The news & observer., 1905-01-18
Replying to His Plea for
Judge Swayne.
HOUSE VOTES TODAY
Passing on Impeachment in the After
noon. Yesterday in Debate 1t
Was Charged that SWayne
Was a Political Vic

Try the Associated Press.l

WaSnlnSjOn, JdI. W. TN >'ti
agreement reached to vote on the
Swayne impeachment articles tomor-
row at $50 o'clon'- the debate today
was carried on at high pressure for
more than five hours. Mr.. Grosvenor
furnished the text for a vigorous
speech by Bourke Cochran by the
reading of a letter from Judge Par
dee, of New Orleans, declaring that
politics was at the bottom of the I'M
parchment proceedings The fact of q
Judge transmitting such a letter, Mr..
Cochran declared dramatically was
"a monstrous spectacle
Mr. Grosvenor asserted that this
was no ground presented for i'm
peachment in the report of the COM
mittee The other defenders of the
Florida Judge during the day were
MessrS Lacey, of Iowa, Neyin of Ohio,
Moon, of Pennsylvania. and Crum-
packer. of Indiana. Mr. Lamar, of
Florida, closed the debate for the day.
reviewing the sentiment of his State
and the record of Judge Swayne. He
declared there was ample ground for
Impeachment.
Mr.. Grosvenor (Ohio) began a
speech in behalf of Judge SWayne. by
the statement that he had never been
so much shocked as to the status OF
some expressions of bad temper and
bad legal propositions that had beer
made in the debate "Gentlemeny who
have argued for the persecution" he
continued, "have given out in advance
that there wars nothing 10 consider that
was not contained in the report in the
case. Yet / submit that nine-tenths
of the argument has not been made
on matters contained in the record
Papdee Rocks SWayne
Mr.. Grosvenor had read a letter
from Judge Don A. Pardee, of New
Orleans.
In it Judge Pardee expresses sur
prise that the House Committee on
the Judiciary had voted "six Demo-
Gratis and two Republicans" to present
articles of impeachment against Judge
Swayne. He reviews the circumstance
of Swayne's appointment in the early
part of the Harrison administration
i and following an election in Florida
in which it was reported and gener-
ally believed. that gross frauds had
been perpetrated against the Repub-
lican party Judge Swayne had told
MIN that it was the desire OF the ad-
ministration that those guilty of these
frauds should be proceeded against.
This litigation had engendered an IN
tense feeling against Judge SWayne.
1t was then regarded as hazardous
district and from that time on Judge
Swayne was persona non grata to the
Democrats in Florida.
FOLLOWING this unpopularity. the
letter continues, Judge Swayne's dis
trict was changed largely for the pur-
pose of furnishing him. The change Of
the district resulted in his being. as it
were legislated out of his district
He states that Judge SWayne imme
diately set about obtaining new
residence within his district, which
took four or five years Judge
hardship on Judge Swayne to hold
him to a very rapid compliance with
the alleged spihit of Section 155 by
moving his residence, when Congress
saw fit, as a matter of punishment TO
change the limits of the district for
which he was appointed. Exactly
what proof he will be able to make
upon this line I am not fully advised,
but being satisfied as | am that the
original motive of the prosecution is
based on political grounds. and that
his district limits Were changed 10
his prejudice, l do not think that
Republican House should vote i'm
parchment against him.
He next refers to the act of "a
partisan legislature, in Florida
passing a resolution calling for the
Impeachment of Judge Swayne Of
absence from his district incompe-
tence and partisanship.
1t was this resolution, passed about
ten years ago, recently re-enacted by
the same body, that Judge Pardee
said he understood had been consid-
cred against Judge Swayne by the
House Committee.
Judge Pardee saws that from his
acquaintance with Judge Swayne he
considers the charge of 'incompe
tency' anoutrage.
Judge Pardee concluded by saying
that "some of the Northern brethren
ought to look carefully into the case
and be sure that an Impeachment
ought to be voted before putting "a
y judge to the disgrace of an impeach-
ment, consequent expense, trial and
tribulatio to himself and family re-
sulting therefrom.
Coclxran's FOrceful Reply.
Mr. Cochran lamented that the
proceedings might not have proceed
ed along non-partisan lines Strange
as il may seem, he continued 1.-The
first partisan argument comes from
outside the House. 1t comes from the
bench ITSELF This was. he said
reason for extending the operation of
the Houses scrutiny. There was he
said, a vast difference between an
impeachment and an Indictment. a
fact which the House had seemingly