Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-05-06
IN POSSESSION or
ALL FACTS GATHERED ~
WickERshAM.
CONTENTS OF PAPERS
TO BE MADE PUBLIC SOON
Action Of Congress Probably Will
Cause impeachment Trial Of Federal
Jurist-FuiI Inquiry Into Matter -
Taft Thinks Facts So Far Developed
Should Be Kept Secret.

aShington. May 6.-President Taft
sent to the house of representatives
the charges against Associate Judge
Robert W. Archibald, of the United
States commerce court.
The presidents message states that
, in his opinion. it is not compatible with
the public interest to make the details
of the charges public and by his direc-
ton the attorney general sent them in
sealed envelope to the house judici-
airy committee.
The committee will consider them at
a meeting on Monday or Tuesday and
give them to the press.
The temper of the house in this mat
ter was shown this afternoon when it
adopted unanimously resolution in
troduced by Representative Clayton
chairman of the judiciary committee.
directing the fullest investigation into
the charges.
Full Inquiry Into Matter.
The message shows that the presi-
dent on Feb. 10 directed the attorney
general to investigate the charges. that
such investigation was made. and that
as result of the investigation, the
attorney general concluded the matter
should be brought before the house.
This means. of course. that Mr.. Wick
ersham decided the house should con-
slider the charges with a view to de-
termining whether or not Impeachment
proceedings should be instituted
Nevertheless. Mr.. Taft did not seEd
them to the house until after the facts
became public. and the reason for hts
delay is sail to he his fear that the
revelations would increase the deter
miration of congress to abolish the
commerce court and also he construed
as supporting the contentious Of Colonel
Roosevelt with respect to the need Of
judicial reform.
Text Of Presidents Message.
The presidents message was as fol-
lows: iA&
I'm reply to the Norris resolution. 1
have to say that in February last GER
tain charges of improper conduct by
Robert W. Archibald. formerly district
Judge OF the United States court for
the middle district OF Pennsylvania and
now Judge of the commerce court. were
sioner Meyer of the interstate COM
.merce commission.
II transmitted these charges to the
attorney general by letter. dated Feb
13. instructing him to investigate the
matter. confer fully with Commissioner
Never. and have his agents make as
full repor- apon the subject as might
be necessary, and should the charges
be established sufficiently TO justify
proceeding on them bring the matter
before the judiciary committee OF tie
house Of repre- sentatives.
Action b. Attorney General.
1.-The attorney general has made
careful IN .esi cation of the ch 'rgeS.
and as result of that investigation
has advised me that in his opinion the
papers should lie transmitted II 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.
81 have therefore directed him to
transmit all OF the papers 20 ;ns conf
n:ttee on the judiciary. bat IN IVY
opinion-and think it Will prove in the
opinion of the comnittee-ii IS not
cnmpatible Will. the public irt':es's to
,ay all these narers before the house O.
representatives until the com 'l1ttee on
tho judiciary shall have sifted them
cut and deter mined the extent to which
they deem It ess entail 20 the thorough
n. ss OF their investigation. nor to make
the same I;:ibiic at the pres.n- .lne.
Rut all of tn. rapers are In the hands
of the committee. and therefore within
,lo control 81 the house"