The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1915-03-02
HOUSE VOTES FOR
A TRIAL OF WEIGH

The impeachment machinery Of the
fifth legislature was set In motion
late Monday afternoon when the
house adopted the report Of the com
mittee on judicial and executive de
partments recommending such pro
ceedlngs and making series OF
charges against A. l.. Wech, state
insurance commissioner.
The report Of the committee was
signed by all but two members, John
H. Wright of Oklahoma city and
ASH H. Walden Of Love county, For
NAL articles Of Impeachment win be-
drawn sometime today.
Strong pressure was brought to
bear for delay IN adoption of the
report Of the investigation committee.
Several members made speeches In
favor Of motion presented by Repre-
sentative Lewis Hunter Of IHwtun
that the question ~ adopting the re-
port ~ over for one dHN until the
report of the committee could he
studied by members " the legislature.
Among those who made speeches sup
porting this motion were G. G. chit
ders Ot Enid. Tom WaldrrU of Shaw.
nee, w. A, Duruut Of DurHnt. james
w Sykes of Tulsa aud Bryant cash
Of Ninita
Wright Against Impeachment
Sam H. IlurgiS NJ Ada who finally
signed the mapority report ur the
committee, made short speech eN
t.lulntptg l,I. .ttIt,,.I. l..
agreed to sign the majority report
only nfter he had concluded that the
committee was acting iu the vupncity
Of grand jury aud mot Hs Il body
passing on the guilt or innocence "
Mr. Nelch Representative John
Wright made a short talk ia whish
he declared that he had reached the
honest conviction that the evidence
did not justify the report made al
though he believed that the majority
members NJ the committee were equal
ly a. honest I'm their conclusions lu the
matter.
The committee had many defender,
who declared that the Legislature had
chosen its members 10 hear ana sifhi
the evidence ana that the house has
confidence In the ability aud fuirnrs,
Of the committee Chairman Good
win made a brief statement In whicl
he said the committee had given Mr
Welch opportunity to be- heard hcfor,
the committee and had permitted th,
insurance commissioner and his ia
torney Ia he present nl all the hear
ings and cross examine witnesses
Mr.. Goodwin stated further that him
self and other members ~ the com
mittce who had joined iu the niority
report had hoped that they might b,
able to clear MIR Wclch Of m,
charges, but that they were comprIIr,
In view Of the evidence offered (,
bring the accusations against him
Soliciting Bribe Is Charged.
Representative Tom IIruslrl Of T.
Reno stated that Mr. Welch, Friends
trial In the senate, ns thut is the only
way that his name will ever be- clear
ed In case he has the evidence ~ re-
futc the charges This statement wa
iu answer 10 arguments Of numbc
of the speakers In favor Of delay. VIII,
declared that II the house voted hHsli
l> to adopt the articles Of impcuch
mrut 1t would cast n blot upon III,
name Of MIR Welch from which h,
would never escape.
The alleged solicitation of brih,
from II A. Dillon, secretary treas
urcr Of the lulon Mutual lnSuranc,
company Of Enid In the form Of D
dress suit Is made uu Of the charge
upon which the house committee oI
investigation ~ judicial and cNecutiy,
department voted Monday afternoon {,
bnse It's report recommending i'm
parchment of \ !. Welch state In
suranCe commissioner
The report Of the subcommittee
which framed the charges. was adopt
ell by t9e committee and the forma
charges were prepared by the com
mittee for presentation 10 the huust
~ representatives
The formal charges as agreed upor