The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-18
SENATE RID OF THE SCANDAL.
THE CARTER CHARGES SENT 10
THE LOWER HOUSE.

cation ana Report to the Next
Session of the LegisIature-Mr.
BIaIOclS Proposes "a Special Session
in Case Ground For Impeachment
Is Found.
Atlanta, Ca, Dec. Ex-senator Yancy
Carriers charges against Judges Sweat
and Reese, and the resolutions of Sena-
tor Battle, providing that the whole mat
ter be transmitted to the House, whose
province it is to prefer impeachment
charges, were disposed of by the Senate
this morning without much ado.
When the matter came up Immediately
after the reading of the journal, as the
special order under the resolution passed
yesterday, Senator Dunwody of the
Brunswick district was recognized by the
president, and he proceeded to make
statement in regard to the matter. He
took the position that Senator Carter had
not been specific enough in his charges.
He based his accusations solely upon the
publication of the Looking Glass, a SEN
sational paper, and whose main object,
Senator Dunwody said was to disseminate
scandal. He should have given the names
of witnesses and a better source of his
information than the paper referred to.
Senator Dunwody said that 1t was his
/ purpose to offer a substitute for the reso-
luton by Mr.. Battle, which would give
| the matter different direction, but since
receiving the following telegram from
| Judge Sweat, which was read by the sec
retary Of the Senate, he would abandon
| the substitute which he intended to offer
and accept the proposal of Mr. Battle.
! Brunswick, Ca, Dec. 16, 1S96.-Hon. H.
| F. Dunwody Senate Chamber: On advice
of friends at the time of the publication
| of the Looking Glass scandal, it was ig-
nored and permitted to pass .unnoticed
| Now that it has been presented by Popu-
| list Senator Carter, l denounce it as false
and malicious, and on adjournment of
| court here, stand ready to show that 1t
was based on idle gossip, having no
foundation, in truth. j. L. Sweat,
Judge S. C. V. C.
The only other feature of the proceedings
| in the Senate was an amendment to the
Battle resolutions offered by Senator s.
F. Walker, which proposed that the matter
| be at once transmitted to the House, and
| that that body act upon it at once. The
| point was made that the Senate could not
| give the House any instructions as to its
business and this amendment was ruled
out of order. The Battle resolutions, to-
gether with the two documents submitted
| to the Senate by Senator Carter were then
ordered sent to the House at once.
When the matter reached the House of
| Representativ that body had already
been discussing it in anticipation infor-
| maily, the sensation over the probable i'm
parchment trial of the two judges having
| pervaded both branches to-day.
Before adjourning for dinner Mr. Fielder
introduced a resolution providing for the
| appointment of a committee of nine to sit
during vacation and conduct the investiga-
| ton and report at the next session. This
| committee was to be clothed with full
| powers to compel the attendance of wit
nesses and get to the bottom of the cases.
| The consideration of the matter had been
made the special order in the House for
| the afternoon session. and this resolution
| by Mr.. Fielder was read only for intorma-
ton so that the members would have some
time to think it over before action was
| called for.
When the House reassembled at o'clock
the Senate resolutions and the charges of
| Senator Garter were taken up, and the dis
| cussion was begun on the resolution offer
| ed by Mr.. Fielder providing for the COM
| mittee of investigation. In lieu OF this,
| Mr. B.alock offered another providing that
| the committee should be appointed, and II
it should find that the charges were sufh-
cient to warrant an impeachment trial
report was to be made to the governor as
| soon as the committees investigation
reached that stage and the governor was to
| call an extra session, at which the Two
Judges are to be tried.
A number of members engaged in the
debate over this proposition, some
| of them suggesting that IL
would be better to prolong the session now
and have the matter ended. 1t was urged
| that if the charges were true the guilty
| ones should be removed without delay,
| tla ~ ba H.
ing in them to warrant Impeachment, JUS
! tice TO the accused demanded that they be
| given a speedy Vindication. 1t would not
! do to have these charges hanging over
their heads a year. 1t would be unjust
both TO the people and the accused
1t appears to be the general sense that
| the only point in the accusation against
Judge Sweat which is subject to impeach-
ment is that the woman he Is alleged TO
| have been involved was the daughter OF
a man who was under indictment in his
| court for manslaughter, ana Whom ne re-
| leased upon bond.
| In the case OF Judge Reese, 1t is held
| that If the charge of drunkenness is true
/ it would not be impeachable unless 1t in
| capacitated him for the duties of hls office.
Therefore 1t may be that after all there is
/ not sufficient ground for an impeachment
trial. 1t will be the duty Of the commit
| tee appointed by the House to make
| such investigation as is necessary to see
whether or not there is sufficient in the
charges to warrant an impeachment.
Therefore the work of the committee will
be Of the greatest Importance The ac-
ton OF the Senate In the regular impeach-
ment proceedings would be practically a
| ratification of the work Of the committee.
| After discussing the best method OF dis
! posing Of the matter all the afternoon,
! the House adjourned with the subject
still unsettled until night, when it came
| up again.
The House tonight voted to hold on ex-
| ira session on the first Wednesday I'm
February 1897, for the purpose Of dispos-
/ ing Of the charges.
Under the resolutions adopted when the
House adjourns, either tomorrow, II that
| be found practicable, or Saturday night
at the latest, the adjournment shall be
| considered a recess, and the sitting will
| be resumed on the day above stated.
According 70 law the fifty days allow
/ ed the legislature TO sit, expires on Sun
day. A recess could be taken on Saturday
/ and the fftieth days session held on Mon
day. But under previous action, the leg
/ islature had agreed 10 adjourn on Satur-