Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-13
Discusses the SWayne I'm
peachment Articles.
DEFENDS THE JUDGE
HOUSE PosTPoNEs PENSION BILLS
UNTIL TOMORROW.
Conferees Appointed on the Philippine
Government Bill-Senate Amend
ments Non-Concurred In.

Upon converting today the House OF Rep
resentatives non-coneurred in the Senate
amendments to the Philippine govern
ment bill and sent the bill to conference.
Inc speaker appointed as conferees on
the part of the House Messrs. Cooper
Qnd). Jones Va.) and Maddox (Ga.).
On motion of Mr.. Sulloway IN. II.), to-
morrow was substituted for today for the
consideration of pension bills.
A Dill was passed amending the Revised
Statutes regarding the competency of
witnesses to testify in any civil action.
The pending impeachment charges
against Judge Charles Swayne Of the
northern district OF Florida were then
taken up. Mr. Littlefield (Me.) resuming
his remarks begun yesterday.
MI. Littlefield. referring again to the
incompleteness Of the report of the testf-
mony OF Judge Swayne. said he had had
a conversation over night with Messrs.
Palmer (Pa) and Gillett (CaL). his col
leagues on the judiciary committee. both
OF Wnom had informed him that the testi-
mony relating to the Haskins bankruptcy
case mad been so inadequately reported
tnat they had directed that that portion
or the evidence be not printed, preferring
10 allow Judge Swayne an opportunity at
later nearing to restate the case. The
portion OF testimony, he said, which was
quoted by the majority of the committee
In their report was obtained from the
stenographers notes. although it had not
been included in the record.
Mr.. L1ttleheid discussed at length the &C
ton OF Judge Swayne in the ONeal con-
tempt case. He read from the opinion of
Judges Pardee Shelby and Mccormick of
the circuit court of appeals. in which
Judge Swayne was sustained, and in most
vigorous manner declared that II Judge
Swayne was to be impeached for acting as
he did In the case of O'Neal the three Judges
named also should be impeached.
With great bitterness of feeling Mr.. Little
held closed by saying that there had been
no hunting or bounding of Judge Swayne
until O'Neal sought to get his revenge and
undertook with his own weapon to paralyZe
the arm of every court that sat everywhere.
ONeal. he said was dead, but behind him
he had left that legacy and fair construc-
ton of the record showed that O'Neals
funds were to an extent carrying it on.
Mr.. Littlef1eld uttered the prayer that his
tongue should cleaye to the roof of his
mouth and his right hand forget its cum
ming before he lent himself by any act to-
ward the contamination of this infamous
legacy or hatred, malice and revenge"
The discussion OF the merits of any i'm
parchment proceeding by members Of the
House was commented upon by Mr.. Pow
ers of Massachusetts a member of the ju-
dietary comnatteea who maintained that
that was netf'th province of the House
The matteraIbf thes' guilt or innocence of
Judge Swayhe, hencontended. was entirely
for the Senate to decide, the duty of the
House being simply to pass on the question
Of probable cause and to see that the artf-
cles of Impeachment were in proper legal
form. 2Tcl. iise
His statement gave rise to considerable
discussion over point raised by Mr.. Park
err of New Jersey, that it was, only fair for
the House to see that man was honestly
charged with certain acts alleged to be
high crimes and miSdemeanorS.