The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-01-17

Washington, Jan. 12.-Another step
in the proceedings to bring about the
impeachment before the senate of
Judge Swayne, of the Northern dis
trict of Florida was taken in the house
of representatives today, when there
was reported from special commit
tee the articles of impeachment which
had been prepared by the majority.
Two minority reports from the COM
mittee were submitted The discus
sion lasted FIVE hours and half. 1t
will be continued tomorrow.
Mr.. Littlefield, (Rep., Maine) will
continue his remarks not concluded
when adjournment was taken.
Just before adjournment the house,
without objection. agreed to the reso-
luton of Mr.. Shackleford (Mo.) pro-
viding that the committee on inter-
state and foreign commerce imme-
diGtely begin an investigation of the
affairs of the Panama Railway Co
This corporation Is now owned by
the United States government, pur-
chased from the new Panama Canal
Co. at the time the canal property was
taken over. The author of the meas
ure at the time of it's introduction
charged that there were species of
graft in the corporation that would
sstound the public If unearthed The
committee charged with the investi.
cation and from which the resolution
had been favorably reported, felt that
the charges were of sufficient gravity
to warrant Thorough inquiry.
The time of the senate was divided
between an Informal discussion of the
shipping bill and the proposed aid to
be given the department cf COM
merce in its investigation of trade con-
ditions at home and abroad
1t was Immediately after the opening
Of the house that Representative Pal
mer, of Pennsylvania, called for the
reading of the articles Of impeach-
ment. Messrs. Palmer, Powers cf Ver-
mont, Clayton, of Alabama and De
Almond, Of Missouri, submitted the
articles of impeachment. Messrs. lit
tlefeld, (Naine) and Parker, New
Jersoy) declared that his Justification
of expense vouchers is the only i'm
peachment act Representative Gil
lett, of California, agreeing with the
findings Of fact of the minority, yet
declared that he should not be i'm
peached for following practice so
we'll established
In opening the argument, Mr. Pal
mer made an exhaustive explanation
Of the najority's report. Referring to
Judge Swayne, he declared:
"The track of this man from the
time OF his appointment as a Judge
to the present is spread all over with
bankruptcy, fraud, suicide and blood. ;"
Mr.. Littlefield charged the majority
of the committee with rushing the
impeachment through the Judiciary
committee without giving the mem
bers time to consider the testimony.
He called the attention of Mr.. Lamar,
Of Florida, to an alleged interview
with Lamar. in southern paper, in
which Lamar pointed out the terrors
of the Swayne regime. He promised
that from the floor of the house, he
would "tell the story of William
Tell and point to that solitary bath
room in Paris where Charlotte Cor
day found the victim"
81 want to give the gentleman from
Florida the opportunity of repudi-
ating that interview" said Mr.. Lit
tlefleld.
Mr. Lamar admitted the correctness
of the interview. but denied the i'm
putations Of the gentleman from
Maine. He referred to Judge Swayne
as ''the most lawless man in the state
of Florida" and explained that he had
simply desired to point out that where
evils are not corrected by the law,
they are frequently corrected ont
side the law. But he Is just as safe
In Florida as he would be in Maine" 4"