The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-07-09
ARCHIBALD is
IMPEACHED
Denunciation Of Judge Before
House
COMMITTEE IS UNANIMOUS
furist Used Office for Personal Profit
His Conduct Prejudicial to the
Repute of the Federal
Judiciary.
COMMITTEE Is UNANIMOUS

Washington, July chairman Hen
ry D. Clayton Of the committee on judi
ciary Of the House of Representatives
presented yesterday to the House ID
articles of impeachment against Judge
Robert w. Archibald Of the United States
court of commerce Mr., Clayton's re-
port was unanimous from his committee.
1t constitutes the ninth impeachment
of judicial or civil official OF the United
States government, and IS the first since
the impeachment trial Of Judge Charles
S. Wayne of the northern district Of
Florida, who was acquitted on Febru-
airy 27, 1908.
"The conduct Of this judge has been
exceedingly reprehensible and in marked
contrast with the high sense of judicial
ethics and probity that in general char
aeterizes the federal judiciary" The
committee made this statement in sum,
ming up its findings of MISCELLANEOUS in
office against Judge Archibald.
'Your committee is of the opinion that
Judge Archbald's sense Of moral respon
sibility has become deadened," said the
committee. HE has prosttuted his high
office for personal profit He has at
tempted by various transactions to COM
mercalize his potentiality as judge. He
has shown an oyerweening desire to
make gainful bargains with parties hay
ing cases before him or likely tn have
Eases before him. To accomplish this
purpose, he has not hesitated to use his
official power in such cases. He has
degraded his high office and destroyed
the confidence of the public in his judi
cial integrity. He has forfeited the con
dition upon which he*holds his commits
sion and should be removed from office
by impeachment"
Accompanying the articles Of impeach.
ment, Chairman Clayton presented a
brief to show that the actions Of Judge
Archibald described as 4'misbehavior"
came within the purview of the consti-
tutional provision for impeachment,
which enumerates treason, bribery, OF
ether high crimes and misdemeanors.'
The penalty provided in successful i'm
parchment cases is removal from office
and may include bar from ever hold
Ing any office of trust or honor again
Judge Archibald was appointed United
States Judge for the middle district of
Pennsylvania by President Mckinley on
March 20, 1901, during recess of Con-
gress. On December 27 1901, he was
recommended by President Roosevelt.
He was commissioned United States
circuit judge and assigned to the com
merce court by President Taft on Janu-
airy 81, 1911.
The proceedings against Judge Arch
bald began when the House adopted a
resolution by Representative Norris of
Nebraska, calling on the department Of
justice for report of its investigation
of the judicial conduct OF Judge Arch
bald. On May 3 last, President Taft
transmitted to the House the nvestiga. |
tions of Interstate Commerce Commits
sioner Meyer and of Wrisley Brown, spe-
rial attorney of the department of JUS
tice, and the recommendation of Attor-
ney- General Wickersham that the /
charges be referred to the House
On May last, Chairman Clayton !
called on the Judiciary committee to con-
slider the Archibald charges. Testimony
was taken in open session until June e. t
Judge Archibald and his counsel were
present at all times.