Evening star., 1894-02-09
MOTIVE OF THE JUDGE
In Enjoining the Northern Pacific
Employees From Striking.
The RESOLUTION G0ES OVER
The House Committee Unable to
Reach a Conclusion.
REFERRED TO SUBCOMMITTEE

In the judiciary committee Of the House
today. as stated elsewhere in The STAR the
resolution relating to Judge Jenkins was
discussed.
The resolution had been referred to q sub
committee, Representatives Boatner and
Terry, democrats, and Stone, republican.
Mr.. Stone had not been able to consider the
matter and the other two members. being
unable to agree upon course Of action, re-
turned the bill to the whole committee In
the discussion, which lasted for an hour,
wide differences of opinion were elected.
Difference of Opinion.
Some members thought that no showing
had been made which called for an investi-
cation, others thought the committee should
proceed to investigate the case, while q
third shade of opinion suggested that the
resolution should be returned to the House
and a vote taken there upon whether an In
vestigation should be made. No charges OF
corruption have been made against Judge
jenkins, nor is there any explicit charge
that he was influenced by improper motives
in issuing the injunction.
In the resolution calling for the investi-
CATION which the committee on labor recon-
mended, the fact Of the injunction Is set
forth and the contention is made that 1t
was illegal and unprecedented; an inter-
ference with the plain rights OF citizens
The only question for us to consider
said member of the committee, lis
whether Judge Jenkins was Influenced by
improper or corrupt motives. II the order
was Illegal and his action was an error OF
judgment made in good faith, 1t would
seem to be a case for the upper courts to
reverse. and for legal redress, rather than
one for impeachment. Unless 1t should
seem that such An injunction Is granted
Illegally and is an infringement OF the
rights of the people 1t cannot De CONSIDERED
as having been passed in good faith. IL
Is an open question whether this House
has right to investigate the offlcial acts
OF judges. where merely mistakes however
badly mistaken the courts may be- II there
Is no charge Of corruption against them.
Certainly q wide field of operations Is to be
opened up II this House or its judiciary
committee Is to investigate and pass upon
the illegal acts OF courts. The Judges DO
not agree among themselves even."
Further Confederation.
After its discussion, the resolution was
referred back to the subcommittee, which
will inquire whether there are any charges
that Judge Jenkins was influenced by cor
rupt motives. Action is expected upon 1t
next Tuesday. For it's information, the
committee had a copy of the injunction, and
Of the petition from the attorneys for the
railroad company upon which it is based.
Representative McGann, chairman of the
labor committee who introduced the reso-
luton, says that it presented SO plainly O
case of malfeasance that there can be no
doubts of the propriety of an investigation
looking to impea achment. The decision Of
the committee will be important a pre-
cedent, since there is talk Of similar action
against Judge Dundy. who enjoined the
employees of the Union Pacific from strik-
ing.