The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-06-23
Sub Committee Finds Evidence
Insufficient Either to I'm
peach or Aoquit Georgian
Accused Of Misconduct on
Bench.
OPPONENTS FAIL TO
PROVE ALLEGATION
Minority Report Singing Crit
icism Of Method Adopted by
Committee in Conducting
Investigation into Jurist's
Record.

washington, June 2s.-"The subs
committee regrets It's inability 20
either recommend a complete acquit-
tai OF Judge Speer of all cuipahility
So far as these charges are concerned
on the one hand, or an impeachment,
on the other hand"
This was the conclusion submitted
to the house Judiciary committee to-
day oy the special subcommittee that
for months has been investigating
charges of official misconduct flied
against Emory Speer OF Macon. ted
eral Judge OF the southern district OF
Georgia
The report. after an exhaustive res
ume OF evidence with severe com
ments. held that some OF Judge
Speers official actions tend TO sp-
proach condition OF tyranny sna
oppressoin." but recommend that no
further froceedings be had BY tha
house
The conclusions nov rest with the
full committee on Judiciary which 10
expected 10 report them to the house
for final disposition OF the case be-
fore the adjournment OF the present
session OF congress.
The subcommittee comprised Rep
rcsentatives Webb, North Carolina.
Fitzhenry, Illinois. Democrats. and
Volstead, Minnesota. Republican.
Mr.. Volstead In minority report
| similarly declaring that there is no
evidence waTranting impeachmesit.
will attack the majority Of ~ uD-
committee for criticising a Judge tae
declare not guilty OF any impesehsble
offense Nineteen charges were filed
with the committee. They aiieges.
among other things that Judge speer
entertained matters beyond hts
courts Jurisdiction. allowed excessive
4 trustees fees to personal friend.
used his official position for prefer
ment Of his sOn-in-law. =. ~ Hay
ward. anused his authority by domes-
tic u.s. Of government paid court ens
ployes. violated laws regarding draws
ing OF i.frs. and dissipRted bankrupt
estates b. pointing unnecessary OIL
| fcials aHU lowing excessive fees.
Another ,H.tH vas that In the case
OF Henry IAN N, Macon negro,
jidse Spoer dcfied the mandates OF
the supreme court of the United
States and the circuit court OF ap-
pea's.
Complete exoneration of Judge
Speer was recommended In a minoritT
report by Representative Volstesd.
| Republican, OF Minnesota. Mr. Vol
stead also attacked the methods and
findings of the majority OF the sub
committee. who held that the evl-
donce did not warrant impeachment.
II desire to have II distinctly undor-
stood that ! do not cr'ti ize the mo.
tiYos ot my associates. but the pro-
ccedings in this investigation have
been marked 0y acts cruelty unjust
and unfair said the report. mo
effort WAS made To protect the judge
against mere SANDER and abuse that
could serve no other purpose than 70
disgrace and humiliate him. Every
enemy that twenty nine years on tho
bench mad produced was invited ami
eagerly encouraged 10 detail his gricy-
ances and TO supplement thut with
an sorts of inueldocs insinuatluns
and Insulting 0plniens utterly illegal
AS evidence and incoT- Petent for ans
proper purpose. II Is humillatinE ~
read this record and have 20 admit
thar committee OF congress is re-
sponsible for this sort OF cruG inius-
ucc. 30 court tn any civilized cow
try would tolerate any such procoed-
ings'
To refute the charge that Judge
specr allowed bankruptcy estates %
be- dlssipated through allowance Of
excessive attorneys fees, Represents
tive Volstead presented statistics oI
the cot of administration OF nank-
ruptcy assets in the southern district
OF Goorgia. from 1893 20 1914. ~
comparison with the districts of res
idenCe Of the various members Of the
house Judiciary committee Tor thoss
! years. This tabulatiOn showed the
cost IN Judge speer's district was o.
. per cent. while the average for ths
other districts listed was is.2 pel
cent.
''Ir Judges are TO be subjected "a
the treatment accorded Judge speor.