The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-08-19
The Impeachment of suIzer.

Gov. Sulzer has no one but himself
to blame for his present humiliation.
He laid the foundation for his own
impeachment when he swore to what
purported to be a full and detailed
statement of all moneys received, con
tributed or expended by him directly
or indirectly by himself or through
any other person in aid of his cleo
ton" This statement is proved to
have been false. The question wheth-
er he knew it to be false may be one
for the court for the trial of impeach-
ments to consider, but it was his bust
ness to know. This statement is made
the basis Of the first of the articles OF
impeachment presented by the Assem-
bly,, and it is charged that it was in
tended by MIR. SulZer TO be false and
an evasion and violation of the sta
tutes of the state" Other charges
brought in the articles OF impcach-
ment, and which were clearly fore
Swallowed in the course of the Fraw-
ley committees Investigation, are
equally serious.
No one will say that Mr.. Sulzer has
81 ldi DItotiiAtN etll tthNHhfAAt hNiNhfN
and probably very few persons be
lieve that he would have been content
up to this time with the genera de
NAL he has made if it had been pos
sible for him to show that the charg-
es were without substantial founda-
ton. But impeachment is nothing
more than Indictment, and Mr.. Sulzer
will have the fair trial to which
every accused person is entitled.
This is assured by the constitution OF
the state of New York, which pro
yides:
The Assembly shall have the power
Of impeachment, by a vote of ma
jorty of all the members elected.
The court for the trial of impeach-
ments shall be composed of the pres
ident of the Senate, the senators, or
the major part OF them, and the judg-
cs of the Court of Appeals, or the
major part of them. Before the trial
of an Impeachment the members OF
the court shall take an oath or afllr-
nation truly and impartially to try
the impeachment according to the
evidence and no person shall be con
two-thirds of the members!
If MIR. Sulzer is innocent OF inten-
tonal wrongdoing, he should welcom,
"A trial before the court created by
the constitution. His rights will be
protected at every stage of proceed
ings before a tribunal which includ-
os the Judges of the Court OF Appeals,
or the majority of them.
The question whether Mr. Suzer
ceased to be governor when he was
lmpeached by the Assembly has been
raised In the opinion of lawyers
who are members Of the Senate,
Lieut.. Gov. Martin H. Glynn became
acting governor when the Assembly
adonted the articles Of impeachment
Their opinion is sustained by the
state constitution, whichprovides.
In case Of the impeachment of the
governor or his removal from Office,
death, inability TO discharge the
powers and duties OF the said office,
resignation, or absence from the
state, the powers and duties of the
Office shall devolve upon the lieuten-
ant-governor for the residue OF the
term. or until the disability shall
cease.
This article of the constitution
would seem to make it clear that dis
ability begins with impeachment. Mr.
Suffers disability will cease il his
trial before the high court OF i'm
parchment ends in acquittal-Rut-
land Herald.