The record-union., 1895-01-16
Impeachment Proceedings Brought
Against the Jurist.
SUCH THE DECISION OF THE HOUSE
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.
The Ways and Means Committee De-
cldes to Report TO the House the
Wilson Bill to Remove the Differ
Onrial Duty on Sugar Imported
From Countries Having an Export
Bounty.
Special to the REcoRD-UNIoN.

Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.-Congress was
given decided surprise to-day by the
House Committee on Judiciary. which
decided by vote of Z to to report the
resolution for the impeachment of Judge
Augustus j. Kicks of Cleveland for NAL
fsasance in office. Not for many years
has United States Judge been called be-
fore the bar of the Senate to defend his
right to wear the ermine of Office against
criminal charges, and only three or four
times in the history of the Government
has an impeachment trial of member
of the Federal judiciary been conducted.
Few members had looked into the
charges preferred by the Central Labor
Union of Cleveland, the accuser of Judge
Kicks, that while sitting on the bench he
paid to himself fees which he claimed he
had previously earned as clerk of the
court, and to which it was now ascer-
tanned that he was not entitled. The
number of years which have elapsed
since the transaction, and the contention
of the Judges friends that the proceed
ings were inspired by a ruling prejudl-
cal to the interests OF labor which he
made recently, tended to lessen the inter-
est which would originally have been
taken in the case. Now that the Judici-
ary Committee has deemed the matter OF
sufficient gravity to warrant impeach-
ment, ii has suddenly become decided
sensation.
The friends of Judge Ricks declare that
there are large possibilities that the i'm
peachment may not be undertaken. They
depend on mem berS who were absent
stormy o.
day to join them Friday in voting to
substitute minority report from the
one which Mr.. Bailey will prepare, and
which will be strong arraignment of
the Judge, if couched in the tenor of his
speeches to-day. There is doubt in the
parliamentary possibility of such a
stroke, but the short time remaining to
Congress inspired the belief that this
will go over TO the next Congress. In
that event the impeachment probably
will not be undertaken, as the decision
to-day was practically on party lines,
the Republicans supporting Kicks. The
function is that of grand jury IN such
case. 1t decides whether sufficient
cause is shown to justify trial, and ap-
points managers who act as prosecutors.
The Senators Sit in the capacity OF judge
or jurors, with the Judges of the Su-
preme Court sitting.
The Senate has nothing to say whether
if it does not see 1T 10 finish this trial be-
tore the 4th of March, the proceedings
taken will be void.
The votes on impeachment proceedings
was: For, s; against, =. The vote was
nearly In party lines, but one Republi-
can voting for impeachment and one
Democrat against it. Bailey will present
a majority report to the committee and
Broderick the minority report.
The supporters OF Judge Kicks enter
tain hopes that the decision will be re-
versed. Three members were absent to-
day, and at fridays meeting there will
be an attempt made to adopt the minor
ity report. The resolution will be re-
ported to the House Friday as privileged
business, taking precedence over every
thing else. If the House adopts it the
managers Of the present House will be
appointed to notify the Senate of the
action and to institute proceedings.
Those who voted were: For impeach-
ment-Culberson of Texas, Stockdale of
Mississippi, Boatner OF Louisiana, Lane
of Illinois, Bailey OF Texas, Dearmond of
Missouri Democrats, and Updegraff OF
Iowa (Republican).
Against mpeachment-Ray of Penn
sylyania, Powers of Vermont, Broderick
OF Kansas, w. A. Stone OF PENNSYLVANIA.
Chllds OF illinois (Republicans), and
Goodnight Democrat
Harrison (Dem.) of Louisiana, who was
present, refrained from voting.
The absentees were Layton of Ohio and
Wolverton of Pennsylvania (Republi-
cans, and Terry of Arkansas Demo
craft.
1t is thought that both Layton aud VOL
yerfon are opposed to impeachment, and
although Terry is thought to favor it.,
fridays meeting may change the result.
The discussion lasted three hours alter
the members of the sub committee had
submitted their views, and was rather in
formal. Bailey spoke several times very
warmly, and Boatner was very ardent in
his advocacy of impeachment, while
Broderick was the most actively opposed
to the movement The Republicans ac-
cused the Democrats of holding prejudice
against Federal Judges, and OF losing no
opportunity to strike at them.