Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-03
Senate Sits as Impeach-
ment Body on Commerce
Court Member.
CHARGES NOT DENIED
But Counsel for Accused Main
tainS None of Cited Acts
Is Improper.

| Washington, Dec. 3-For the ninth
time in its history the senate conven-
ed today as a high court of impeach-
ment to try Judge Archibald of the
commerce court on 13 separate
charges alleged to constitute high
crimes and misdemeanors." Counsel
| for the Judge admitted the commission
of all the acts alleged, but denied any
was improper.
At 1890 the Archibald trial began,
after the adoption of formal orders
for meeting at p. m daily the court
! recessed until o'clock.
MORE TIME ASKED.
The trial of Judge Robert w. Arch
bald of the United States commerce
! court for conduct amounting TO a vi
olation Of his oath as federal Judge
had been set to open today before the
senate court of Impeachment as a re-
suit Of Judge Archbald's request last
August that his attorneys be given
more time to prepare their case.
The charge against Judge Archibald
arose in connection with private and
official acts both as a judge of the
court of commerce and as United
States district judge for middle Penn
sylvania. He was impeached by the
house of representatives after a full
investigation of the facts by the de-
partment of justice, and extended
hearings before the house judiciary
committee.
The managers appointed by the
house to prosecute the case before.
the senate asked for an immediate
trial last August, but the senate de-
clined to hasten it's consideration of
the case. During the last week scores
OF subpoenas were issued for witness
es who will be brought before the
senate by the house managers and
by Judge Archbald's attorneys in con-
nection with the trial.
FIRST CASE SINCE 1904.
After the house committee on Judi
clary had concluded its hearings last
spring it recommended that Judge
Archibald be called before the senate
under Impeachment proceedings, The
Impeachment powers was in 1904
when Judge Swane was called TO ac-
count for misconduct and was acuI1it-
ted by the senate. The house of rem
resentatives on July II, 1912, adopt-
ec articles Of impeachment by a vote
OF 222 to l and a committee headed
by Representative Clayton of Alaba-
I m 70
on the part Of the house to try the
case before the senate. The house
managers urged the senate to grant an
immediate trial, but that body declin-
ed TO hear the case before the end of
the last session.
Thirteen separate articles consti-
tute the basis for the impeachment
trial. These embrace dealings be-
tween Judge Archibald and railroad
officials and others in regard to Penn
| sylvania coal or 'culm" dumps and
coal lands; contributions by attorneys
and others TO the judges vacation
trip to Europe in 1910; reputed sec
ret correspondence by the Judge with
a railroad attorney concerning a pend.
ing case, and alleged attempts to have
notes payable to Judge Archibald dis
| counted by attorneys and litisants be-
| fore his court
MORAL SENSE DEADENED.
! In presenting the case TO the bouse
Representative Clayton said that the
judiciary committee w.s of opinion
that Judge Archbald's sense of moral
responsibility had become deadened"
and that he had "prostituted his high
Office for personal profit" The prin-
cipaI charge grew out OF the Katvdid
culm bank deal. In this charge il
was asserted that while the Erie rail
road company had pending before the
commerce court two suits. Judge
Archibald, corruptly taking adyan-
tage OF his Official position, induced
the officials of the Hillside Coal G.
Iron company and Of the Erie railroad,
which owned that company. to agree
to sell the coal company's interest in
tie Katydid dump to Judge Archibald
and Edward ]. Williams.
In his answer Judge Archibald de-
MED that he had acted corruptIy. or
had taken advantage OF his position.
His attorneys took the position that
1t was not crime for federal Judge
to become interested in an attempt TO
purchase property from one who was
or might become htigant before his
court. They declared that no attempt
was made TO get the property for less
than its fair value.
ASSISTS IN A SUIT.
, Another prominent charge was that
Judge Archibald undertook for a COD