of damage in cases of loss. To punish the improper exhibition of dangerous weapons. Relating to negotiable instruments; to establish a law uniform with the laws of other States. To prevent adulteration of candy. To establish a battalion of naval militia. To punish desertion of wife and children. To prohibit arrangements, contracts, agreements, trusts, or combinations, and certain other acts or things tending to prevent or obstruct the lawful sale of Florida-fed beef or other beef or fresh meat or cattle, or other edible animal. To fix a penalty for horse and cattle stealing. To provide for teachers' summer schools, and to make appropriations therefor. To enable cities and towns to manufacture and distribute gas and electricity. To declare valid the acts of notaries when commissions are more than four years since issued. Requiring a special license tax to be paid by express companies doing business in the State. Hon. Wilkinson Call was appointed agent to effect a settlement of the Indian war claims against the Government, the fees to be 15 per cent. of the amount collected. FRANCE, a republic in western Europe, proclaimed on Sept. 4, 1870, when the Emperor Napoleon III was deposed. The Constitution of June 16, 1875, was amended by the National Assembly in June, 1879, August, 1884, June, 1885, and, for the last time, in July, 1889. The legislative power is vested in the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. The Senate is composed of 300 members, elected for nine years in the several departments by electoral bodies formed of electors representing the voting citizens of the communes of the department in proportion to their population, together with the Senators, Deputies, councilors-general, and, district councilors. Since the discontinuance of life senatorships by the Senate bill of 1884, whenever the seat of a life Senator becomes vacant one of the 225 departments, selected by lot, elects a Senator for the regular term. The Chamber is composed of 584 Deputies, elected for four years by the whole adult male civil population of the several arrondissements except those who are disqualified for crime, or who have not yet resided six months in the commune. An arrondissement having more than 100,000 inhabitants is divided into two or more constituencies. There were 10,446,178 registered electors in 1893, of whom 7,427,354 voted. The President of the republic is elected for seven years by the National Assembly, which is composed of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies united in Congress. Félix Faure, born in 1841, was elected President on Jan. 17, 1895. The Cabinet, formed on April 29, 1896, was composed as follows: President of the Council and Minister of Agriculture, J. Méline; Minister of the Interior, M. Barthou; Minister of Finance, G. Cochery; Minister of Foreign affairs, M. Hanotaux; Minister of War, Gen. Billot; Minister of Marine, Admiral Besnard ; Minister of the Colonies. A. Lebon; Minister of Public Worship and Education, M. Rambaud; Minister of Justice, M. Darlan; Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Posts and Telegraphs, Henri Boucher; Minister of Public Works, M. Turrel. Area and Population.-The area of France according to the surveys of the Ministry of War is 536.408 square kilometres; according to the cadastral survey 528,876 square kilometres, or 204,092 square miles. The table on page 327 gives the area of the several departments and the population as determined by the census of April, 1896, compared with the population in April, 1891. The number of foreigners residing in France in April, 1896, was 1,027,491, forming 2.66 per cent. of the total resident population. The number of marriages in 1894 was 286,662; of births, 855,388; of deaths, 815,620; excess of births, 39,768. The number of divorces granted in 1894 was 6,419. Emigration in 1893 amounted to 5,586 persons; the number of emigrants of all nationalities sailing from French ports was 34,215. The population of the principal cities in 1896 was as follows: Paris, 2,536,834; Lyons, 466,028; Marseilles, 442,239; Bordeaux, 256,906: Lille, 216,276: Toulouse, 149,963; St.