The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-04-24
CAMP BELLS
CASE TODAY
Committee to Hold TWO Ses-
sions to Consider 1t.
a DIFFERENCE OF OPINION
Nothing Tangible Yet Developed. but
Seems Certain That There Will Be
Two Reports Presented.
The Views Held.

The Recommendation Of the Senate Com
n1ittee for Courts Of Justice In the mat
ter Of the legality Of the procedure IN
the case Of Judge G. ]. Campbell has not
yet been agreed upon. nor, even tentative
ly, formulated. The committee, after
a session OF two hours yesterday alter
noon, adjourned until this morning at
10 o'clock and will meet again in the after
noon at 8 In the Court of Appeals cham
Der. At that time report OF some
kind will be formulated. All the meet
ings OF the committee are executive and
but fragmentary reports Of the procedure
therein can be had. 1t Is stated posi-
lively, however, that a report OF some
kind will be agreed upon this afternoon,
There may and probably Will be two re-
ports-a majority and minority report
but 1ust how many will sign them can
not be nscertalned.
TWO REPORTS LIKELY.
The committee Is divided on the ques-
ton whether or not the House can now
amend its report, and action in the
case so as to cure tho defect alleged
and, indeed, there is some difference
of opinion whether there has been any
this case In other words. there are mem
bers of the committee who take the po-
sition that the House could not spread
upon It's journal the causes OF removal
Of the judge ut the time 1t passed the
Joint resolution Of removal until such
joint action had boon Sconcurred IN BY
the Senate 1t could and 1t should, how
ever, have incorporated in the joint
resolution sent to the Senate the causes
~, @,hioh ~ Ind ha sed ito action This IL
Is claimed by good lawyers, can be dono
at any time, and the amended concurrent
resolution sent to the House, for Its
concurrence. One good lawyer takes
the position that even this is not
necessary. He contends that the Sen
ate may take action upon the removal
resolution, simply amending 1t so as
to incorporate the causes Of removal as
1t may determine them. and then send
the amended resolution back to the House
for It's concurrence.
DEFECT is Durable.
A large element of the committee take
the position that the defect In the pro-
cedure. If any there be, Is easily durable,
II the action of the House were final.
1t Is contended, the amendment OF the
House resolution so as to cure Its de-
fects might be regarded as nunc pro
tune proceeding. but since the removal
resolution Is a concurrent one. requiring
the concurrence of tho Senate before it is
final.
The point is made by several mem
bers of the committee that the Consti-
tuition places no time limit on the re-
quirement that the causes Of removal
shall be entered on the journal In any
event, however, 1t now seems probable
that the commttee will report that In Its
opinion the technical defects Of the
Il House action are easily clIrable.-
a CALM DISCUSSION.
The entire matter was discussed in
formally in n conversational way by the
committee. There were no sharp discus
sions. no clearly drawn issues to be tough.
out. and, consequently. nothing but a
calm discussion of abstract legal ques-
lions in which neither the personality Of
the judge whose case gave rise to the
questions. nor the merits of the case It
self. figured in any way, The attitude
of the committeeman as regards the
Campbell case itself has never developed
In any way, further than in an earnest
desire to proceed regularly and legal
ly.
With the first clause of the resolution
as to the legality of the procedure dis
posed Of. the committee must then take
up the second clause Of the resolution
OF reference, which requires 1t to report
Its conclusions upon the evidence In the
case. Whether this means that tho COM
mittee must report as to the legality of
the evidence merely or as to its suf-
flciency has not been developed II the
language be construed to mean that n
report as to the sufflclency OF the evil
dence Is expected, that would require the
committee to digest and weigh all the
testimony embodied In the record, and
then recommend whether or not In It's
opinion the evidence justifles the action
of tho House. and If SO upon how many
charges. That phase OF the question
has not yet been touched by the com
mittee
Something definite is promised this
evening, as to the decision of the COM
mittee on the first clause OF the rcsolu-
ton. Then It's future deliberations may
j,e mora 6afiDjtaly outlinad