Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-10
Matter Before House of Rep
resentatives.
AN INQUIRY DIRECTED
PROPOSED TO REFER QUESTION TO
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.
Messers. Payne and Grosvenor and
Others Urge That Due Care
Be Exercised.


vened today Mr.. Van Voorhis Ohio. for
the committee on appropriations, reported
the pension appropriation bill. and gave
notice that he would call it up tomorrow
for consideration. In reply to MIR. Payne
he said it was the purpose of the committee
to have full DEBATE on the bill.
To Impeach Judge Swayne.
Mr. Lamar (Fiorida rising to question
of privilege, after announcing that he would
offer a resolution in which would be en-
bodied joint resolution of the Florida leg
islature, said:
In pursuance of that joint resolution
desire to lmpeach Charles Swayne, judge
of the United States district court for the
northern district OF Florida, with high
crimes and misdemeanors.
The resolution, after recitinS in the pre-
amble the resolution of the Florida legiSia-
ture. says: ''hesolved that the committee
OF the judiciary be directed to inquire and
report whe Their The acton of the House is
requisite concerning the official misconduct
OF Charles Swayne, judge of the United
States district court for the northern dis
trict of Florida, and say whether said judge
has held terms OF his court as required by
law. whether he has continuously and per-
Slstently abSented himself from the said
state, and whether his acts and omissions
in his office of judge have been such as in
district of the benefits of the court therein
to amount to a denial of justice; whether
the said judge has been guilty of corrupt
&C nduct in office, and whether h S adminiS-
tratlon of his Office has resulted in in ury
and wrong to litigants of his court. g-..r-
The resolution further authorizes the
Judiciary committee to send for persons and
papers, and to do other things essential to
the investigation.
Mr. Lamar moved the adoption of the
resolution.
Care and Deliberation Urged.
Mr.. Grosvenor suggested that there should
be specific charges; that the House should
so slowly and be extremely careful. The
House is not a grand jury, he said.
MIR. Lacey Qowa) moved to refer the reso :
luton to the committee on dietary
Mr. Payne (New York; said the House
should proceed with care in so important a
matter as this.
Mr. Fuller Qllinois) said the resolution
down, charging that 1t did not contain a
single Specificatio The humblest citizen
he said. was entitled to be furnished with
specific charges before being placed on trial
He declared that 1t would be useless to re-
fer the resolution to the jud ciary commit
tee, saying that that committee would be
Obliged to report it back with a report that
there was nothing in it to warrant action
Mr.. Lamar's Charges.
Mr.. Lamar said:
AS understand. this objection made by
the gentleman from Ohio (Mr Grosvenor)
is that do not charge Judge Swayne with
any specific crime. l do charge him gen
orally with high crimes and misdemeanors.
Why should l be forced to state when the
proof Is to be submitted to the committee
on Judiciary the specific matters upon which
that general allegation is made. Every
single crime that this Judge is capable OF
committing Is charged, when charge him
of high crimes and misdemeanors But il
the gentleman desires that shall make my
charges seriatim 1 charge this judge first,
with continued, persistent and, If you
please, pernicious absenteeism from dis
t1ct; second, with corrupt official conduct
based on several matters; third, 1 charge
Judge SWayne with maladministration of
judicial matters in his court, so much so as
to embarrass bankrupts and annihils tie the
assests of litigants and others appearing
within his jurisdiction"
Mr.. Williams, the minority leader con-
tended for the adoption of the resolution,
citing former cases and arguing that the
verbal statement of Mr.. Lamar is suffi-
cient.
Mr.. Mann 0llinois) asked Mr. Lamar II
1t was his idea that the judiciary commit
tee should proceed with inquiry about
specific charges.
Mr.. Lamar replied that the committee had
full power
Mr.. Clayton (Ala.) said Mr.. Lamar had
pursued a course similar to that followed
in other cases. This is merely the in
auguration of an Indictment, he said
Mr.. Lacey Qowa) spoke for his motion to
refer.
The motion to refer the resolution to
the judiciary committee was lost, when the
resolution offered by Mr.. Lamar was
adopted with few dissenting votes
The House at 1867 pm. adjourned until
tomorrow.