-Étienne, 136,030; Roubaix, 124,661; Nantes, 123,902; Havre, 119.470; Rouen, 113,219; Rheims, 107,963. Finances. The budget estimates for 1897 make the total revenue of the Government 3,392,554,662 francs, of which 3.213,638,203 francs are the ordinary revenue, 56,610,860 francs various extraordinary receipts, 70,158,405 francs receipts d'ordre, and 52,147,194 francs the revenue of Algeria. Of the ordinary revenue 483,231,289 francs come from direct taxes, 37,932,550 from taxes assimilated to direct taxes, 1,984,266,750 francs from indirect taxes, 657,562,864 franes from Government monopolies and factories, and 50,644,750 francs from state domains and forests. The direct contributions comprise 156,900,620 francs from the income tax, 80,971,988 francs from the land tax, 118,637,264 francs from the tax on buildings, 125,589,317 francs from trade licenses, and 1,132,100 francs from the tax for advertisement. The taxes assimilated to direct taxes are 6,956,640 francs from property in mortmain, 2,275,070 francs from mines, 5,049,000 francs from verification of weights and measures, 12,636,250 francs from carriages and horses, 2,568,705 francs from velocipedes, 5,212,885 from the military tax, and 3,234,000 francs from other taxes. Of the indirect taxes registration dues yield 530,010,500 francs, stamps 185,253,370 francs, income from transferable securities 65, 219,641 347,725 368,168 The total expenditure for France was estimated 303,491 739,648 POPULATION. 1891. 290,168 280.469 416,036 Garonne (Haute-) 459,377 Gers... 2,425 261,084 The national debt of France on Jan. 1, 1894, 439.577 552,028 333,899 1,811,868 The sum of the revenues of the departments for 837,824 The Army.-Every Frenchman not physically 375,724 332,656 38,517,975 594,000 francs, import duties 366,474,000 francs, statistical dues 6,610,000 francs, navigation dues 7,258,000 francs, customs duty on salt 23,316,000 francs, various dues and fines, 6,195,880 francs, he is inscribed for six years, and then for six years in its reserve. The colonial army is recruited exclusively by voluntary enlistment. Men who are not capable of bearing arms or who have not served the full three years pay a military tax of 6 francs a year, with a variable surtax. The number of conscripts called into the service in 1895 was 224,535, including the marines and volunteers. The conscripts from the French population of Algeria are not obliged to serve more than a year. The number of French conscripts that can pass into the reserve after a year of active service is fixed every year by the Minister of War. The infantry arm is the Lebel rifle of the model of 1886, holding 8 cartridges in the magazine and having a caliber of 8 millimetres. The field artillery is armed with cannon adopted in 1877, having a caliber of 90 millimetres for the mounted batteries and 80 millimetres for the horse artillery. There are 103 batteries of foot artillery armed with cannon of 95, 200, and 270 millimetres caliber and mortars of 15 centimetres. Rapid-firing guns of 12 centimetres caliber have been introduced, each battery being formed of 6 pieces and 6 ammunition carts. The peace strength of the active army, including men on leave of absence, was fixed in the budget for 1897 at 559,525 men, including 27,376 officers, with 127,484 horses. The effective colonial army in Algeria and Tunis and in France numbered 53,417 men, including 2,495 officers, with 13,521 horses. The 18 army corps of France have a total effective of 525,637 men, including 21,129 officers, of which number 341,936, including 12,697 officers, are infantry; 12,462 are administrative troops; 69,178, including 3,550 officers, are cavalry; 80,838, including 4.027 officers, are artillery; 12,468, including 476 officers, are engineers; and 8,755, including 379 officers, are train. The general staff numbers 4,170 men, of whom 3,462 are officers; the military schools have 3,204 men, of whom 397 are officers; and there are 1,928 men, of whom 1,682 are officers, unclassed among the troops. The total for the army of France includes also the gendarmerie, numbering 21,535 men, of whom 623 are officers, and the Garde Républicaine, 3,050, of whom 83 are