Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-03-15


for the government the advantage of.
having experts aid in the decision of
questions of public Importance. but
there is also the disadvantage. from
me standpoint of the liberty-loving
citizen. OF having cases in which he is
interested as against the admin!stra-
ton decided by a court which from its
composition would be inclined TO favor
Inc uphoidinE Of the privileges of the
government
Likewise the method of procedure in
the ordinary courts in France seems
peculiar to one trained in English or
American methods. Many of the cor
regional courts which try cases in
voiVlng Imprisonment up to five years
consist OF three judges and act without
jury. In all general cases, the pre-
Nminary inquiry IS made in secret by
an examining judge instead OF by a
grand jury. and this judge has full
discretion 10 dismiss the case or COM
INIT 1t for trial. The prisoner may be
kept for days without communicating
with any one or being permitted to
summon counsel or Witnesses Within
three years an innocent man commit
ted suicide in Paris Ia despair. NOT be-
ing able to get even n hearing In eff
feet the letters de cachet" of the old
monarchy still exist, if a judge so wills.
nv Iiisistt Coul-tS Ill criminal cases are
often assisted by twelve jurors, who
decide on the fact by simple majority.
For commercial cases there are special
courts and councils made up of experts.
In general the method of procedure ia
much more expeditions than is ours.
does not afford the criminal so many
opportunities for playing upon the feel
ings of his fellow citizens. secures the
services of trained experts much more
freely than do our courts. but on the
whole lacks the securities for personal
liberty which are demanded in England
and America.
EDUCATION AND RELIGION.
Since early in the century the local
governments have been required to
maintain public elementary schools but
primary instruction was not made free
until 1881. In 1852 it was made obli-
gGtory for children from 6 To Is years
OF age. In facilities for the higher edu-
cation France has for centuries ranked
well. and it is probably not too much
to say that for many lines of advanced
university work the hest facilities for
study in the world are still to be found
In Paris The methods ana systems of
training, however, that are EMPLOYED
in the primary and secondary schools.
due in part probably to the earlier in
iiuence of the church upon education,
siill mere to the social customs, do not
seem we'll suited TO the development OF
the sturdy independence of Judgment
aud character that Americans and Eng
iisnmen wish their public schools to
foster
Az religions are now equal by law.
ana the state grants aid for the support
OF any church which has 100000 aaher-
ents By far the larger part of the aid,
OF course, goes to the Roman Catholic
church. There is. however, on the ~art
OF large classes in the community. much
Jealousy ard fear that the church will
secure great political influence. So
powerful is this feeling in some quar-
tiers that "A French citizen who Is de-
pendent on the state for his livelihood
IS not always at liberty to accompany
his wife and his children to mass on
sunday morning. without risking his
future prospects and their near OF
sustenancc' Even the president o. the
republic is careful not to pronounce
the name or God in any public utter
ance for fear of offending the anti
clerical iree-thinkers. and avoids ap-
nearing in any public capacity in any
religious edirce. Strange perversion Of
the spirit OF religious tolerance!
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
AZ The mead of each one of the de-
partments OF France stands a project
appointed by the president of the re-
pub!ic Tor an indefinite term. responsi-
bic 10 the different members OF the
cabinet bur particularly to the minis
Ter or the interior. and charged with
carrying out the business Of the repub-
ne throughout his department.. He Is
a"peTih'ehdent of schools, treasurer
recruiting officer and head OF practi-
CARY all other administrative work.
Associated with the project is the gene
ial council OF the department, an cleo
CONTINUED on Fifth Pagel