Evening star., 1921-02-14
lands |MPEACHED
! AS JUDGE BECAUSE
| OF BASE BALL POST
Representative WeIty, Ohio
Democrat, Asks House
to Initiate Action.
CHARGES PRESENTED
WITHOUT RESOLUTION
mo More interested" Says Judge,
"Than in Appointment of New
Bellhop at Hotel"

Federal Judge KeneSaw Mountain
Landis of Chicago was impeached in
the House Of Representatives today
by Representative Welty, democrat,
sOnio. who charged him with .high
crimes and misdemeanors' in connec-
ton with his acceptance of the posi-
ton of supreme arbiter of base ball
at a salary of s42,5O0 a year.
Should the House decide to institute
proceedings against Judge Lands on
the basis of Mr.. Welty's charges a
formal trial before the bar Of the
House would be held and a decision
rendered.
Mr.. Welty did not introduce a reso-
luton. proposing Impeachment. as is
the usual proceeding in such matters.
Instead he arose to "a question of
high personal privilege" and an
nounced that he 'impeached" the
judge.
Without debate the Welty charges,
On Mr. Welty's motion. were referred
to the judiciary committee for investi-
cation and report. There were a few
scattering noes.
Basis Of Impeachment.
Impeachment was proposed by Mr..
Welty on the basis Of fiye specific
charges, as follows:
First. For negIecting his official
duties for another gainful occupa tion
rot connected Herewith.
Second. For using his office as dis
trict judge of the United States to set
| tie disputes which might come into his
. court, as provided by the laws of the
United States.
Third For lobbying before the
legislatures of the several states of
the Union to procure the passage of
hi
ran; instead of discharging his duties
| as district judge of the United States.
fourth. For accepting the position
as chief arbiter of the disputes in
pase pan associations at a salary of
$4,000 per annum while attempting
to discharge the duties as djstricf
Judge OF the United States, which
tends to nullify the effect Of the iudg-
ment OF the Supreme Court of the
District of Columbia and the base
ball gambling indictments pending in
the criminal courts of Cook county m
Fifth: For injurng the national
sport of base ball by permitting the
use OF ms Office as district jud1e nj
the United States because the i'm
preston will prevail that pamb1inp
and other Illegal acts in base ball will
not be punished in the open forum a :
in other cases. as
Judgment In ID. c. Court.
i" ~ HIS case, Representa-
tive Welty said the District Of CO.
lumbia Supreme Court had en,erea
a judgment of s24O000 apains. ~
American and National leagues and
the indiVldual sixteen clubs com
posing those organizations "for ~
ing violated the Sherman ~; as
, law. He also said prand 80,
at Chicago had indicted ten has. ~, ~, :,
PLAYERS on charges of "throwinev tha
1919 world series. and added.
| Ai'er ,ne Dase ball associations
being trust and while tho a'rS % %
, S2io.oOo was still pending -, -,
them. they rushed into Judpa $3.50.
court and for an additional 9.
s1-.aoo ne became chief arbiter ~ :.
! trust which was declared ;u, :,
| and at their request REM li.esal
| the federal bench Oh
! rms case Is now pending in Tho C.,
prehe Court OF the United States w hu
VIII hinder each member of th;, a, ma,
rom accepting like sum from tbos,
. base ball associations? If .Judan .nese
! can lawfully accept this addi,is i-ahdls
| th"n every other federal iudo. H. .st
| iand can enter the employ of fbosn ,,tie .tie
Noiate the laws of the land Tba NJ
tiofi Tor Congress to settle is can 80
! siai sl, Judge accept a subsidy to perform
! Praises Judges Work.
Judge Lands has done a great d.,r
| of good. but if he wants m go: uea
confidence and respect as a indaa 'i.e he
must divorce himself from the rnsh,,l,. -.
/ of Illegal combinations. 'poeS
! Il want to keep the base bali s,o-,
clean. SO the people will continue to s,,n.
port IL. but You cannot maintain th,
/ sport when you permit the ni.rar 'i,t -.
| throw the game and the base bail m, a.
| Mates to throw our judiciary. 1e
! You dare not permit even ilJe1.
com binations to tamper with our in
( additional salary in order to Civ.
! these combinations a bath, so the,
| Will again gain the confidence of III,
| public.
| "On March 8. 1917. the Sixty-fftl
Continued on Page 2. Column 80