officers. In Algeria and Tunis there are 345 men on the general staff, 656 unclassed, 28,874 infantry, 1,547 administrative troops, 6,714 cavalry, and 5,393 artillery in the army corps, and 1,276 men in the gendarmerie, and in France 8,612 officers and men belonging to the colonial army. The present effective of the French active army for 1897, with deduction of sick and absent, was 493,555 officers and men, and that of the gendarmerie and Garde Républicaine 24,340. The army corps in case of mobilization are formed according to the necessities into armies. Each army corps on a war footing consists of from 36,000 to 38,000 infantry, 1,200 cavalry, and 114 pieces of artillery. The army had 2,274 effective field pieces in 1896. dispatch boats, and 5 seagoing torpedo boats, with 2 battle ships, 2 armor-clad coast guards, 1 firstclass cruiser, 2 third-class cruisers, 2 torpedo cruisers, 2 torpedo avisos, and 3 seagoing torpedo boats forming the reserve. The squadron of the north coast numbered 1 battle ship, 1 armored cruiser, 4 armor-clad coast guards, 2 first-class cruisers, 1 third-class cruiser, 1 torpedo cruiser, 2 torpedo dispatch boats, and 4 seagoing torpedo boats. The personnel of the French navy consists of 1,898 officers and aspirants, 1,330 mechanicians and employees, 37,178 active seamen and marines, and 3,531 officers and men in the reserves. Commerce and Production.-The production of wheat in 1895 was 119,967,745 hectolitres; of oats, 94,877,753 hectolitres; of rye, 25,167,623 hectolitres; of barley, 17,014,736 hectolitres; of buckwheat, 9,896,641 hectolitres; of corn, 9,219,658 hectolitres; of potatoes, 129,249,146 quintals; of sugar beets, 63,782,875 quintals; of other beets, 109,477,513 quintals; of colza, 565,601 quintals; of flax, 176,077 quintals of seed and 222,819 of fiber; of hemp, 119,629 quintals of seed and 272,899 of fiber; of tobacco, 248,453 quintals; of clover, 44,262,743 quintals; of hay and grass, 198,317,045 quintals. The wine vintage was 26,917,981 hectolitres, compared with 39,436,878 in 1894, 50,702,611 in 1893, and 28,891,406 in 1892. The imports of wine were 6,356,000 and the exports 1,696,000 hectolitres. The production of cider in 1895 was 25,587.000 hectolitres. There were 154.800 persons engaged in silk culture, producing 9,300,727 kilogrammes of cocoons. The exports were 625,400 kilogrammes of cocoons, valued at 4,627,960 francs, besides 3,161,000 kilogrammes of raw silk, valued at 76,800,640 francs. The farm animals in France on Dec. 31, 1895, included 2,812.447 horses, 211,479 mules, 357.778 asses, 13,233.828 cattle, 21,163,767 sheep, 1,509,502 goats, and 6,306.019 hogs. The Navy. The French navy in 1895 comprised 33 armored battle ships, 5 armor-clad cruisers, 8 armor-clad coast guards, 8 armored gunboats, 18 first-class, 17 second-class, and 28 third-class cruisers, 6 torpedo catchers, 8 first-class and 20 other avisos, 12 transport avisos, 14 torpedo avisos, 13 gunboats, 33 sloop gunboats, 16 sloops, 1 torpedo cruiser, 36 seagoing torpedo boats, 74 first-class, 92 second-class, and 41 third-class torpedo boats, 14 torpedo vedettes, and 18 transports. There were in course of construction 4 battle ships, 4 first-class, 6 second-class, and 5 third-class cruisers, 1 torpedo aviso, 1 transport, and 5 first-class torpedo boats. The Mediterranean squadron consisted of 8 armored battle ships, 3 armored cruisers, 2 second-class and 2 third-class cruisers, 3 torpedo cruisers, 3 torpedo The production of coal and lignite in 1894 was 27,417,000 metric tons; of iron ore, 3,772,000 tons; of pig iron, 2,069,714 tons; of manufactured iron, 785,781 tons of steel, 674,190 tons. The mines of France, employing 157,724 persons, yielded 337,896,000 francs worth of minerals in 1893. There were 356 sugar mills in 1896, employing 48,794 persons. The product of refined sugar in 1893 was 593,647,000 kilogrammes. The fisheries in 1894 employed 27,415 boats, of 171,312 tons, and 155,125 men. Of the boats 353, of 40,153 tons, and of the fishermen 9,046 were engaged in the cod fisheries; their catch was valued at 12,992,000 francs. The product of the other fisheries in 1893 was valued at 