The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-12-21
NOMINATION HELD UP
CONFIRMATION OF JUDGE CLARK, OF
TENNESSEE, RECONSTRUCTED.
Senator Harris Anxious to Have Ger
tain Charges Observation-Disclosures
the Judges Friends Say.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.-The Senate held
a brief executive session to-day to permit
Senator Harris, of Tennessee, to enter a
motion for reconsideration of the vote
by which the nomination of Judge Clark
to be district judge of the Eastern and Mid
die districts of Tennessee was confirmed.
In entering the motion Mr.. Harris said
that he had been informed of serious charges
against MIR. Clarke which he thought should
be investigated while there was yet oppor-
tunity. This opportunity was found i'm the
fact that the time for reconsideration had
not elapsed since his confirmation, which
took place on the 18th inst. The motion
agreed to by general consent, and the
matter was referred to the judiciary COM
mittee for investigation. 1t is understood
that the charge made against Judge Clark
is that the firm of which he is member
accepted fees from both sides.
None of the officials who are acquainted
with the charges against Charles ID. Clark,
which resulted in the recall by the Sem
ate of his confirmation as Judge of the
Eastern and Middle Tennessee district,
will talk about 1t. Attorney general Oluey
rious nature. and were filed by reputable
New York firm. Had they been presented
a day later, he added, ii would have been
too late to recall the confirmation, as the
time limit within which such an action
could be taken would have expired, but
he would have withheld the commission
he about to sign under the circum-
stances. The Senate judiciary committee
will investigate the matter at once, as
Senator Harris-who declines to discuss
the case-will hand over the documents
to the chairman. Senator Pugh, tomorrow.
Tennessee members speak in the highest
charge is that the firm of which he W was a
member accepted fees on both sides of a
case.
The Charge Probably BaseIess.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, Dec. 2O.-The
charges communicated to Senator Harris
against Charles d. Clark, appointed to sue
ceed ID. NJ. Key as United States judge for
the East and Middle district Of tennessee,
come from w. G. McAdoo. a young man in
the brokerage business in New York, who
formerly resided in this city and was asso-
ciated in the practice of law with j. b.
Barr. The charges are that Mr. Clarks
law firm Clark & Brown accepted en-
ployment from persons having conflicting
interests in the foreclosure proceedings
against the Chattanooga Union Railway
Company.
Judge ID. NJ. Key the retiring judge and
ex-Postmaster general, says he is entirely
familiar with this suit, which is in his
court, and that there is nothing improper
in the. position or action of any attorney in
it, and has so wired Senator Harris. Henry
o. Ewing, the master in chancery in this
case, says he is acting for them. Mr.. Ewing
has so wired Senator Harris. Mr.. Brown,
Mr.. Clark's partner, says that he is re-
sponsible for erything done by his firm in
this case; that he is willing to stand by
that record; that he has just finished race
for Congress, being selected by 5000 plu-
ralty in a district which gave Cleveland
1900 in 1882. The record in this case was
open during his canvass to everyone.
Mr.. James II. Bible, United States attor-
ney of this city, who was strongly for Gov
ernor Porter for district judge, is familiar
with the record and, when intervie we'd,
stated that any charge against Judge Clark
growing out Of the Union railway litigation
was an outrage. Judge Clark" said Mr..
Bible, stands high any man in the
State of Tennessee, and any reflection on
his integrity or his professional reputation
does violence to what his neighbors know
TO be true"
j. B. Barr, the law partner of McAdoo,
and who is conducting the case. has tele
graphed Senator Harris that Judge Clark
has done nothing unprofessional in the case.
He asks his confirmation. Barr was
amongst those who asked the President to
appoint Clark.
Ii is thought here that Senator Harris
asked reconsideration, to give ample time to
investigate the charges, for fear il might be
said the haste in which the confirmation
obtained was intended to avoid any
charges.