Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-04
PAPERS TURNED 0vEI
Result of Wickersham's Inquiry Is
Kept Secret.
IMPEACHMENT IS POSSIBLE
Jurist Accused Of Using Office to
Obtain Favors Of tho
Railroads.

The conduct Of Judge Robert W.
Archibald Of the Court Of Commerce
will become the subject of congress
sional injury by suggestion of Presi-
dent Taft. Impeachment proceedings
are possible should the judiciary COM
mittee OF the House find suficient
ground upon which to lodge charges
against the jurist before the House. It
is charged he has used his office to
obtain favors of the railroads.
President Taft today ordered ATTORNEY
General Wickersham to transmit to the
judiciary committee all Of the papers in
his custody that relate to charges against
Judge Archibald which, the President
said, were called to his attention by Com
missioner Meyer Of the interstate COM
merce commission.
The President in a message to the
House said that he did not believe it
compatible with the public interest to
lay these papers before the House Of
Representatives before the judiciary COM
mittee scrutinized them.
Message Of President.
The Presidents message after quoting
the Morris resolution calling for all the
papers in the case follows:
In reply / have to state that in Feb
ruary last certain charges Of improper
conduct by the Hon. Robert w. Archibald,
States court for the middle district of
Pennsylvania, and now judge of the Com
merce Court. were brought to my atten-
tion by Commissioner Meyer Of the inter-
state commerce commission.
II transmitted these charges to the At
torney General by letter, dated February
13, instructing him to investigate the
matter, confer fully with Commissioner
Meyer and have his agents make as full
report upon the subject as might be nee
essary, and. should the charges be estab-
lished sufficiently to justify proceeding
on them, bring the matter before the Ju-
dietary committee of the House of Rep
resentatives.
Careful Investigation.
careful Investigation Of the charges, and
as result of that investigation has ad-
vised me that, in his opinion, the papers
should be transmitted to the committee
on, the judiciary Of the-House to be used
by, them as basis for an investigation
into the facts involved in the charges.
I have therefore directed him to trans
NIT all Of the papers to the committee on
the Judiciary: but, in my opinion, and
think 1t will prove in the opinion Of the
committee, it is not compatible with the
public interests to lay all these papers be-
fore the House of Representatives until the
committee on the judiciary shall have
sifted them out and determined the extent
to which they deem it essential to the
thoroughness of their investigation not to
make the same public at the present time
But all Of the papers are in the hands of
the committee and. therefore, within the
control Of the House"
Many Witnesses Heard.
The Department Of Justice inquiry was
conducted by Wrisley Brown. special as
sistant to the Attorney General who took
| testimony in the case at Scranton, Pa,
and vicinity. He heard many witnesses
on both sides of the matter.
The report of Mr.. Brown, sent to the
committee by the Attorney General. is
a voluminous document, with many ex-
hibits in the shape of copies Of photo
graphs of correspondence and contracts.
The alleged cum bank deal is not thN
only transaction involved in the charges.
three or four different railroads or their
subsidiaries.
One Of the specific allegations made
against the judge, it is said. Is that he
was interested in the proposed purchase
of some culin banks owned by coal
| company controlled by the Erie railroad.
| 1t is asserted that these piles of refuse
| coal were to be bought for compara-
| lively small sum and sold at a profit IF
$4,000 to 10000, Of which, 1t 10 charged,
| Judge Archibald would receive one-tniru
as his share.
| President Taft instructed Attorney Gen.
eral Wickersham to make q diliEent In.
Quiry and report its results to the House
judiciary committee.