New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-13
NJ. BRAND TRUSTED
THE DUEZ scandal.
Possible Effect of Exposure on
French Elections.
[Ry Cable to Tie Tribune. ]

I rams, MdICn lZ--1ne DueZ seaman Is
terrible blow TO French parliamentary
methods and especially to the admins
tration Of French justice, and comes with
! telling effect just before the general
! elections. Public opinion is thoroughly
aroused and determined to put an end
TO such scandals. The root Of the evil
! is due to the careless and perfunctory
manner of selecting and appointing the
official receivers VINO act as trustees and
! lquidators in the administration OF sums
realized by the forced sales of the prop
erty of religious orders, estimated. prob
ably too highly. at $200.0o000o.
Premier BRAND was nervous and
fatigued during the fierce interpretations
Of NM. Jaures and Berry yesterday, but
he succeeded in convincing the Chamber
that during his tenure of office he did
what he could in spite Of red tape and
the abuses Of the bureaucracy of the
Ministry of Justice and of the Treasury
experts who had repeatedly assured the
present tdOl1et tndt Inc DISA accounts
we're models of probity."
1t would require a Balzac to describe
adequately the reckless gambling and the
stock Speculations and robperies of
Duez. who began his career as q shop
boy in the Bon Marche establishment,
was afterward secretary to NJ Imbert.
another liquidatOr where he, on his own
confession. embezzled 100000. and In
spite of this was afterward pitchforked
by political influence into the post of
one of the three official receivers and
trustees Of Church property funds.
No one doubts Premier Brands abso-
lutte integrity and ability. He seems to
have done his best to bring these liqui-
dation abuses to light. Consequently, in
face of the coming elections, when
change of Cabinet would be unpopular,
1t is not thought likely that the ministry
viii fail, Notwithstanding the adroit COM
l,inati of the Clerical reactionaries, of
the Conservatives and of the Nationalist
Repu blicans, who now all join hands
with the Socialists, under the lead of
Jean JaUres, who are boiling over with
rage to find that the 500, 100000 worth
Of Church property which was promised
them to form a nucleus Of the fund for
old age workmen's pensions, which al
ready have been practically decided on
by parliament, is melting away by the
robbery and stock gambling Of one Off
cial receiver and trustee who had free
hand, without a semblance OF govern
ment control, until Premier BRAND,
greatly to the annoyance Of the red tape
dom of the Ministry of Justice upset
the antiquated methods and created
control and check which resulted in the
arrest of Duez.
In any case, whether the BRAND Cabi-
net falls or whether, as is thought likely;
it will survive the Interpolation which
will continue on Monday and obtain a
substantial majority on a vote of con-
fdence, the country shows such earnest
determination for a thorough spring
housekeeping that is is believed the
success of the programme for electoral
reform by proportional representation is
insured.
fBy The Associated PIess.l
Paris, March 1.-THE scandal in con-
nection with the liquidation Of the prop
erty of religious orders has aroused
political passions in France to pitch
comparable only with the Panama,
Dreyfus and Boulanger affairs. The en-
tire country is shocked, but, as is GUS
tonary III France. the moral is over
Swallowed by the political side. The
government opposition is preparing to
exploit the affair in the coming elections,
and, strangely enough. with the back
ing Of the adheTents of eXPrerIIier
Combes, who are intriguing to return &c
power.
The Premier personally has come out
of the fray with flying colors, as he did
everything in his power to bring Duez
to book two years ago, and has pledged
the government TO probe the scandal to
| the bottom. regardless of consequences
1t is believed. however. that the liquida
| ton of the church properties was taken
| advantage of by political spoilsmen in
preceding administrations.
| Sensational disclosures have followed
an examination OF tho personal papers
of Duez, which showed that ne had sub
Z
sons. evidently belonging to the political,
! journalistic and social world.
Although in each case he had exacted
a receipt the signature was always in
| cipher. One receipt for $1,000 indorsed
| by Duez bore the fictitious name of a
newspaper. Duez refused to identify the
recipients Of his favors or 70 surrender
his cipher code, saying cooly: THAT IS
my protection; you cannot have it,
| The examining magistrate believes
that a copy of the real names exists.
and still has hope OF discovering the
| code
Martin Gauthier, an accomplice OF
Duez, who was arrested to-day, adj
mitted to having embezzled S400, 900
from Stanislas College. but he did not
remember where the money went to.
The police have placed seals on the
house of 81. Coutot, Il genealogist. who Is
suspected OF having aided Duez in peck
! citing huge "rakeoffs." ". Coutot, it is
charged. sought out the heirs to the
funds which had been left to the con-
| gregations, many of whom We're ignorant
OF the fact that they were entitled to re-
! cover anything. From these he is said