El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-07-28
FULLER'S CALL
IS PRECEDENT
Is First Time Legislature
Ever Called to Hear I'm
parchment Charges.

- ' u 1el44NAA W [[k-+A Al
parchment Charges.
Austin. Tex. July 2s.-For the first
time i'm the history of Texas a special
session Of the house Of representa-
tives has been called for the express
purpose Of considering Impeachment
charges against a governor. Under
notice issued by speaker +. %. Fuller.
the members Of the house are com
mauded to meet in Austin next Wed
uesday for the purpose OF investigat-
ing various alleged Illegal acts OF
b governor James Z. Ferguson with the
view Of formulating impeachment
charges against him. In the event
such charges are filed. the senate viii
convene itself automatically for the
. purpose Of trying the governor In
other words. the house performs the
functions Of the grand jury. while the
senate acts in the capacity OF the
court in a case OF this character.
Hudspeth May Act as Governor.
II Impeachment charges should be
brought against governor Ferguson.
he would. under the constitution. be
suspended from the exercise Of the
duties Of his office during the PEN
dency OF such impeachment. The fact
that Lieutenant governor ". 7. Hobby
has accepted the position Of secretary
of the Government Farm Loan bank
of Houston. has caused the question
TO arise as TO whether in doing so he
did not = a ate the office Of lleuten-
ant governor. II 1t should be found
that this is the case, the president
pro tempOre of the senate, Claude
Hudspeth, Of FL PasO, would be called
upon TO temporarily perform the
duties OF governor during the
progress OF the Impeachment trial
Although the constitution is silent
as to the method OF converting the
legislature in special session for the
purpose Of bringing Impeachment pro-
ceedinEs against the governor. IL is
claimed that a majority Of the mem
bers Of the lower branch Of the law
making body, upon call Of the speak
er. have the authority and power 10
axe whatever action they may see
fit in matter Of this kind. 1t is eN-
pected that some difficulty may be
experienced in obtaining a fun at
tendance Of the house next Wednes-
day Il Is stated in this connection.
however. that the sergeant at arms OF
that body will be directed by speaker
Fuller to bring in by due process Of
law. all absentees.
II IS reported that Chester Terrell.
Of san Antonio. former speaker OF the
house. and VIII c. HoEg. OF Houston.
N''aa NA AllF AsAA~ ri lA0A a.atAaEE
HoEg have already drawn up the
charges that are to be formally filed
against governor FarguSOn- There
viii be mum Der Of these charges and
some OF them are touched upon by
speaker Fuller I'm the call that he is
sued for converting the house as fol-
Charges Made BY Fuller.
THE 25th legislature passed an APP
preparation which In their judgment
HHH
maintenance Of the University of
Texas The governor has at no time
advised the legislature that he con-
sldered the appropriation excessive,
OF improper, but has made some OBJ
lection publicly to what he considers
its misuse, and he has vetoed the en-
tire appropriation except one salary
Of $500 per anuum- The University OF
Texas cannot be- based on such an
item The attorney general has held
that the veto was not effective. but
before "a test Of that question can be
had IN court the tall term OF the uni
versi-y viii be passed, and the gov
erlor has declared that the University
Of Texas will not open its doors until
every member Of the faculty TO whom
he objects is expelled.
He has charged the faculty gen
orally OF being grafters. liars and
traitors and in my judgment without
reason He has sought 20 substitute
his own viii for the judgment of the
board OF regents. demanding OF them
that mem ers OF the faculty be dis
missed, even without a hearing. thus
seeking 10 over ride the law. He has
removed members OF the board OF re-
gents without good and sufficient
cause in order TO appoint one who viii
carry out his own wishes. and has
sought TO substitute only his IN
bridled will in place Of their lawful
judgment By section % OF the bill
Of rights no power for suspeuding
laws is lodged in the governor. but he
has sought to suspend them and
have them set aside 70 suit his own
desires"
II only requires a majority vote OF
the members Of the house to adopt
charges that shall be made the basis
for impeachment. In the senate. how
ever. il takes a twO-thirds vote 10
sustain such charges and depose the
governor from office. Once deposed.
he would be forever after barred from
means OF knowing at this time how
the senate stands on the impeachment
proposition
May Contest FuTer's Right.
Il is eUDected that attorneys for
governor Ferguson will attempt TO
the courts the right OF speaker Full
Ter to convene the house in special
session Governor Ferguson Is very
mucn wrought up over the Contem-
in recent public utterances he stated
that he would take the whole matter
before the people and seek viudication
NJ their hands. II is understood that
he meant bv this that in event he IS
cleared OF the impeachment charges.
ne viii make the race for United
States senator against senator Morris
Sheppard.
The definite action which has just
been taken looking 20 the impeach-
meut OF governor Ferguson is the
elimination of a long series Of events
IN which the governor has been in
volved- The charges which are now
proposed 10 be made the basis OF i'm
parchment proceedings AGAINST the
governor are SEPARATE and distinct
from those on which he was tried by
special committee OF the house OF
representatives. at the recent session
Of the legislature. Although that
committee found him guilty OF all
those charges. Il did not -ecommend
his impeachment