The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-07-08
Judiciary Committee Demands That
Archibald be lmpeached for
High Grimes and Mis-
demeanors.
WAS TOO MERcENARY
Business Deals While on the Bench
Were the undolns Of the
Pennsylvania
Court.

UNITED Press Leased Wire Service.
WASHINGTON, July 8.-Formal de-
mand that Judge Robert w. Archibald,
of the United States Commerce court,
be impeached for "misbehavior, and
high crimes and misdemeanors" was
made to the house of representatives
today by the judiciary committee. The
committee declared that Archbald's
sense Of moral responsibility has be-
come deadened," and that he has
prostituted his high office for personal
profit"
Thirteen articles OF impeachment
were presented in the resolution. The
judiciary committees report filed sup
Elementary to these formal demands,
bristled with bitter denunciation OF
Archibald.
"The testimony in the whole case"
the report says, tends to support the
general specification Of general misbe-
havoir. Judge Archibald was appoint
ed United States district judge for
the middle district Of Pennsylvania,
March 20, 1901, and held that office
until January 81, 1911, when he was
appointed an additional United States
circuit Judge. and designated one Of
the judges of the United States com
merce court.
The testimony shows that at DIFF
ferent times, while Judge Archibald
4 was Judge tf the United. States dis
trict court, he sought and obtained
credit, and in other instances sought
to obtain credit from persons who had
litigation pending in his court
THE testimony shows that after
Judge Archibald had been promoted to
the position of United States circuit
judge, and had been designated as
one of the judges Of the commerce
court, ~, in connection with different
persons, sought to obtain options on
culm dumps, and other coal properties
from officers, and agents of coal com
panies which were owned and con.
trolled by railroad companies.
The testimony further shows tha.
in order to influence officers of the
coal companies, which were subsidiary
to and owned by the railroad compan-
les. Judge Archibald repeatedly sought
to Influence the officials of the rail-
roads to enter into contracts with his
associates for the financial benefit of
himself, and his associates In most
instances, the contracts were execut-
ed in the name of the person asso-
ciated with the judge in the particu-
lar transaction or trade, and the
judges name was not disclosed on the
face of the contract Testimony
shows, however, that he was, as a
matter of fact pecuniarily interested
in such contracts and that while his
interest was not known to the public,
it was known to the officials of the
railroad companies, and of the coal
companies and their subsidiaries.
THE evidence discloses that while
the judges several associates or part
ners, would locate properties, the
judge would take up the matter of the
purchase or sale of such properties
with the officials of the coal compan-
les and railroad companies. While
these negotiations were being con-
Quoted, and agreements were made,
and sought to be made, the railroad
companies with what officers Judge
Archibald was making contracts and
seeking to make agreements, were
common carriers engaged in inter
state commerce with litigation pend
ing in the commerce court.
Such options, contracts and agree
ments were sought and obtained by
Judge Archibald to such an extent
that the exposure Of the judges sew
eral transactions through the press
gave rise to public scandal
THE testimony fails to disclose
any case in which Judge Archibald in.
vested any actual money of his own
in any of these several deals, but
shows that he used his personal in.
fluence as Judge in consideration of
which he received, or was to receive,
his share in the property or profits of
| the deal"
The committee summed UP It's opin.
ion OF such cour Q as having gross
ly abused the properties or his ornce
as judge"
THE conduct of this Judge the
committee reports, in conclusion,
has been exceedingly reprehensible,
and in marked contrast with the high
1 M Z s. s. b 4