The Indianapolis journal., 1899-01-29
BLOW At REVISIONISTS
IMPORTANT ACTION AT SPECIAL sEs-
SION OF FRENCH CABINET.
Deputies VIII Be Asked to Provide for
Taking Dreyfus Case Away from
the Criminal Section of the Court.

PARIS, Jan. ga semi-official note is
sued this afternoon says that at an ex-
traordinary meeting the Cabinet has decided
that the minister of justice NJ. lie Bretan,
shall submit to the Chamber of Deputies
on Monday next bill providing that cases
of trial revisions are to be brought before
the united sections of the Court of Cassa-
tion whenever the criminal section shall
have pronounced upon the admissability of
an application for the revision of a previ-
Gus judgment and shall proceed with pre-
liminary inquiry conducted by a delegation
consisting Of more than one-third of all the
members Of the court. In the preamble of
the bill the government, reciting the con-
cusions Of NJ. Mazau, the first president of
the Court Of Cessation, or the charges
brought by NJ. Quesnay de Beaurepaire, the
president of the civil section OF that court,
at the time of the resignation, will say:
From the facts adduced by NJ. Mazau, it
would not be wise to intrust the judgment
of the Dreyfus affair to the criminal section
alone
A lively discussion of the bill is expected
to take place in the Chamber of Deputies,
though the measure probably will be finally
voted. The facts adduced in NJ. Mazau's re-
port, it is added, are not sufficient to lead
to disciplinary measures against the Criminal
Court magistrates, though they are possibly
sufficient to create doubts as to their inn
partiality in the public mind
The decision of the government is most un-
favorable to the revisionists and is a serious
reflection on the Criminal Court, though it's
ultimate effect, if the united Courts of Cas-
sation should favor revision of the Drey-
fug trial, would undoubtedly leave the anti
revisonists no ground for further agitation
meanwhile
1ustif1es the charges of M. Quesnay de
Beaurepaire.
it is believed that the governments bill will
not lead to the resignation Of any member
of the criminal section of the Court OF
Cessation Even If that should result, it
would not change the situation; the DreyfuS
revision inquiry would proceed. When it is
terminated the result will be submitted to
the combined Court of Cessation, in the
event of the bill being passed
1t is understood that on Monday the gov
ernment will propose that the bill be sub
mitted to a special committee of the Cham
Der to which M. MaZau's report will be COM
municated. The actual words of the conclu-
sion of NJ. MaZauS report are as follows:
without suSpecting the honor of the GRIM
inal section Of the Court of Cessation, which
remains intact, it appears wise not to leave
it to bear alone the responsibility for the
definite judgment which has to be pro-
nounced."
According to the Liberte, NJ Mazau's in
VeStigatlOn revealed acts of 1mprudence and
incorrectnesS of attitude on the part of GER
tain members of the criminal section of the
court. notably their refusal to hear wit
nesses who applied to be confronted with
other witnesses whose testimony clashed
with their own. The premier, M. Dupuy,
disposes of the rumors of possible action
against members of the criminal section by
saying that the result of NJ. Mazaus inVes-
tigation will not necessitate further ac
tiOn beyond the introduction of the pro-
posed bill"
The governments bill has created deep
impression and is eagerly and animatedly
discussed everywhere. The various political
groups in the chamber will meet tomorrow
to discuss the matter and agree upon the
attitude they shall assume. The resolution
will be submitted to the chamber on Mon
day, calling upon the government to COM
municate to the deputies the results of the
inquiry into the charges made by NJ. De
Beaurepaire but it is stated that the gov
ernment will refuse to comply with the de-
mand, giving merely the gist of the report
of the commission on the plea that the in
quiry was confidential