Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1911-03-02
HOUSE AGAIN ,akES
up COWAN CASE
TESTIMONY GIVEN TO INVESTI-
eating COMMITTEE READ
&. ST
IN HOUSE
Neng Debate as to House Bringing
impeachment Charges Before
Senate


Senate
Bismarck, Feb. 2Sth.-(Special)-
Yesterday afternoon, owing to the
petitions received by Speaker Han
ley for reconsideration Of the Co.
wan Impeachment case Rep. Homnes
moved that the resolutions be re-
ferred to a special committee of five
members. Mr.. Williams moved that
the communications be laid on the
table as the matter had been disposed
OF, as far as the house was concerned,
although he admitted that members
were willing to acknowledge that Co
wan had his faults. The motion was
declared lost on close vote, 4S to
AZ.
At today's session resolution was
proposed by Chairman Jordal of the
committee appointed to investigate
the charge against Cowan, looking
to a hearing of the testimony in the
case by the house, in the committee
of the whole. The matter was a
greed to, and the testimony which
had been given to the committee was
read in the house, or digest OF the
same. Mr.. Price before the taking
of the testimony moved that the Inn
parchment proceedings be voted in
the house. This was objected to un-
til the house heard the testimony
and a reading of the digest of the
evidence proceeded. This was dur
ing the morning hours.
Afternoon Session
After the testimony had been read
in the house long and acrimonious
debate followed. Ployhar of Valley
City, who voted for the adoption of
the committees report offered reso-
luton of impeachment and the case
be sent to senate for trial. This was
seconded by Frame of Grafton, and
the debate brought forth a number
of warm speeches. Among the
speakers was Speaker Hanley who
maintained that the house should act
not from any outside pressure but on
the strength of the evidence before
it. A debate was participated in by
Homnes, Doyle, Streeter and others.
The speaker held that the matter
should be reconsidered and could be
under the rules. At 4:15 this after
noon no action had been taken, and
it was difficult to tell whether the
house would vote impeachment pro-
ceedings or not.
Streeter of Emmons county called
the attention of the house to the
utterances of the Fargo Courier
News, and referred to the personal
record of the editor. The house dis
cussed the action of meetings held at
several places among them James
town in regard to the criticism OF
that body. and there were several
personal privilege speeches.
If the house should finally declare
! for an impeachment. the matter will
70 to the senate, which will act as
trial court. At least twenty days
notice will have to be given. the de-
fendant, Judge Cowan,, and the house
will appoint committee OF managers
I Of the prosecution. The senate will
4 have to convene at later, time and
!. hear the case in q body The work
cannot be delegated to q committee.
1T will be some time. probably In.
April, before the impeachment pro-
ceedings will be taken up. It will
REQUIRE two-thirds Of the vote Of the
senate to impeach: The state pays
all the expenses Of the impeachment
proceedings, except the expenses OF
the defendant and witnesses.
House Votes Impeachment
59 LATER-4:3O p. ma vote of the
house on the resolution for impeach-
ment was taken and the resolution
carried by vote Of ga to 35. A call
Of the house was had and three mem
bers found absent. Impeachment
proceedings will therefore be sent to
the senate.
senate Bills Passed by House
The house yesterday morning did
much routine business. The follow
ing disposition Of senate bills was
made:
ITS, Welo. prohibiting school Of
1icers from receiving commission on
school supplies. passed 80 to 9.
4s, ,Granvold, speed Of locomotives
through cities, passed Is to 8.
so. committee relating 70 contract