The San Francisco call., 1899-01-29
UNI ADORABLE To
The REVIS|ONISTS
Dreyfus' Case Hurt by
Court Scandal.
GOVERNMENT TAKES A HAND
Law TO PLACE APPEALS BE-
FORE UNITED TRIBUNAL.
Charges Against the Criminal Section
of the Court of Cessation Ap-
pear to Have Been Well
Founded.
GOVERNMENT TAKES A HAND
Law TO PLACE APPEALS BE-
FORE UNITED TRIBUNAL.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

PARIS, Jan. 2S.-A semi-official note
Issued this afternoon says that an ex-
traordinary meeting of the Cabinet has
decided that the Minister of Justice, NJ.
Labret. shall submit to the Chamber of
Deputies on Monda'- next bill pro-
viding that cases of trial revisions are
TO be brought before the united sections
of the Court of Cessation whenever the
criminal section shall have pronounced
upon the advisability Of an application
for the revision of a previous judgment,
and shall proceed with a preliminary
inquiry conducted by a delegation con-
sisting of more than le-third of all
the members of the court.
In the pr amble of the bill. the Gov
ernment recittng the conclusions of NJ.
.Mazeau, the first president of the Court
OF Cessation, on the charges brought
by NJ. Quesnay de Baurepaire. the presi-
dent of the civil section of that court at
the time of his resignation. will say
From the facts adduced by NJ. Mazeau
1t would look wise to entrust the .iudg-
ment of the Dreyfus affair to the Grim
inal section alone
A lively discussion of the bill is ex-
pected TO take place in the Chamber of
Deputies, though the measure probably
will be finally voted.
The facts adduced in NJ. Mazeau's s
report are not, it is said sufficient
to lead to disciplinary measures
against the criminal court magistrates.
though they are possibly sufficient to
create doubts as to their impartiality
in the public mind.
The decision of the Government is
most unfavorable TO the revisionists.
and is a serious reflection upon the
criminal court, though its ultimate eff
feet If the united courts of Cessation
should favor a revision of the Dreyfus
trial, would undoubtedly leave the anti
revisionistS no ground for further agi-
tation.
In the meantime the Governments
decision justifes the charges of NJ.
Quesnay de Beaurepaire.
In the lobbies Of the Chamber Of
Deputies ii IS believed that the Gov
ernment's bill will not lead to the
resignation of any member of the Grim
inal division of the Court of Cessation.
Even if that should result. it would not
change the situation, and the Dreyfus
revision inquiry would proceed. When
il is terminated the result will be sub
mitted TO the combined Court of Cas-
satiOn. in the event of the bill being
passed.
1t is understood that on Monday the
Government will propose that the bill
be submitted TO a special committee of
the Chamber. TO which NJ. Mazeau's re-
port viii be communicated. The actual
words of the conclusion of NJ. Mazeau' S
report are as follows:
Without suspeCting the honor of the
criminal section OF the Court of Cassa-
ton, which remains intact, il appears
wise not to leave it TO bear alone the
responsibility for the definite judgment
which has to be pronounced"
According to the Liberte, NJ. Mazeau's S
investigation revealed acts of impu-
dence and inCorrectness Of attitude on
thu part Of certain members of the
criminal section of the court, notably
their refusal 10 hear witnesses who ap-
piled to be confronted with other wit
nesses whose testimony clashed with
their own.
The Premier, NJ. Dupuy, disposes of
the rumors Of possible action against
the members of the criminal section by
saying that the result of NJ. MaZeau's s
investigation will not necessitate fur
ther action beyond the introduction of
the prOpOSed bills -