Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-12
Articles Presented to the
House Of Representatives.
Mr.. PALMER EXPLAINS
DENIES THAT OTHER JUDGES
ovERcHARGED FOR EXPENSES.
Senator Bailey Charges That Pledge
Was Broken in the Action of Mer-
chant Marine Commission.

The articles of Impeachment upon which
Judge Charles Swayne of che northern dis
trict of Florida will be tried by the Senate
"for high crimes and misdemeanors in Of
fice," were brought up in the House or
Representatives today Immediately after
that body convened.
Mr. Palmer Pa), chairman Of the COM
mttee of seven appointed by the Speaker
to prepare the case against Judge SWayne,
explained that the majority of the COM
mittee had reached their conclusions after
most painstaking deiiberation, and 1t re-
manned for the House itself to take such
further action in the case as 1t might deem
proper.
Mr.. Palmer defined what constituted i'm
peachable offenses and said judge could
be impeached for any misbehavior He
then gave resume of the twelve articles OF
impeachment. which his committee had
brought in, and which were printed in yes
terday's Star.
Replying to a question by Mr.. Cochran
New York; as to whether any litigant was
oppressed by the alleged failure of Judge
Swayne to acquire a legal residence in hi:
district, MI. Palmer said the evidence
abounded in such cases. He discussed at
length the statute governing contempt
cases and said it was $50 plain that a way
faring man or a fool may not err therein.
That, he said, was where this han has
Sinned."
Mr.. Palmer evoked loud applause when,
raising Hrs voice, he declared his intention
of introducing at the present session bill
which would give every man punished for
contempt the right to appeal to some higher
court.
Mr.. Palmer reviewed the contempt cases
of Belden and Davis, saying that Judge
Swayne claimed that the punishment of the
two men was moderate.
81 hope he added, GOD will be good to
the men that Judge Swayne imposes a Sc
we're sentence upon"
DnFn g. 6o ooto I'm, }so,, 80
Judge Swayne in Pensacola, Mr.. Palmer
said that no other judge on earth would
have done such a thing.
Judge Swayne's court, he said. was reek-
Ing with bankruptcies, scandals and sui
cides, and he did not believe the judge had
a friend in his district.
Taking up statements which have APP
peared in the newspapers that other
so day for expenses, Mr.. Palmer vehe-
mently declared that such statements
were SANDER on the judiciary of the
United States. There is not" he said, "a
syllable of testimony in this record or
anywhere on earth that any judge ever
did this thing but Judge Swayne." With
much earnestness he added that he made
the statement on his responsibility as a
member of the House. I'VE are trying
this case on the record" he said, "and
not on newspaper reports. thank God"
To refuse to support the charges, Mr..
Palmer exclaimed, woAld make the MEM
the United States.
A Bitter and Spirited Col1oquy
During the speech by Mr.. Littlefeld on
the Swayne impeachment spirited COLO
guy occurred between him and Representa-
tive Lamar of Florida.
Il desire to give the gentleman from
Florida said Me-. Littlefeid ian eppor-
tunity to repudiate an interview which. in
my opinion, does great violence to his rep
utation as an honorable gentleman and as
a member of this House."
Mr.. Littlefield then read the following in
terview from the Jacksonville Metropolis
which was credited to Mr.. Lamar:
81 looked on him (Judge Swayne) as
utterly corrupt and utterly tyrannical, and
as the most lawless man in the state OF
Florida. l said that if neither law nor
humanity appealed to Judge Swayne some
lawless man might wreak personal ven
geance on him for some cruel wrong"
The colloquy which followed was spirit
ed and at times unged with bitterness
MIR. Lamar practically admitted having
given the interview in question. but said
that he had never said anything that would
suggest assassination, and that he had
never believed that Judge Swaynes life
was in danger.
The colloquy continued for some time,
both gentlemen growing excited and bitter.