The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-12-17
WORK OF CONGRESS
A Lot of Discussion and Little Prac.
tical Business.

The House Thursday adopted reso-
luton directing the judiciary commit
tee to inquire into the official conduct
of Chas. Swayne, judge Of the United
States District Court for the northern
district of Florida, and to report
whether the action OF the House is re-
Quisite."
Mr.. Lamar, Democrat, OF Florida,
offered the resolution, announcing that
he desired to impeach Judge Swayne.
A lively debate was had before the
resolution was adopted. A number Of
the members nthe majority side
sought to have the resolution referred
to the judiciary committee, that rec
ommendation might be had from that
committee before voting on its adop-
ton. The minority solidly supported
Mr. Lamar in his opposition to the
motion to refer, and several Republi-
cans voted against reference. There
were but few dissenting votes on the
motion to adopt the resolution.
The first fthe appropriation bills
the pension bill-was reported to the
House today and notice was given that
it will be called up tomorrow ior con-
sideration.
Mr.. Lamar Democrat, of Florida, ris-
ing to a question of privilege after
announcing that he would offer reso-
luton in which would be embodied a
joint resolution of the Florida Legis-
lation, said
I'm pursuance of that joint resolu-
ton l desire to impeach Charles
Sawyne, judge of the United States
District Court, for the northern dis
trict of Florida, with high crimes and
misdemeanors."
The resolution, after reciting in the
preamble the resolution OF the Florida
Legislature, says:
Resolved, That the committee on
the judiciary be directed to inquire and
report whether the action Of the House
is requisite concerning the official
misconduct of Charles Swayne, judge
OF the United States District Court for
the northern district Of Florida, and
say whether said judge has held
terms Of his court as required by law,
whether he has continuously and per-
sistently absented himself from the
said State, and whether his acts and
omissions in his office Of judge have
been such as in any degree to deprive
the people of that district Of the bene-
fits of the court thereon to amount to
a denial of justice; whether the said
judge has been guilty Of corrupt con-
duct in office and whether his admins
tration of his office has resulted in in
jury and wrong to litigants of his
court
The resolution further authorizes the
judiciary committee to send for per-
sons and papers and to do other things
essential to the investigation.
The birth of the republic Of Pana-
ma and it's recognition by this gov
ernment was the subject of a spirited
debate in the House. Mr.. Dinsmore,
Democrat, of Arkansas, during the
consideration of the pension appro-
priation bill, severely criticised the
administration in connection with the
canal, and Mr.. Hit, Republican, of
Illinois, chairman Of the foreign
committee, put in generous defense
of the President and his Central
American policy. Mr.. Williams, Of
Mississippi, the minority leader, re-
piled to Mr.. Hitt declaring that the
minority did not condone the part
taken by this government. Nearly the
whole of the four hours session was
taken up in a discussion Of the 18TH
mian question. No conclusion was
reached on the pension bill. Mr.. Dins-
more said the Panama republic had
been established and that it exists
by the power of the Pnited States
and that without that power it could
not exist. Nothing had, he said, been
gained that could not have been gain
ed in a Straightforward way.