100,958,000 francs. In 1895 there were 511,325 quintals of codfish and oil obtained. The Government grants premiums to cod fishers amounting to 3,800,000 francs a year. The quantity of herring landed in 1895 was 369,605 quintals. The total value of the general commerce in 1895 was 4,920,000,000 francs for imports and 4.589.000,000 francs for exports. The special imports amounted to 3.720,000,000 francs and the special exports to 3,374,000,000 francs. In 1896 the special imports amounted to 3,837,000,000 francs and the special exports to 3,404,000,000 francs. The imports of food products in 1896 were 1,060,000,000 francs and the exports 640,000,000 francs in value, the imports of raw materials 2,154,000,000 francs and the exports 830,000,000 francs, the im ports of manufactured goods 623,000,000 francs and the exports 1,934,000,000 francs. The values of the principal imports in the special commerce in 1895 were as follow: Wool, 308,000,000 francs; raw silk, 226,000,000 francs; wine, 212,000,000 francs; coffee, 177,000,000 francs; coal, 169,000,000 francs; cotton, 167,000,000 francs; cereals, 162,000,000 francs; oil seeds, 157,000,000 francs; hides, skins, and furs, 135,000,000 francs; timber, 130,000,000 francs; cattle, 112,000,000 francs; flax, 60,000,000 francs; silk manufactures, 50,000,000 francs; ores, 49,000,000 francs; woolen manufactures, 42,000,000 francs; sugar, 38,000,000 francs; cotton manufactures, 34,000,000 francs. The values of the principal special exports in 1895 were as follow: Woolen textiles, 323,000,000 francs; silk textiles, 271,000,000 francs; wine, 222,000,000 francs; small wares, 154,000,000 francs; raw wool and yarn, 153,000,000 franes; raw silk and yarn, 126,000,000 francs; cotton textiles, 118,000,000 francs; leather, 105,000,000 francs; linen and lingerie, 96,000,000 francs; skins and furs, 94,000,000 francs; leather goods, 83,000,000 francs; hardware and tools, 70,000,000 francs; chemical products, 70,000,000 francs: cheese and butter, 61,000,000 francs; spirits, 48,000,000 francs; refined sugar, 41,000,000 francs. The imports of flax were 86,835,828 kilogrammes; of hemp, 22, 753,071 kilogrammes; of jute, 77,183,267 kilogrammes. The imports of cotton yarn were 15,400,000 francs in value and the exports 2,600,000 francs; the imports of cotton cloth, 34.300,000 francs and the exports 117,900,000 francs. The imports of woolen manufactures were 13,600,000 francs worth of yarn and 41,900,000 francs worth of cloth; the exports, 31,100,000 francs worth of yarn and 323,100,000 francs worth of cloth. The imports of silk cloth were 50,200,000 francs and the exports 270,800,000 francs. The foreign commerce was distributed among different countries in 1895, as shown in the following table, which gives the values of the special imports and exports in francs: COUNTRIES. Great Britain. Imports. 496,000,000 288.000.000 310,000,000 Exports. trade, of which 7,552, of 3,933,773 tons, carried cargoes and 1,358, of 483,724 tons, were in ballast; 19,394, of 9,712,797 tons, were foreign vessels, of which 12,480, of 5,339,061 tons, carried cargoes and 6,914, of 4,373,781 tons, were in ballast; and 70,112, of 6,584,524 tons, were coasting vessels, of which 52,983, of 5,525,250 tons, carried cargoes and 17,129, of 1,059,274 tons, were in ballast. The merchant marine on Jan. 1, 1896, consisted of 14,386 sailing vessels, of 386,510 tons, and 1,212 steamers, of 500,568 tons. Of the sailing vessels 274, of 136,334 tons, and of the steamers 170, of 266,897 tons, navigated the high seas, while 235 sailing vessels, of 23,991 tons, and 249 steamers, of 180,453 tons, were employed in European seas, and the rest in the coasting trade, the service of the ports, and the maritime fisheries. The French Government offers premiums amounting to 12,500,000 francs a year for the construction, equipment, and navigation of vessels. Communications.