The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-05-30
VACATION FUND
FOR ARCHIBALD
Lawyers Practicing Before
Him Contributed to Send
Him on Vacation.

Washington. May 3O.-Members of
the bar who practiced before Judge
Robert w. Archibald of the court of
commerce when he was United States
district judge at Scranton. Pa. CON
trlbuted to fund for vacation trip
to Europe for the judge according to
testimony given the house commit
Lanlhan of Wilkesbarre, former
member of congress. MIR. Lanihan
contributed $40 or SIS he could not
remember which. at the solicitation
OF =: w. Searle. clerk of Judge Arch
bald's court. Another firm in Wilkes
barre he said did likewise.
Taht Judge Archibald received the
money. MIR. Lanihan was convinced
He said he received letter from the
judge from Europe thanking him for
his contribution.
brought through Helm Bruce of
Louisville. Ky. counsel for the Louis
VILE and Nashville railroad Mr
Bruce produced letters which show
ed that Judge Archibald sought in
formation from the attorney and per-
mltted him to file what was conceded
to be an additional brief" after an
important case had been submitted
to the court for decision and to Judge
Archibald for the written opinion.
Inc case was known as the New
orleans board of trade case. 1t in
VOWED freight rates from New Or
leans to montgomery. Ala. via Mo
bile 1t was one of the first appeals
from the Interstate commerce COM
mission to the newly created court
OF commerce and its chief point was
a question of Jurisdiction
Mr.. Bruce read a letter from Judge
Archibald asking him to see c. q.
Compton. traffic manager or the
LOUISVILLE and Nashville and get from
MIN what he meant by nanswer he
nad nade IN his testimony to a COM
missioner. Judge Archbald's letter
pointed out that Mr. Compton's am
swer did not conform Wit hthe con-
text OF the testimony. Mr.. Bruce also
read his letter of reply to Judge Arch
paid containing a statement that MIR.
compton said he was erroneously rc
ported and that his answer should be
directly opposed to that contained i'm
the record 40
Later Judge Archibald wrote Mr..
Bruce from Florida. where he was
living IN house boat and asked for
an amplification of statement CON
tanned in the Louisville and Nash
vile brief which seemed at variance
with testimony. Mr.. Bruce replied
with tour thousand word letter. 1t
set forth the judges questions and
answered each in detail and at length
Mr. Bruce admitted that his letter
was an argument. kind of a brief
and that so far as he knew it had
not been submitted to opposing coun-
sci.
Representative Webb asked Mr..
Bruce If he had ever known ildge
to ask for such information before
Mr. Bruce said he had known Of
judges who consulted counsel.
Was this not an unusual proceed.
ing?" asked Mr.. Webb.
think 1t was unusual" answered
the railroad attorney.
MIR. Bruce also wrote letter to
Judge Archibald thanking him after
the decision was rendered. This de-
cision was favorable to the railroa d
ana against the interstate commerce
commission. He also produced Judge
Archbald's reply which was highly
complimentary to the attorney.
Former Representative Lanihan
also told the committee Of an error
by w. w. kissinger, whom he had
represented In case before Judge
Archibald to get him to discount a
note for S2.5O0.
Il asked him what he wanted with
the money" said Mr.. Lanihan. He
told me that he was interested with
Judge Archibald in a Honduras gold
mine and wanted to use the money
there. / would not grant his request
because 1 did not think the directors
of my bank would lend the money for
such an investment"
Albert III. Walker. an attorney. tes-
titled to his part in the proceedings
In New York when Judge Archibald
accepted the nolo contendere pleas Of
officials Of the so-called wire trust
and fined each of them $1,000.
Mr.. Walker said he had written
to Judge Archibald after this decision
warning him against such small fines
for big offenders. He also said he
declined appointment as an attorney
to institute Impeachment proceedings
against Judge Archibald at that time.