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 ImpeaOh-
ment But Criticised Acts.

of Georgia from charges that led to
congressional investigation Of HIS
conduct was recommended today in d
minority report by Representatives
Volstead, Republican, of Minnesota,
member OF the Investigating COM
mittee. Representative Volstead also
attacked the methods and findings 81
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
be no further proceedings upon the
charges against Judge Speer, 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.
desire to have It distinctly un-
derstood that do not criticise 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 Islander
and abuse that could serve no other
purpose than to disgrace and humiI-
late him. Every enemy that 30 years
on the bench had produced was invit-
ed and encouraged to detail his griey-
ance and to supplement that with I'm
uendo insinuation and insulting opin-
ion, utterly illegal as evidence and
incompetent for any other purpose.
1t Is humiliating to read this record
and have to admit that COMMITTEES
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 I'M
ability to either recommend a COM
plete acquittal Of Judge Speer OF all
culpabtlity SO far as these charges
are concerned, on the one hand, or an
impeachment, on the other hand.v
This was the Conclusion submitted to
the House judiciary COMMITTEES today
by the subcommittee that for
months has been iuvestig ting
charges Of official misconduct fiied
against Emory Speer. OF Macon, fed
eral Judge for the southern district Of
Georgia.
The report, after an exhaustive re-
sumo Of evidence with severe com
ments, held that some Of Judge
Speer's official actions tend to APP
proach a condition OF Tyranny and
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 10
the House for final disposition of the
case before the adjournment Of the
present session of the Congress. The
subcommittee comprises Represents.
tiyes Webb, of North Carolina; Fitz-
henry, Of Illinois, Democrats: and
volstead, Of Minnesota, Republican,.
Mr.. Volstead in minority report.
similarly declaring that there is no
evidence warranting Impeachment.
viii attack the majority Of the sub
committee for criticising Judge
they declare not guilty of any irl-
peachable offense.
Nineteen charges were filed with
the committee. They alleged. among
other things, that Judge Speer en-
tertained matters beyond his courts
Jurisdiction, allowed excessive trHs-
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 Jaws
regarding drawing of jurors and dis
stpated bankrupt estates by appoint
ing unnecessary officials aG4 allowing
excessive fees.
Another charge was that, IN the
case of Henry Jamison, Macon ne
gro, Judge Speer defied the man
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 evidence
taken and from the construction Of
the presidents of impeachment trials.
is that at the present time salts
factory evidence sufficient to support
a conviction upon trial by the Senate
Is not obtainable.
In the conduct Of the hearings
the committee was extremely liberal
and did not confine the witnesses 10
the giving OF technically legal evi-
dence. Much evidence OF a hearsay
nature was received. The committee
felt 1ustifedtin such course In the
light Of the fact that 1t came to the
attention OF the committee that many
Of the witnesses were apprehensi4e
Of the consequences Of giving egi-
dence against Judge Speer III the
event Of his acquital. This feeling
and the general disposition on the
part of individuals to protect them
selves against what was itermei the
wrath" Of Judge Speer kept the
committee from securing the
names Of the witnesses and
knowledge 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 ais
trict of Georgia and their whefa-
abouts are unknown.
Another phase Of the record Is
that 1t details large number of Of
iciaf acts on the part, OF Judge speer
which are in themselves legal, st
when taken together. devnlop int 4