The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-05-07
TWO FEDERAL
JUDGES IN FOR
IMPEACHMENT
Congressman Murphy of Mis-
souri, to File Charges Against
Philips and Mcpherson.
THREE-CENT RATE LAW
CAUSES THE TROUBLE
TEMPORARY INJUNCTION BY
ONE JURIsT CONTINUED
BY THE OTHER.

Washington. May 6.-FOrmal charges
of impeachment against Federal Judges
Philips and Mcpherson will be filed by
Representative Murphy of Missouri,
who made announcement of that fact
Immediately after the house adjourned
today.
Incensed over a telegram to Attorney
General WickeTsham by Frank Hager-
man, attorney for eighteen railroads, in
which Mr.. Hagerman characterized Mr.
MUrphy's resolution of inquiry into the
official conduct Of the two judges as AN
outrageous tissue of misrepresenta-
ton" Mr.. Murphy today held the at
tention of the house with a repetition of
the charges which he had made in his
original resolution.
His colleague. Mr.. Rucker, corrobO-
rated all that he said in denuneiation of
the action of the two judges in connec-
ton with MissOuri's 2-Cent passenger
rate law and the maximum freight law
Incidentally, Mr.. Rucker remarked that
Judge Philips ought to have been i'm
peached twenty years ago.
Question OF Privilege.
Mr. Murphy brought the matter up as
question Of personal privilege. He
had read some newspaper dispatches to
the effect that Frank Hagerman. attor-
ney for eighteen railroads, had tele-
graphed the attorney general of the
United States. alleging that the charges
in the Murphy resolution were IAN out
rageous tissue of Misrepresentation by
one who has no knowledge of the facts. 81
Mr.. Clayton of Alabama, d member
of the. judiciary committee, objected
saying the argument was not one of
/ personal privilege.
Sneaker Cannon rIlIpd that Mr. Nrrr-
ply was within his rights, and could
continue, but he had not proceeded far
when Mr. Henry Of Texas, another
member Of the judiciary committee
stopped him with an inquiry as to
whether he did not intend formally to
I bring in charges of impeachment. The
Missouri member, however. did not give
a direct answer, but continued his re-
cital of the charges contained in his
resolution He called on Mr.. Rucker,
his colleague. to substantial what he
was saying.
Mr.. Rucker did so. and declared that
Judge Philips should have been i'm
peached twenty years ago.
Payne Objected In Vain.
Several times Mr.. Payne. the major
lily leader. objected, saying that Mr.
/ Murphy could not yield for debate.
Z Later ne again ODJecIeO on the ground
that Mr.. Murphy was travelling outside
/ the issue raised by the Hagerman tel
/ egram and the preamble of the resolu-
ton.
/ Again IN passing on the resolution.
/ Speaker Cannon ruled in favor of Mr..
/ Murphy, remarking that "the telegram
/ is pretty broad"
Continuing, Mr.. Murphy denied that
/ the state of Missouri had been accord
| ed every courtesy in the rate cases as
was stated in Mr.. Hagerman's tele-
/ gram. The state, he declared, had no
/ knowledge or notice whatever Of the
first injunction in those cases.
/ "I am asking the congress of the
I United States" he said, ito give back
to US that government which you hand
ed to us when you admitted US as a
state i'm the Union by requiring the fed
erai judiciary in the western district of
1 Missouri to proceed along orderly and
decent lines in the execution of the
! law" The house then adjourned and
/ Immediately thereafter Mr.. Murphy no
titled members of the judiciary commit
tee that he would at once present for
lmal charges Of impeachment against
the two judges.