Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-12-14

ter is referred to the judiciary Com
mittee for investigation. Or again
the matter may come up, as it did in
the present Archibald case, on the
Initiative of the President of the
United States. President Taft, it may
be remembered, had the \ Attorney
General investigate the charges which
were lodged with him against Judge
Archibald and when the head of the
Department of Justice reported that
the matter was serious enough to war.
rant action by the Judiciary Commit.
tee of the House the President sent
special message to that effect to
the lower house of Congress.
Charges Itself Down.
But whatever the exact route taken
such charges come in due course to
the Judiciary Committee to be there
thoroughly sifted before action is tax.
en- on the lines laid down by the Con
stitution. This committee, which be
comes for the time being an investi-
eating committee, is given power to
send for persons and papers; to sub
poena witnesses and to administer
oaths. IN short it is invested with
most of the powers of court of law
in order that the probers may get at
the truth of the accusations which are
rife Great numbers of witnesses are
usually examined and it may be neces-
sary, as in the Archibald case, for the
Judiciary Committee to devote weeks
to hearing the evidence in the case
before any conclusion can be arrived
at. In the end the Committee makes
a report to the House either favorable
or adverse to impeachment and the
entire body of Congressman then vote
on the, question. Impeachment is ac-
complished by the passage by the
House of a resolution and articles OF
impeachment, which are forthwith
presented to the Senate with de-
mand for the conviction and removal
from office of the accused.
Archibald Trial May Be Long.
The number and character of the
charges against Judge Archibald and
the number of witnesses that were ex-
amined in the preliminaries OF the
past summer give promise OF a pro-
longed trial with vast amount of
te testimony to be considered Newspa-
per readers will scarcely need to be
reminded that the charges against the
jurist embrace no fewer
than thirteen misdeeds. He is &C
cused of having had business dealings
affecting coal lands, etc., with par
ties having cases before him or likely
t. have cases on trial before him and
OF having accepted money from attor-
neys practicing in his court. The srcn-
bald case is unique among all the i'm
peachment cases ever tried In this
country in that some of the offenses
of which he is accused are alleged to
have been committed when he was
holding a judicial position other than
than which he Low occupies. In uther
words he is in part being tried for old
offenses, but since he then. as now,
vas the occupant of L. S. judicial po-
siC;on he is as liable in the one as in
he other.
Perhaps the most solemn features
If the Impeachment was witnessed on
he opening day of the trial Certain
members CT the House were designat-
FL to act as managers" Of the i'm
,eachment proceedings before the
Senate and upon the arrival of these
lignit2ries in II e Senate Chamber to
Exhibit the articles Of impeachment
he Geargaant-at-ArmS formally de-
handed that all persons keep silence |
N pain CT IMPRISONMENT.
At o'clock in the afternoon on the |
I;.y following the presentation of the |
papers the Senate pro- |
eCAcd to ccnsider tho articles and !
fter the trial thus cqnTenced it con- |
inu2s il session from day to day. !
sundays excepted; until final judg- !
nCnt is rende-e' However. before |
he trial is entered upon it is tho duty I
f TIC Presiding Officer % administer |
lie oath t. each Senate" in attend |
nrc.. The PrCri,'in@ Officer is vested !
18th ConSiu -raUle auth0rjt in the |
cnd"ct of an impeachment trial. Not !
nlv does he h2:C to az as to all :
orUls of '~Hcee"in@s hut tie may rule !
n al gu, stiol ) CT evidence. An7 |
erator NAV, oWevCr. aEpcG1 from
~ n decision end have the matter
admitted to IL" Senate on q formal /
etc. The accused official is. of
Curse. expected to hc present at tie |
rial of e rcnrese cd by attoTE eys.