The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-02

the subject OF an investigation by M. MA
Eau, First President OF the Court OF Casa
ton. NJ. MAZAU reported that IL was true
that the witness, PIcoUART, had been adj
dressed by the Court az Colonel. but that
the same title was applied to him by the
military authorities. II was also declared
TO he a fact that a glass OF spirits and water
had been given TO P1CouART, but that the
same refreshnent was at the disposal OF all
the witnesses. Under the circumstances.
NJ. MA2AU naturally declined to recon-
mend any disciplinary measures or to cast
any doubt upon the integrity OF the crim-
inal section Of the French Supreme Court,
In the face OF this eSculpatory report,
Premier DuPUY on Monday introduced in
the Chamber OF Deputies a-bill which. while
not attempting TO punish any particular
Judges for the innocent acts above recited,
aims to dlscredlt the whole criminal section
OF the Court OF Cessation by Withdrawing
from It's Jurisdiction an investigation upon
which II entered at the request Of the Ex-
ecutive and in pursuance Of the rules OF the
highest court, and which It has carried TO
the verge Of conclusion. The present rules
of the Court OF Cessation provide that, when
II is the sentence Of a criminal court that Is
TO be made the subject OF revision, the
inquiry and the report shall be placed
exclusively In the hands VI the criminal
section OF the supreme tribunal. The
bill brought forward by Premier DuPuY
proposes, on the contrary, that all cases OF
Trial revision. whether criminal or civil,
shall be brought before the united sections
Of the Court Of Cessation, instead Of separate
sections. The effect Of the bill, should 1t be-
o nj a law, will be, of course, to transferthe
investigation of the Dreyfus affair from the
criminal section, which comprises thirteen
Judges, to the whole Court Of Cessation,
comprehending more than forty men,
bers, which will thereupon institute an
independent inquiry, covering not. only
the testimony already submitted, but
such new evidence as may be pro-
duced. Even II all the members OF the
Court OF Cessation were believed to be as
thoroughly impartial as are the members
OF the criminal section, the renewal OF the
inquiry would assure TO the anti-Drey-
fnsltes what they very much desire, delay,
for they count upon the chances OF a coup
dStdt. There is a widespread impression,
however, that something more than delay
NoHio pC SctulcN, lOl, dlluOuBu u HihJOTlIy
OF The criminal section are understood to
be favorable to DREYFUs. Il large majority
OF the court, considered as a whole, are
said to deem revision inexpedient.
Inasmuch as the Chamber OF Deputies, by
a vote of $40 to 1879, adopted the Govern
ments proposal TO refer the bill above de-
scribed TO a committee, we may, no doubt,
take for granted that the report OF the
committee will be favorable and that the
bill will be passed. Will the Senate also CO.
operate In such high-handed Legislative in
reference, avowedly undertaken for par
tisan purposes, with the machinery Of JUS
tice? Under ordinary circumstances, the
question would be answered in the mega
tive, and, even now, II Is not impossible
that the Senate may refuse TO sanction a
measure which practically tells the French
people that their Legislature has no con-
iidence in the honesty Of the criminal Sec
ton OF their highest court Of appeal. Un-
fortunately, the bill, even should it be re-
jected by the Senate, will have had the
miscellaneous effect, which. no doubt, was
contemplated, of discrediting beforehand in
the minds Of the majority OF Frenchmen
the decision expected from the criminal
section OF the high court. 1t will thus az
ford a prete1t for e~ndeavoring to prevent
the execution OF the judgment by the over
throw OF the present form OF government.