New-York tribune., 1905-01-19
SWAYNE WILL BE TRIED.
HOUSE 4DOPTS CHARGES.
articles of Impeachment Approued
by Close Vote-Erciting Session.

lFRoM TIE TRIBUNE BUREAU.I
Washington. Jan. 1S-Amid intense but sup
pressed excitement with the membership Of the
lower chamber 50 evenly divided as to render
the verdict uncertain until the Speaker an
nounced the result. the House to-day voted to
support all the articles of impeachment against
Judge Charles Swayne. and he will be
raigned before the bar of the Senate charged
with high crimes and misdemeanOrs.
AS the hour OF $50 approached, when the vote
was TO be taken. the chamber filled every mem
Der now in Washington occupying his seat. while
the galleries were crowded with curious and
expectant throng. attracted to the scene by the
rarity and gravity Of the proceedings. Members
provided themselves with roll calls. preparing
to mark each vote as it was recorded. and when
the Speakers gavel ended Representative Palm
er's closing lea for the adoption OF the articles
of impeachment the two sides lined up for the
final struggle.
So close the vote on Representative Little
fields motion TO table which carried with II a
practical acknowledgement Of the failure or the
evidence to sustain the charges that a change
OF four would have meant the partial and pos
sibly complete exoneration Of the accused Judge.
far the House was concerned. The first
three articles OF impeachment covered the charge
of Decentralization Of expenses and II was on
these that the friends of Judge swayne elected
TO stand or fall While they gathered rsnswsd
hope as the vote proceeded. because unexpected
recruits rallied TO their support. the result cis-
closed that the Palmer forces were victorious IN
their first assault, and the friends OF Judge
Swayne were forced to beat retreat Subse-
quent ballots succeeding articles OF impsach-
ment indicated the gradual disintegration OF the
Swayne supporters. although in the final votes
their defiant noes echoed through the chamber
Arrayed against Representative Palmer In his /
fight for ha Of aka
cles Of impeachment were the leaders OF the
Republican side OF the chamber. among whom
were numbered the foremost lawyers OF the
House. Their legal arguments were regarded
as strong presentation OF the weakness OF the
evidence against Judge Swayne and as pointing
out the difficulties Of sustaining Impeachment
proceedings before the Senate on the testimony
in hand. A large proportion OF the Republican
membership OF the House had rallied in support
Of this contention but the solid vote OF the mi
nority. combined with those Republicans who
believed that case had been made was sufi-
eient to accomplish their defeat. Considerable
feeling engendered as the first vote was
taken. Mr.. Palmer openly charged that prom
inent New-England member had disregardsd his
pair and voted. The Representative in question
admitted that he had voted. but declared he had
done so under nisa pprehension. and withdrew
his vote After that so closely were the lists
scrutinized that il would have been impossible
for member 10 record vote for or against
the adoption of the articles Of impeachment il
any reasonable objection TO his doing could
have been sustained.
The debate to-day was chiefly notable for the
closing arguments That for Judge Swayne
was made by Mr. GflIett. Of California. and that
for impeachment by Mr.. Palmer. Of PennsyI-
vania. Mr. Gilett made an earnest plea for the
Judge, and Mr.. Palmer spoke strongly for purity
on the bench and for impeachment.
NARROW MAJORITY ON TEST VOTE.
Mr. LittIehelds motion to table the first three
articles was lost 165 TO $50. Speaker Cannon
had his vote recorded for the motion. Three
Democrats-BeH (CaL). Moon Tenn-). and
Thayer MASS voted 10 table. while twenty
four Republicans voted against the Littleheld
motion They were Bede NItnn) Cooper Cwis).
Darragh (Penn). Dayton CIV. Va), Driscoll
IN W Gibson CTenn), Haugen QOwa). HOlli-
day Uowa) Jenkins CWisD. Mccarthy CNeb).
Olmsted PENN. Often Cwis), Palmer Psnn)s
Pearre Odd9. Perkins On. y, Roberts CNfass).
Smith Gowa). spaIding On. ID, sperry (Conn).
Stafford CWis1. Thomas Gowa). Wanger PENN.
Webber (Ohlo). and woodward CIV. Val
Messrs Cochran and GoldfogIe OF New-York,
voted present" did Hughes (W. Va-)s
wachter Md, and Wilson QIl).
Mr.. Palmer at once moved to adopt the frsS
three articles. and this was agreed to. 165 yeas
100 nays.
Mr. Palmer then moved to adopt the fourth
and fifth articles. relating to the use Of the pri-
vate car Of a railroad. for which Judge Swayns
had appointed a receiver. This was carried BY
a vote or 1872 TO 13S.
The same motion was made with reference to-
Articles 6 and = charging Judge Swayne with
non-residence in his district. Mr. Ldttleheld se-
cured a roIIcsH on this motion. IL was adopted.
los TO 1871.
Mr.. Palmer at once moved the adoption Of Arr
tfcles \ O. 10 and II. relating 70 the Davis-Bsl-l
den contempt cases A rollcall was not demands
ed and IL was declared adopted on viva voc8
vote. The same motion was made with respect
to Article H. relating TO the O'Nea1 coltempe
proceedings. and IL likewise was adopted.
Mr. Palmer offered a resolution ernpowerins
the Speaker to appoint seven managers ths
part of the House to conduct the tmpeachmenE
proceedings. This was adopted without obtsc-
ton He followed il with another resolution erns
powering the seven managers to present the ar
tfcles Of Impeachment TO the Senate in the narna
of the House. and OF all the people OF the Unitsd
States. This resolution also was adopted withs
out opposition. whereupon the House at Ss&1
o'clock adjourned.