The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-06-23
From All the Charges That Led
to a Congressional Probe
of Conduct.
IN THE MINORITY REPORT
Majority Hold That Evidence
Did Not Warrant lmpeaCh-
rnent But Criticised Acts.
tsY AsseelAIep ~.

of Georgia from charges that led to
congressional investigation OF his
conduct was recommended today IA 4
minority report by Representative
Volstead. Republican, OF Minnesota,
a member OF the investigating cone
mittee. Representative Volstead also
attacked the methods and findings or
the majority of the subcommittee
who held that the evidence did not
warrant impeachment but criticised
the acts of the accused Judge.
While concur in the recommends.
ton in the majority report that there
De no further proceedings upon the
charges against Judge Speer, I desire
to express in as emphatic Language as
possible my protest against the meth
DDS that have been pursued said
Representative Volstead in his report
Il desire to have it distinctly un-
derstood that do not crfticise the
motives of my associates but the pro-
ceedings In this investigation have
been marked by acts cruelty unjust
and unfair. No effort was made to
protect Judge Speer against slander
and abuse that could serve no other
purpose than to disgrace and humil-
late him. Every enemy that 30 years
on the bench had produced was invit-
ed and encouraged to detail his griev-.
ance and to supplement that with in.
uendo insinuation and insulting opifi-
ion, utterly illegal as evidence and
incompetent for any other purpose.
1t is humtltating to read this record
and have to admit that a committee
OF Congress is responsible for this
sort of cruel injustice. No court In
any civilized country would toler-
ate such proceedings"
The subcommittee regrets its sifi4
ability to either recommend. COM
plete acquittaltof Judge Speer Of all
cplpabtltty so far as these charges
are concerned, on the one hand. or AZ
impeachment, on the other hand.ss
This was the conclusion submitted to
the House Judiciary Committee TO-DAY
by the subcommittee that for
months has been investfgatinp
charges OF oficial misconduct iiied
against, Emory Speer, OF Macon. fesis
eral Judge for the southern district oe
Georgia
The report. after an exhaustive re-
sumo Of evidence with severe coni-
ments, held that some of Judge
Speer's official actions tend to apI
proach a condition Of Tyranny ana
oppression" but recommended that
no further proceedings be had by the
House.
These conclusions now rest with
the full committee on Judiciary.
which is expected to report them Ia
the House for final disposition Of the
case before the adjournment OF the
present session of the Congress. The
subcommittee comprises Representa-
ttves Webb. of North Carolina; Fitz-
henry, Of Illinois, Democrats; and
Volstead, Of Minnesota, Republican.
Mr.. Volstead in a minority report.
similarly. declaring that there Il no
evidence warranting impeachment.
will attack the majority of the sub.
committee for criticising Judge
they declare not guilty of any iri-
peachable offense.
Nineteen charges were filed with
the committee. They alleged, among
other things, that Judge Spesr en-
tertatned matters beyond his courts
jurisdiction, allowed excessive trtls-
tees fees to personal friend, used
his official position for preferment OF
his son-in-law, A. H. Hayward.
abused his authority by domestic
use of court employees, violated Avs
regarding drawing of jurors ana dis
stpated bankrupt estates by appolnt-
ing unnecessary officials and allowing
excessive fees.
Another charge was that, In the
case OF Henry Jamison. a Macon ne-
gro, Judge Speer defied the nian-
dates of the Supreme Court of the
United States and the circuit court
of appeals.
The subcommittee conclusions
follows:
The conclusion Of the sub-coias
mittee deduced from the eysdeaee
taken and from the construction oe
the presidents of Impeachment trials
is that at the present time satfs
factory evidence sufficient to support
a conviction upon trial by the 500
is not obtainable.
In the conduct OF the hearings
the committee was extremely liberal
and did not confne the witnesses 70
the giving Of technically legal eNl-
dence. Much evidence Of hearssy.
nature was received. The counties
felt iustihedlin such course IN the
light OF the fact that it came to the
attention of the committee that many
of the witnesses were appreheusive
of the consequences Of giving eyi-
dence against Judge Speer ia tho
event Of his acquital. This feeling
and the general disposition on the
part Of individuals to protect them-
selves against what was termed tue
wrath OF Judge Speer kept the
committee from securing the
names Of the witnesses and
OF the facts IN their
possession. Many Of the WITNESSES
whose testimony would be absolutely
necessary to sustain some Of the
charges made are dead. Others
have removed from the southern DIS.
trict Of Georgia and their where's
abouts are unknown.
Another phase OF the record IS
that It details. a large number 81 or
fetal acts on the part of judge speer
which are in themselves legal, vet
when taken together, develop into