The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-12
Special Correspondence to TIVE sus.

OPectnf correspondence 10 IHL ttN.
PARIS. April 1.-The findings OF the
commission headed by Jean Jaures, the
Soclallat leader. which Investigated the
Rochelle scandal growing Out OF the kill
Ing OF Castor Caimette by Nine. Caillaux.
have already been cabled to THE SUN,
but most interesting sldellght on the
entire affair Is given by Maurice Barres.
the Academic.an, In the Echo de Parts.
NJ. Barres was a member OF the Ro-
Ghetto commission and thus had an oppor-
tunity Of getting his news first hand. He
has described with mastery stroke the
actors in this political melodrana and the
parts they played in tho degradation OF
their profession. Csillaux. Monis ana
the others who played leading roles will
ultimately lose little through the scandal.
but their victim. NJ Fabre, the Public
Prosecutor. who played a very minor
part indeed. loses his position and Is dis
credited as a man OF honor.
The purpose OF the Rochelle commits
sion was no better expressed than by NJ
Jaures, who. when asked his opinion
OF the affair. recalled the words OF the
Marquise du Defrand. one OF the most
famous women of the eighteenth century
Mime. du Deffand. speaking Of woman
who was very curious and who insisted
on asking questions on every subject,
said She cannot see an egg without
asking, "Who laid itT' This IL about
the role OF a parliamentary commission.
but while In the simplicity OF rural
life II hen, which has laid an egg an.
nouncos the fact at the top of her voice
in our own barnyard the hens fight among
themselves to show they haven't laid any
thing. This Is true. ! suppose, because
the egg Is suspected of being bad"
where the Commission Met.
NJ. Barres begins his series of articles
by describing the room in the Palal-
Bourbon where the commission held Its
sittngs.
The ROOM" he says, is OF fair size
and two large windows look out on the
| inner garden OF the Palais The room Is
occupied by n large table IN the form OF
horseshoe. Each comml sslonaire takes
| his place where he wishes. reserving the
open space between the ends Of the horse
! shoe for the witnesses who are to ne
examined. In one corner near the win
, dow 10 the stenographer's table, while
| IN the other Is another table crowded
with bottles OF water. glasses and roll,
| From time TO time we cry, Fenetre
Fenetre" and for few minutes the
windows are opened to let the foul air
escape. Alas, The moral stencil IL more
dinicuit TO dissipate"
| with the stage thus set. ono awaits
the entry Of the first witness NJ. Barre
| continues:
"oh. virtue Of form. OF procedure
Oh The calming influence Of parlia
mentary form! At tho bottom OF THU
AFFAIR there In q man assnssinated. Their,
are innumerable unfortunates f'eeced b,
q swindler there are Government lead
ers who tell lies with solemnity, Their
are politicians who seek eacn other,
dagger In the hand. hut the fOrrnalitie
hreal, down the movements OF anger an
the interminabls discourses recover wit
words the odious reality of the facts.
"Caillaux enters and bids good morn
inr 10 his assembled Judges II In n
longer the Caillsux, the Louis XIV. per
sonage that we are accustomed TO SCI
Hts face, ordinarily OF an extraordnar
mobility, In much more serious. Contrar
TO his custom he reads his testimony wit
long hnlts between passages as n 10 IL
his statements sink into the minds OF hi
listeners. He strikes his hands continu
ally on the table In front OF him M
on n plano this music accompanying h
sworn testimony, At times he seenl
deeply moved and feverIsh, lie turns
one OF his friends on the commission ash
ing him TO support his statements Ism
II no. Ccccaldl? All This In II ferociou
campaign against me. Well ! am gon
TO defend myself
IAN instant later ne puts his daggs
aside and becomes again an aRreeah
racontsur OF financial stories. lilo give
n brilliant lesson on the general chal
aoter OF tho deals engineered by RI
chstta He shows their crookedness an
points cut that the Same fault lies