New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-08
ARCHIBALD CASE R00RBACK
Democrats Suspect Politics In
Spired the Charges.
HOPED TO HURT PRESIDENT
Committee Already Convinced
Mr.. Taft Acted Quickly and
Did All He Could.
IFrom The Tribune bureau. !


Washington, May After reading one
half the documents In the case to-day.
Democratic members Of the House Judiciary
Committee suspect there may be no small
measure OF politics I'm the charges against
Judge Robert w. Archibald. OF the COM
merce Court. and that the persons VINO
preferred the charges were inspired more
by a hope that thel might injure President
Taft than by n desire to purify the bench.
The members are also convinced that tnc
administration has done everything pos
sible and proper in the matter even before
the missing of the House resolution calling
for the facts.
With practically tho full membership in
attendance the committee began It's inVes-
tigation OF the charges against Judge Arch-
bald The committee examined for the nrst
time the papers sent by the President from
the Department of Justice. and partial
examination OF these papers Is said to nave
csta bllshcd the following facts:
The administration acted promptly In It's
investigation Of the charges, beginning an
inquiry within a week after they we're pre-
ferred. and continuing It until the House
called for the record. The investigation Of
the House committee may include matters
other than those probed by the department.
The preliminary examination OF the pa
pers has not established grounds for i'm
peachment proceedings. although. II Is
pointed out, the entire record has not been
read.
Some members Of the committee are de-
termlned TO go slowly In this Investigation.
1t is realized that the charges may have a
political purpose. and for this reason the
committee will proceed with caution, as Is
BETTING the gravity OF the charge that
Judge Archbald's influence was used to OBJ
tain at a low figure culm bank from a
railroad corporation.
| While the Department Of Justice was
| still engaged I'm its investigation the House
| adopted a resolution offered by Represen-
/ tatiye Norris of Nebraska, an insurgent
supporter of a thrd-term candidate. who
| believes in the doctrine Of the recall. The
| proof that the administration has not been
lax in instituting an inquiry into the Arch
! bald charges has had the effect OF raising
the question OF political ends.
The judiciary Committee purposes to hear
the Archibald case strictly on It's merits. II
the accused judge has been guilty OF i'm
| proper NOHuutt, lIlp'd'hH'h' P''N'N'''s'
will be recommended. on the other hand.
the committee Is determined that politics
shall play no part In the investigation. A
Democratic member declared after the Sc
cret session to-day that the case might
| possess political angles which must be
guarded against.
| The documents In the case will be taken
I'D again tomorrow, and at noon the com
| mittee hopes to begin open hearings. the
only witness here to-day was j.. j. Will
iams. of Scranton, alleged to have been a
marty 10 the negotiations. He was kept I'm
an anteroom until late this afternoon
when he was sworn and left the stand
without answering any questions.
Examination OF Mr.. Williams will begin
tomorrow, and Chairman Clayton said TO-
day that other witnesses I'm position 10
| throw light on the alleged transaction
would be promptly summoned.
| Although IL has not made public the re-
mort of the Department OF Justice, the
committee has found In II charges tha'
Judge Archibald, Mr.. Williams and W. r.
Roland. president Of the Marion Coal Com
| 800 of scranton. were to become jointly
interested I'm the purchase OF cuim Pile
from the Erie Railroad and were TO divia as
The prodts from the resale. which was
Mr. Roland preferred the charges against
Judge Archibald, formerly judge for the
Middle District of Pennsylvania. who 1t Is
asserted decided a case against the Bo-
land concern during the tendency OF the
nngo,iauons. The papers are also under
stood TO show that Mr.. Boland once re-
,usod N discount note given by Judge
Archibald and held by Mr.. Williams.
While w. p. Boland is reported unfriend'
~ n Judge Archibald. his brother George
o. said 10 be a defender of the jurist' and
the committee has determined to hear each
| - 49,. Roland brothers.