The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-01-14

[ l
! Mr.. Cox wanted the mover of the
resolution to make charge upon
which impeachment proceedings could
be based he would support it, but in
the present shape it was too vague and
general
Mr.. Glover arose to defend his resolu-
lion Said he named no one, because
Of his own knowledge he knew no one
guilty Of such crime, but he had been
assured by the best people OF the state
that if the committee was appointed,
conviction would follow He said that
every member of the legislature knew
OF the charges,
Nh Houston wanted specific charges
made, He would support 1t then. II
the safety of the people of Mississippi
depended upon drunken judges it was a
black outrage, He was anxious for an
investigation, but wanted1the charge
placed in different shape The charges
were rejecting on the judiciary Of the
entire state.
Mr.. Russell opposed the resolution
Mr., Cox said that the resolution was
fatally detective; it did. not charge
drunkenness in Office and no crime was
charged He insisted that. .jt,'ne resolu-
! ton was out -oS order, j..
~ Nhr. Glover wanted the resolution re-
, ferred to the Judiciary committee to be
!. put in shape He declired to assume
responsibility for the charges.
! Mr. Ross said that it looked as though
= the gentlemen opposed to the resolution
q . were disposed to throttle it and not to
- allow it to be perfected. He made an
impassioned speech in favor OF inves-
. tigating. and said that the charges
= should be searched.
: Mr. Criiz said he believed the matter
. should be looked into, 1t was rare
~ that an individual would make specific
charges of impeachment, He thought
that the resolution should be referred
: to the Judiciary committee, and it wa
-, the duty of the house to investigate
~ the charges and see if there was groun'
~ for impeachment proceedings,
Mr.. Lamb, of Alcorn, said the judge
of the state were all under odium now
.E. and the charges were stigma upon a
the Judges. He wanted the name Y
}id The Judge charged to be guilty, inserte
in the charge He opposed referring
to the Judiciary committee, and havin
lhe it appear Oh the record. He wanted
n'' table the motion.
me Mr. Anderson, of Lee and Itawambi
as' said he was not in favor of whit
ma washing" anybody, but the resolutio
YES did not charge any crime, and heol
'no posed it as drawn. '''''
eS- Mr.. Shivers favored an investigation
He had friends among the judges Of Il
'he state, and he thought the charg
rer- should not rest upon the entire judicl
nix ry, and cast stigma upon innocel
men. He wanted the matter sifted.
the Mr. Dismore renewed his motion
any table. The ayes and nays were call!
Iual for. The motion to table prevailed
'.uh vote of 70 to,50. .,,
'he Mr.. Glover Immediately introduce
pom another resolution including "certa
;'eo high officials who have been guilty
pe drunkenness in Office and are habitu
drunkards, and have been drunk VIII
'iie in the actual discharge of their dnt
laue of office, and were drunk when call
pe upon to perform them This rcso
'res- ton not only covered the deficiencies
the first one, and moreover brought
.he the state officials in addition to
/. 'ne Judges charged with drunkenness
Elheu East moved that it be referred to
coin iudiary committee, which was done.
. of
The following concurrent resolut
III. was offered by Senator Greaves,
IA Madison county.
- n Whereas, The editors Of the Can
= ~ Times and Copiah Signal have ope
- charged through the columns OF tt
papers that the regular session OF
!, ~, legislature Of 1896 was corrupted
) debauched that amendment to sec1
~. 49, 400 Of the Annotateo Code Of 1892
~ introduced and passed for the benefi
school book trusts and that Ger
members Of the senate and house
- benefciaries thereof, and that the
-. ~ tor Of the Times has sworn afiiad
-, - and proof in his possession which
claims will substantiate said charge
$50 debauchery and corruption; n
-. !, therefore, be it
Vio Resolved, by the senate the h
concuring, that committee OF five
W - the part of the senate and-on the
80 Of the house be appointed to inv
'o'0ui' gate said charges with authority to
subpoenas or any other process ne
sary to obtain witnesses and docum
'na in relation to the subject matte
n'au az. investigation submitted to them.
'A'io eBe it resolved further That
aA.sN committee be empowered to empl
Z ~ stenogapher to take down the evid
and are further instructed to sit
hVessi open doors and all witnesses exam
were IN n, ,,,,o,, s,ass;or ~ said ..on
arge Of .a
at all. Ns S....or q sovea smoke in denu
''he q =" ton Of the charges. Senator !
w - suggested that the resolution be
moseu red to the Judiciary committee, y