Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-14
Informed Of Judge Swayne's
Impeachment.
TO DRAFT ARTICLES
APPOINTMENT OF A COMMITTEE
OF SEVEN REPRESENTATIVES.
Resolutions Adopted by the Hous'
Without Division Yesterday
Afternoon.

vi tliC l1OuoS VI mp
Yesterday a committee from that
body appeared at the bar of the Sen
ate today and announced that the
House had impeached Judge Charles
Swayne of Florida. President Pro
Tenn. Frye informed the committee
that the Senate would proceed in
accordance with the notice. No
message from the House has been
received in the Senate in years that
so profoundly impressed the Senate.
The Speaker today appointed conl-
mittee of seven to draft articles of
impeachment.
When the Senate convened today it was
understood that before the close of the day
it would be called upon to take cognizance
of the decision of the House of Representa-
tives 30 begin Impeachment proceedings
against Federal Judge Charles Swayne of
the northern district of Florida. Appar-
emily the Senate had not counted upon be-
ing so soon confronted with this problem,
SO that when few minutes before the hour
of meeting the House committee appeared
at the Vice Presidents room to confer with
President Pro Tempore Frye, there was
general scurrying about on the part of the
officials to find precedents and to make
preparation for the ceremony, the like of
which had not been witnessed in the Senate
chamber since the proceedings of 1876
against Secretary Beiknap.
While these details were being arranged
Senator Frye was engaged in his conference
with the House committee, consisuhs oi
Messrs. Palmer, jenkins, Gillett, Clayton
and Smith of Kentucky, appointed yester-
day to notify the Senate. The official ac-
tion consisted in a mere notification to Mr.
Frye of the eommitteess desire to bring the
action of the House in the Swayne case to
the attention Of the Senate at as early an
hour as possible today and Mr.. Frye's re-
ply that the Senate would be prepared TO
receive the committee at any time that 1t
might arrive.
Informal Exchange of Views.
A brief informal exchange of views as to
the time when the Senate should take up
the case ensued. The House members stat
ed that it would be impossible for the COM
mittee to present its articles Of impeach-
ment prior to the holidays, and it was sug-
gested that the trial might be postponed un-
4
session of Congress.
The committee did not appear in the Sem
ate chamber Immediately after the open
ing of the days session and other business
was transacted.
Then the House impeachment committee
presented itself at the main door or the
Senate being preceded by Clerk Browning
of the House. who was announced in the
usual form by B. w. Layton, assistant SER
geant-at-armS.
f1a ;y,,y ~, ont ROC
olution passed by the House. Mr.. Layton
then presented the committee, saying: Il
announce the committee from the House of
Representatives, appointed in pursuance OF
the resolution just received
The chair announced that he would re-
ceive the committee, whereupon the com
mittee was taken IN charge by Col. d. NJ.
Ransdell sergeant-at-arms of the Senate,
and all the members conducted down the
center aisle to a point Immediately in
front of the president pro tempore's seat.
Chairman Palmer's Announcement.
Mr.. Palmer spoke for the committee, say
ing: "Mr President, in obedience to the
order of the House of Representatives. we
appear before you, and in the name of the
House Of Representatives and of all the
people of the United States of America, we
do impeach Charles Swayne, judge of the
district court of the United States for the
northern district of Florida, of high crimes
and misdemeanorS in office; and we further
inform the Senate that the House of Rep
resentatives will in due time exhibit arti
cles of impeachment against him and make
good the same. And in their name we de-
mand that the Senate shall take order for
the appearance Of the said Charles Swayne
to answer said impea chment."
The president pro tempore said: "Mr.
Chairman and gentlemen of the committee:
The chair begs to announce that the Sen
ate will take order in the premises, due
notice of which will be given to the
House."
The committee Immediately retired lie
entire ceremony consumed less than three
minutes of time.
Referred to Senate Committee.
After the House committee had retired,
Mr.. Platt Comm presented a resolution
directing that 1.-THE message of the House
of Representatives relative to the impeach-
ment of Charles Swayne be referred to
select committee to consist of five senators
to be appointed by the president pro tenn
pore" The resolution was agreed to, and
the chair designated Messrs Platt of Con-
necticut, Clark of Wyoming, Fairbanks,
Bacon and Pettus as members of the COM
mittee All the members of the select COM
mittee are members of the committee on
the judiciary.
To Prepare Charges.
Immediately after the House met today
Speaker Cannon announced as the commit
tee of seven to prepare the charges against
Judge Charles Swayne of the northern dis
trict of Florida, who was impeached yes
terday, the following: Messrs. Palmer
(Pa), Gillett (Cal), Parker e.. -, Little
field (Me.), Powers (Mass.), Clayton (Ala)
and DeArmond (Mo.).
Announced to the House.
Wfen the committee charged with the
duty of notifying the Senate returned to
the House. Mr.. Palmer arose and said:
'.Mr. Speaker, in obedience to the order
of the House, we proceeded to the bar of
the Senate, and in the name Of this body
and of all the people of the United States
we impeached, us we were directed to do,
Charles Swayne. judge of the district court
of the United States for the northern dis
trict Of Florida of high crimes and mis-
demeanors in Office. and we demanded that
the Senate should take order to make him
appear before that body to answer for the
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