-There are 22,505 miles of railroads of general interest, 2,390 miles of local interest, and 1,413 miles of tramways. The receipts of the national lines in 1895 were 1,263,550,000 francs and the expenses 684,050,000 francs. There were 348,852,000 passengers and 100,834,000 tons of freight carried during the year. The telegraphs had a total length on Jan. 1, 1895, of 57,574 miles, with 193,184 miles of wire. The number of messages transmitted during 1894 was 41,434,727, of which 33,785,162 were internal, 4,902.534 international, 1,345,426 forwarded in transit, and 1,401,605 official. The post office in 1894 carried 716,098,000 ordinary letters, 38,000,000 registered letters, 45,974,000 postal cards, and 928,246,000 newspapers, samples, etc., in the internal service and in the international 1,000.000.000 service 98,502,000 letters, 2,147,000 registered letters, 334,000,000 4,144,000 postal cards, and 81,297,000 newspapers, 284,000,000 289,000,000 etc. The receipts from the post office alone 203.000.000 amounted to 214,311,331 francs; the expenses of 184.000.000 posts and telegraphs together, 167,808,136 francs. 180.000.000 Russia British India. 245,000,000 195,000,000 497.000.000 109,000,000 43,000,000 163,000,000 In the general commerce of 1895 the imports by sea were 3.457,000,000 francs in value, of which 1,625,000,000 francs were carried in French and 1,832,000,000 francs in foreign ships; imports by land. 1,462,000,000 francs. Of the general exports 3,176,000,000 francs went by sea, 1,699,000,000 francs in French and 1,477,000,000 francs in foreign ships, and 1,413,000,000 francs were shipped in land vehicles. The transit trade in 1895 was valued at 656,000,000 francs. The special imports of gold coin and bullion in 1895 were 253,875,195 francs, and the special exports 244,381,198 francs; the special imports of silver were 141,152,976 francs, and the exports 78,459,257 francs: total imports of specie, 395,028,171 francs; total exports of specie, 322,840,455 francs. Navigation. During 1895 there were 97,810 vessels, of 20.363,609 tons, entered and 98,416, of 20,714,818 tons, cleared at French ports. Of the vessels entered 8,476, of 4,113,737 tons, were French vessels engaged in the foreign trade, of which 7,604, of 4,000,823 tons, carried cargoes and 872, of 112,914 tons, were in ballast; 19,222, of 9,665,348 tons, were foreign vessels, of which 16,770, of 9,220,572 tons, carried cargoes and 2,452, of 444,776 tons, were in ballast; and 70,112, of 6,584,524 tons, were French coasting vessels, of which 52,983, of 5,525,250 tons. carried cargoes and 17,129, of 1,059,274 tons, were in ballast. Of the total number cleared 8,910, of 4417,497 tons, were French vessels in the foreign Senatorial Elections.-The triennial elections for the renewal of one third of the elective Senators were held on Jan. 3, 1897. Including casual vacancies and the assignment to departments of the seats of deceased life Senators, there were 97 seats to be filled. The Radicals hoped to make a conspicuous inroad in the Moderate majority. In this they were disappointed, for the Moderates won 66 seats, the same number that they had before; the Radicals 10, a gain of 6; the Socialists 3, a gain of 2; and the Conservatives 12, losing 8. The Radicals wrested 6 seats from the Moderates, who displaced as many Conservatives, and the Radicals and Socialists obtained 2 seats previously held by Conservatives. The Session. The Chamber and Senate began the legislative session on Jan. 12. M. Brisson was re-elected president of the Chamber without opposition. The Radicals assailed the Government for appointing one of their leaders, M. Doumer, to the post of Governor-General of Indo-China. They carried a majority of Republicans with them when they proposed the demolition or secularization of the Basilica of Montmartre, built by popular subscription and accepted by the National Assembly in 1873, against the votes of the Republicans of that time, as a national monument in sign of the dedication of France to the Sacred Heart in expiation of the causes that had led to the crushing defeat of the French armies. The sermon delivered on the twenty-fifth anniversary of this occasion, which spoke of the sacrilege then committed against the Holy See in Rome, led M. Rouanet to bring in a bill for repealing the act of the Clerical majority of 1873. The Government was sustained in refusing urgency by 332 votes to 196, but afterward the |