New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-03-23


What. perhaps viii at 1rst most surprise a foreign
reader the report trial is. that neither
cscd (who in French Is also lnterrOgated)
other witnesses appeared TO regard this class OF facts
10 which they testified with any surprise sense Of
shame Witnesses called for the defense gentle
OF high social simultaneously counclos-generl
OF the department during the incumbency of NJ Janvier
at the prefecture. These all swore to their confidence in
in NJ JSnycr honesty. Now not only these gentle
men men of wealth. counts, dukes and exSenators, but
III their quality members of the departmental Gen
era Council they theoretically the official
troers Of MJanviers accounts and had actually passed
their approval them year after year How thorough
their control OF the departmental finances was appears
from this trial. which will weaken the legendary ADM
ration of some people for the envable perfection Of
French financial administration II has been well enough
known TO who chose to look and learn that the
functions Of the COuncls-General under the Empire
chiefly consisted in holding a brief formal
year, which opened with general Misunderstanding, was
carried on with a dinner and closed by grand banquet
and ball the Prefecture enthusiastic shouts OF "Vivc
l'Empercur!" give lImperatrice." "Vve lie Prince
Imperial" The Project in his district Vce-Em-
peror holding from and TO the Minister Of the Interior
equally irresponsible and uncontrolled, except by his
master
Among the witnesses for the defense Pouyer-
ouerter What he began give cool testimony. grew
and warmed to a long, eloquent plea effective for
the prisoner than that Of his paid counsel NJ Lachaud
one of eminent criminal advocates OF the Paris
bar SO reported 1t became with the public the
central point OF interest in the whole affair." and has
created sensation which its bearing aud consequences,
quite apart from the immediate acquttal of NJ Janvier,
fully justify Keep mind that the prosecution of the
Project instituted than eight months ago at
the orders of NJ Dufaure Minister of Justice then and
ever NJ Pouyer Quertiers colleague in NJ. Therss
Cabinet Do not forget that Pouyer Quertier is Minister
of Finance. Observe that NJ Casimi P6rier, at the time
and till very recently another of his colleagues in the
Cabinet, still member Of the Assembly, puts claim
into Court against NJ Janvier for $4,000 due by the de-
fauting Project to the Ministry Of the Interior.
Now note the two main points OF POuyer-Q uertiers
testimony, You say testimonial. i'll favor OF the
accused. He deems him TO have been an able, excel
lent honest Project, and TO he an innocent mana lit
tie loose in private lifc especially with public women
which regretted, but is OF the conrt's bust
ness; a trife careless perhaps in bookkeeping, but
within the limits not only of intentional honesty hut of
sound legality. That he did expend many thousand
francs in the Gttingup of sleeping apartment, for i'll
stance lin the imminent hope that the Empress would
paSsingy honor IL, which ultimately intended for
the second wife lie about TO wed. but
which meantime was occupied by OF the
three RenaulO is proved, ard it is equally
proved that the funlshers paic on fictitious bills
from funds appropriated in the departmental budget to
quite other men. Yes admits the Minister Of Finances
class of instances which is numerous is entirely
and legally covered by system Instituted in the year
of the old Republic existing ever since, formally
confirmed by a SendtHS COnSum under the last empire,
when Fould was Minister Finances, and constantly
practiced in the financial administration OF every depart
ment and commune Get alone ministry of France.
This Is the system of rrcments transfers; that is
the total means OF the department allotted
in the Budget in advance to certain purposes III
the course of the year unancipaCd calls arise which
there is appropriation TO meet; therefore, properly
ssariy and legally, the Chief Administrator puts
the new expense the of any of the old
pr0priaons that best bear it, SO when the Budget
OF NJ Janvers department for certain year in question
was made and voted by the Council appropriation
was made for grand public ftte that Ii afterward be
polite and profitable TO give that year And 80 1t
was quite in that NJ. GODDARD, the aerOnaut, who
heightened the festivy OF the occasion by going up in
balloon should down with recepted bill of $1,000
Of which sum he received but 500 the whole of which
was charged the funds set apart fOI road making.
This is exaggeratIOn OF the testimony OF the Minister
Of French Finances. Whatever may think of his ill.,
diligence for NJ Janyer of his personal history he il
essentially right to the law. Interrupted 10y ques
the presiding judge toward the close of his
deposition VI. PJuycrQuertier, Minister Of Finances
Member Of Government, thorough and Opulently sue
cessful business Of personally unmpeacha
bic honor and honesty, grew warm-well nigh indig-
asked the magistrates permission 10 retire.
But pungent and provocative of sensation than
this the other point of this witnesses testimony.
Referring the claim Of the State against NJ. Janyer
Tor S 800 he said that he first knew OF ii by reading the
indictments that it not only heedlessy exaggerated
in amount bnt irregular and. strictly speaking, Illegal
ia its form OF presentation. II should have been pre-
scented through and in the name of the Minister of
Finances directly by the Minister of the Interior 1t
not probable that Dufaure and Casmr Perer would
sit quiet with this sur amounting to charge of official
incompetency and something The telegraph
f,ttc nj fbp Int. ruiel
furnished the Court with copy OF letter from the Minis
try of his colleague receipt Of the nOtica
ton from the Minister Of the Interior to the Minister OF
Finances of the SO claim. This letter is dated Feb
o. and Acknowledges receipt Of the notifying dispatch
dated January 3d. To this POuyer Querter says it was
merely formal clerks acknowledgment of receipt OF
the dispatch not so much implying that he had taken
of its contents.
The explanation looks TO common mortal like poor
subterfuge. The Receiving Clerk. as plainly appears
from the Of his letter. had certainly read through
the notifying dispatch If the Finance Minister never
heard of this or after being made aware for the frst
time on reading the Indictment, last week, OF his
colleagues action, did not question any chlef
of his bureau about it, he must be
q singular administrator OF his own department
Yet on the whole lie has proved himself very capable
one Facts take precedence OF theory mere. lie TOOK
Office under peculiarly excessively, difficult conditions.
The civil war came 10 cOmpcate and augment the diff
entities the situation imposed by disastrous Foreign
war France pays to-day, and pays in adj
vance her last dues two or the nve
milliards promised to Germany Her credit is good.
Her Government was offered the remaining three mil
ards at six per cent several weeks and the PROPOSE
ton was received the quite rational hope that before
they are needed they be had at 81 or 5per cent
But IL is evident that Minister Of Finance who
charges his brother Minister of Justice with Illegally,
and his brother Minister OF the Interior with rresuaty
tfao tnu ynnfhi N "a
centance Of the system of creen and his apology rising
close on TO euogy Of such practicer Of that system as
Janyier de la MottecOuld longer protaby associate
with NJ Duaure or with the successor OF NJ Casilnir