The sun., 1899-02-10
TO DEFEND FRENCH COURTS
DREYFUS REVISION DEBATE IN THE
CHAMBER or DEPUTIES TO-DAY.

Five EH-Minister. Outline the Opposition
to the GovernmsnCs Attack on the Court
of Cnssation-.M. MazeRu'a Report says
BeaurepRire's Charges Arc GroundleSs.
Special CGbs D,Ipa,ch to THE suS
PARIS. Feb o.-Seyera members OF the
Chamber OF Deputies. including ex Ministers
Brlsson, Sarrien. Barthou. Poinrare and Bour-
geois and eN-Ambassador Decrnis. have col
lectively sent letter to the Government in
reference to the attack on the Criminal Chamber
Of the Court Of Cessation. They say that they
base their belief in the innocence OF the
Judges upon VI. Labret's statement to the
Chamber Of Deputies. the inquiry NJ MaLeau.
First President OF the court, and the report Of
the committee OF the Chamber They declare
against the proposal to deprive the Criminal
Chamber OF the right TO deliver judgment upon
the Dreyfus affair contending that the Gov
eminent bill for that purpose is not a law Of
Rppeasement, but statute OF civil discord
In the course of the letter the writer's say {:
IF the court is disqualified 1t will meun the
triumph OF calumny. The whole Court OF Cas-
sation will then be called in uuestion, and
the highest jurisdiction OF tho country will
be placed by the executive at the mercy
OF defamation France has az much need
ofa respected judiciary as of u strong army.
To pass law Of mere eNpediency would be a
honor and life OF French citizens"
This indicates the basis OF the opposition the
Government will have to meet in the Chamber
tomorrow. Prime Minister Rlbot is ex-
pected To vote and use his influence against
the bill
The report OF N. Renault. sorliere. the re-
porter Of the committee to which was referred
the bill OF NJ. Lebret. Minister OF Justice. alter
ing the procedure in cases Of revision Of legal
judgments. was distributed In the Chamber OF
Deputies to-day. as we're also the papers in the
matter OF NJ. MaZeaus inquiry. NJ. Renault
Morlieres report recommends the rejection OF
the Governments bill The committee. the
report says. thinks it very doubtful that it
would satisfy the public II the investigation OF
the Dreyfus case were begun over again by tho
whole Court OF Cessation. The decision of the
full court would be long delayed and less re-
spected than that OF the criminal division alone
II would then be said that the judgment Of the
court. the basis OF which was viiated at its in
ception, was deprived OF all authority. The re-
port points out that the objections TO the bill
are ndisputable. inasmuch as ii violates the
principle OF separation OF the Judicial from the
executive branch and threatens the whole
judicial system.
The report OF NJ Ma2eau. First President Of
the Court OF Cessation. upon his inquiry as 10
the truth OF n de Beaurepaires accusations
against certain members of the criminal sec
ton Of the court, are published here this morn
ing. They consist OF summaries OF the evil
dence given by auti-Dreyfus witnesses com
planning OF the hostility of President Loew and
Councillor Bard toward them and the testi.
mony Of others affirming the correct and i'm
partial attitude Of those gentlemen
VI. de Beaurepaire has written u letter to the
Echo de Paris explaining why. on Dec. 70. he
wrote TO NJ. Bard. saying: E" While noting
with pain that We ara widely separated in this
sincere friend" He Justifes this expression
upon the grounds OF the traditional politeness
obtaining among the magstracy. although al
the time Of his writing he WAS already col
lecting gossip upon which to base his attack
on NM Loew and Bard
The journal OdfCisi publishes VI MaZeau's
report which includes letters from NM Loew
and Bard refuting NJ dc Beaurepaircs $ urcusa-
tions Even Gen Chanoine. formerly Minister
OF War. testfles to their impartaity. There is
nothing in the entire collection OF documents
that gives even vcstige OF ground for the
attacks upon the criminal section
The meeting OF the Cabinet to-day WAS e1 =
clusivel.' devoted 10 discussion Of the Re-
vision bill. II was decided, 10 demand
the immediate consideration and adop-
tion OF the unmodihet measures by
the action Of the House the Ministry will stand
or fall. II is expected that the Government
will obtain small maIority