The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-11-08

Savannah, Ga, Nov 2-The stage
has been set for the preliminary inves-
tigation of Judge Emory Speer of the
South Georgia district court, who faces
impeachment at the hands of congress.
Unless Judge Speer's dangerous illness,
which now confines him to his summer
home at Mount Airy, Ga, changes
present plans, hearings will begin son
in Washington. Ten days later the
sub committee will transfer the scene
of its operations to Macon. Hearings
will also be held at Savannah, Au-
gusta, Albany and other points in
south Georgia.
The investigation will be conducted
under the authority conferred by the
house of representatives on the judi
ciary committee as a result of charges
that were filed against Judge Speer
by the department of justice, following
an exhaustive INVESTIGATION of his off,
cial acts. 1t is the plan of the COM
mittee to proceed with as much haste
as is consistent with free and fair
inquiry as to the facts, with a view to
making its report to the house in De-
cember.
Chairman Clayton of the judiciary
committee has announced the follow
ing SUBJ committee to conduct the pre-
liminary investigation: Congressman
Webb of North Carolina, chairman;
Floyd Of Arkansas and Volstead of
Minnesota. The last named is a Re-
publican. On the strength of the re-
port OF the judiciary committee, fol-
lowing the investigation by this sub
committee, the house will determine
whether the charges against Judge
Speer warrant his impeachment
Judge Speer will be accorded every
opportunity to defend himself against
the charges He will be allowed rep
resentation by counsel before the in
vestigating committee. He will also be
allowed to appear in person and make
a statement or cross examine witness
es.
That the investigation will be con-
Quoted without regard to legal rules
and -technicalities has been asserted
by members of the judiciary commit
tee. 1t is generally understood that the
committee will go straight after the
facts as ascertained through the official
record of the accused jurist whether
these may be considered strictly perth
nent or not. Judge Speer proposes
fighting every inch of the way. In
deed, his friends in Georgia have never
doubted that he would not put up
gallant and spectacular fight.
It is believed that the judge, through
MS attorneys, Will
ton. to the strictest lines possible.
clubbing over points of evidence will
not be tolerated by the committee,
however, it has been announced Any
question the members of the committee
may see fit to ask will be considered
pertinent, 1t is understood, leaving it
up to Judge Speer to fight technicali-
ties when the case comes UP before the
United States senate, which, with the
supreme court, will act as the final
Judge of his conduct. There the battle
may be waged on strictly legal lines.
Until then everything that may have
any possible bearing on the case will
be brought out.
It is said that before any formal
charges were brought to the attention
of CONGRESS, Judge Speer was offered
an opportunity to apply for retirement
and to get out without coming under
fire. There is no indication, however,
that Judge Speer has any itnention Of
asking for retirement. His famous
speech in the west in which he lam
basted the inquisitiveness of the de-
partment of justice shows that. He
precipitated the fight himself and now,
unless his health breaks down utterly,
he will have to say in to the end.