Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-04
WHAT IS CHARGED.
Hon. George shiras' Resolutions-A Com-
mittee of Investigation Asked For-Judge
Whites Exoneration or Impeachment
Demanded-Some Serious Alle-

Hon. George Shfras' Resolutions-A C0m-
miftee of Investigation Asked For-Judge
Whites Exonerntion or Impeachment
Demanded-some Serious Alle-
cations Are Made.
The resolutions offered in the Legislature
by Hon. George Shiras yesterday, and
which will be considered on Monday, al
published exclusively in an extra edition Of
yesterday mornings DISPATCH, are as fol
lows:
WHEREAS, 1t is alleged and currently be-
ieved by large proportion of the citizens OF
the county Of Allegheny that the Hon. ]. W.
F. White, Associate Judge of the Court of
Common Pleas No. 2, of said county, has delib-
erately violated his oath of Office and degraded
fthe Bench by the way and methods pursued In
the administration of his office a Judge of
Quarter Sessions Court in passing upon the
applications for license at the March term of
said Court; and
Whereas, 1t Is alleged that he has exhibited
extreme favoritism, bias malice and prejudice
toward many of the applicants for wholesale
and retail licenses, and that he has been arbi-
trary, inconsistent and oppressive in the exer-
else Of the discretionary powers invested in
said Court under the law, and to such degree
that he has been guilty of repeated acts of
rudeness and incivility TO the applicants per-
sonally in open court thereby tending to de-
mean himself as a Judge and subVert the Dig
nifty Of his high Office; and
Whereas, BY reason of such conduct large
class of law-abiding and proper persons. in
cluding brewers wholesale dealers. bottlers
druggists, hotel and restaurant keepers, and
reputable retailers, have been denied the
privilege accorded them by existing laws, to
the detriment and Inconvenience of the pub
lie, and the injury and discredit of the present
high license laws, so generally regarded as
measures well adapted to the varied interests
and needs of the Commonwealth of Pennsyi-
vania, when fairly and honestly interpreted
and enforced, and
CHARGES OF UNDUE INFLUENCE.
Whereas, 1t is alleged and charged in the
public prints that he has been unduly and i'm
properly influenced in his decisions upon said
application for license, while sitting in the
Court of Quarter Sessions, and after the close
Of the public hearing in open court by receiv-
ing in private, and in the absence of the appli-
cants, allegations and statements not given
under the sanction of an oath, as required by
law, concerning applicants for license, to the
great detriment Of many citizens who were,
under said law, entitled to receive license, and
to the great reproach of the judiciary Of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and
Whereas, Il Is further publicly alleged and
charged that he has wilfully and contrary to
his oath wholly disTegarded the provisions Of
the said statute, thereby pervertfng the true
intent and meaning Of the license laws, and by
such action making highly beneficial and reme-
dial statutes obnoxious to the people and pre-
venting their proper operation and enforce
ment as well as other acts of misconduct in the
performance of his duties as Judge Of this
Commonwealth, and
OTHER ACTS TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR.
Whereas IL Ia fnrther nuh1iclv aIleped and
charged that he has been guilty Of many other
acts tending to impeach his veracity and char.
acter both in his official and private life. there
by wholly destroying his influence and stand
ing in the community, and casting reproach
andlsuspicion upon:thelocal judiciary. and
Whereas, The House OF Representatives
deems it Of the first importance to the Com
monwealth that the Judiciary and the admins
tratlon of justice should at all times be free
from reproach or suspicion, and that the
Judges Of this Commonwealth should construe
and enforce the statutes of the General Assem-
bly, in accordance with their true intent and
meaning, and without partiality, bias, personal
prejudice or improper influence; therefore,
be 1t
Resolved, By the House of Representatives
of the State Of Pennsylvania, that the Speaker
thereof be authorized and directed to appoint
committee Of seven members of said House,
who shall proceed according to the Constitu-
ton and the laws of the Commonwealth to in
vestigate the said allegations to the end, that
the accused may either be exonerated and the
judiciary relieved from reproacn and suspicion
so prevalent In the community, or, II the said
charges, or any Of them, be sustained, that the
committee so report to the Governor of this
Commonwealth to the end, that he may take
such action as Is required by law and the Con-
stitution.