New-York tribune., 1905-01-18
COCHRAN ASSAILS JUDGE.
LIVELY DAY IN HOUSE.
Vote on S5cayne Impeachment
Charges This afternoon.
EFRom THE TRIBUNE sUREAU.l

washington. Jan. IA vote will have been
taken on the articles Of impeachment In the
case OF Judge Charles Swayne Of the United
States Circuit Court of Florida. by the time the
House adiourns tomorrow, and the decision
then reached will indicate the charge or charges
on which the accused Judge viii be tried before
the bar OF the Senate.
II is generally assumed that the Democrats
viii vote solidly in favor of the majority report
which recommends impeachment on the follow
ing charges: False expense certihcation, nom
residence in his district, unlawful personal use
OF a railroad while in the hands OF receiver
appointed by Judge Swayne the O'Neal con-
tempt case and the Belden and Davis contempt
cases. AS there a number Of Republicans
who also believe that the evidence supports this
report the impression prevails that ii Will be
adopted unless there is radical change in the
sentiment OF the House before the vote is cast
That the lower chamber is striving honestly
and conscientiously 10 arrive at fair. impartial
and unprej judiced decision has been indicated by
the character Of the debate. The ablest lawyers
the floor have submitted arguments for or
against the accused Judge in which they have
arrived at totally different conclusions from the
consideration OF the same evidence. but there
has been a gratifying absence Of partisanship,
and the debate has been enlivened by compare
lively few personalities.
ter from Don A Pa3dee. United States Circuit
Judge, OF New-Orleans in which he gave Judge
Ewayne clean bill, caused q sensation, and led
20 a fierce denunciatiOa of Judge Pardee by
Bourke Cochran, OF New-YorlI. He intimated
that II might be as well 10 extend the scope of
the impeachment proceedings to include
'tR Judge who has discredit<d obedience to law
by another Judge"
After the House had agreed 20 vote the
Impeachment articles tomorrow at $50 o'clock
the debate was carried on at high pressurs for
more than five hours Mr.. Grosvenor, Of Ohio.
furnished the text for Mr.. Cockran's vigorous
speech by reading Judge Pardees letter. de-
claring that politics was at the bottom of the
Impeachment proceedings. The fact of judge
transmitting such a letter. Mr.. Cochran de-
clared dramatically, "a monstrous spec
tacle."
In HIS letter Judge Pardee expresses surprise
that the House Committee on judiciary voted
six Democrats and two Republicans" to pre-
sent articles of impeachment against Judge
Swayne. He reviews the circumstances of Judge
Swayne's appointment in the early part Of the
Harrison administration and following cleo
tion in Florida in which It reported. and
generally believed. that gross frauds had been
perpetrated against the Republican party.
Judge Swayne had told him that it was the
desire of the administration that those guilty
OF the frauds should be proceeded against. This
litigation had engendered intense feeling
against Judge Swayne. 1t was then regarded
hazardous for Judge Swayne TO travel about
the district and from that time Judge
Swayne was persona grata to the Demo-
Gratis in Florida.
After reading the letter Mr. Grosvenor took up
the defence Of Judge Swayne, and asserted that
there was ground for impeachment in the
port Of the committee The other defenders OF
the Florida judge were Messrs. Lacey. Of Iowa;
Nevin, OF Ohio: Moon, OF Pennsylvania, and
Crumpacker, Of Indiana Mr.. Lamar. of Flor
ida. closed the debate for the day, reviewing the
sentiment of his State ana the record Of Judge
Swayne. he declared there was ample ground
for impeachment.