The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-03-07
C0M. WATSON
|MPEACHED BY
LOWER HOUSE
EIGHT SEPARATE CHARGES ARE
INCLUDED IN INDICTMENT -
WATSON ISSUES STATEMENT
DENIES RUMORS.
(From The Oklahoman)

Il tFrOm Inc OklanOman)
A. P. Watson, member of the Ok
lahoma corporation commission since
1907, was impeached by the house
bf Representatives Friday morning
pn eight separate charges of offenses
charging incompetency, corruption
I'M office, wilful neglect of duty and
moral turpitude. He will now be
Tried before the senate, sitting as
| court of impeachment, and if the
tharges against him, which are based
cn the findings of the house special
Investigating committee, be sustained
b. will be removed from office.
The report of the committee rec
ommendng Col. Watson's impeach-
aent was presented to the house
boon after the session was called to
order Friday morning, and was adopt
I'D on roll call by vote of 80 to Q.
The submission and adoption of the
report was not accompanied by any
discussion either for or against Com
missioner Watson.
Representative Asa f. Walden, who
toted against impeachment of State
Insurance Commissioner A. L. Welch,
Ind Representatives Lewis Hunter of
tomanche and Cotton counties, l..
b. Abney of Garvin county T. c.
Ealdrep of Shawnee, o. G. Rollins of
Nadill, all democrats, voted against
De adoption of the committee re-
Tort. Representative w. X. Dunn of
Pottawatomie county, the former
iome of Commissioner Watson, and
representative Luther Harrison of
seminole county, who admitted i'll
helings between him and Commis-
Homer Watson, were excused from
Foting. The report was signed by
ll members of the committee.
Names Prosecutors.
\ When the reading of the report
lad been completed Senator McCrory
mnounced the appointment of Rep
esentative c. l.. Pinkham of Kay
Dunty. one of the house managers
m impeachments during the session
p the Fourth legislature two years
go. Representative Wash Hudson OF
Tulsa, and Representative J. T. Dick
ison of Oklahoma county, to con-
hlct the prosecution of Commissioner
Watson on behalf of the house of
representatives. All three of these
vere members of the committee
Fhich conducted the probe. The
ormal articles of Impeachment WHICH
mbodv the material features of the
ommittee report, were submitted
hort time later by the house mana
ers and adopted one at a time by
be house.
Six CT the eight charges against
Commissioner Watson are based on
honey he pretended to borrow
rom lawyers and officials represent
ig big corporations which have fire.
uent dealings before the corporation
ommission. The remaining two
bunts charge the commissioner with
aving failed to pay back the bor-
owed money since his election last
ovember, and with having received
donation of coal from the Poteau
pal and Mercantile company, which
prporation, it is alleged, has failed
file reports with the corporation
smmission as required by law.
To obviate Objections.
dThe charge that Commissioner
,atson has failed to return the
proved money since his election
st November, it is understood, is
lt in the impeachment ar
cles 10 obviate legal objec-
ons against Mr.. Watson being tried
,r offenses alleged to have been
,mmitted prior to his present teru
office.
In answer to a persistent ruE,or
LAT great pressure was being brought
have him resign, Commissioner
fatson issued a statement Friday
iternoon. emphatically denying The
port and asking the people Of the
ate TO withhold Judgment unt:l he
hs permitted to make his defense
kfore the senate.
IThe report of the committee gives
lclean bill of health to Commission
Love and Henshaw, the o'her two
einber. OF the commission, although
ey were not under investigation.