Arizona republican., 1921-02-15
ACCEPT PTANCE IF SUPREME OFFICE IN BASEBALL BY JUDGE LANDS I5 BASIS IF CHARGE
Senator Dial Characterizes Landis As Break" And
 Crank" Additional Charges Will Be Filed With Attorney General
Republican A. P. Leased wIre1

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14.-On charges of high crimes and misdemeanors, Fed eral Judge K. M. I,andis of Chicago was impeached in the house today by Representative Welty, Democrat. oa Ohio, because of his acceptance of the office of supreme arbitrator of baseball while still judge.
 The Ohio member swept aside an opinion by Attorney General Palmer that Judge Landis was within the law. and that there was no law making such acceptance crime. The opinion was rendered recently by> the attorney general on request. of Mir. We1ty.
 Before proceeding, Mir. Welty re fused request by Senator Dial. Demo- crat, of South Carolina, to include in the general indictment statements at tributed to the judge in refusing to send to jail a young Ottawa, H., bank clerk because of the belief that bank officials were responsible for the clerks speculation by failure to pay him living wage
 Senator Dial then announced he would file compliant against Judge Landfs with the department of justice and later attacked the jurist in the senate describing him as a freak" and crank" He characterized Judge Landis' statement that the bank clerks employees were, in measure, respon- sible for the youths theft of $g6000 as "the most bolshevik doctrine I ever heard" and added that if the action taken in paroling the clerk amounted to encouragement of such acts as those Of the clerk, Tit is striking at the foun- dation of our government"
 There was no comment when Mr. Welty concluded the reading of his in dictment. On his second motion as IS customary, the indictment was referred to the judiciary committee. Less than a third of the members present voted and scattering noes were heard. Ohio, clapped his hands. but otherwise there was no indication as to how the house felt.
 Committee Can Dismiss The next step will be by Mir welty. who will appear. possibly this week, before the judiciary committee with witnesses. The committee has the power to dismiss the charges and so report to the house, and adoption Of such report would exonerate Judge Landis of the charges
 Senator Dial said that the bank clerk did not steal a few hundred dollars to aid his family. but took s36,000.
 This judge" he continued, sput a premium on the amount of his thiev- ing" It was not for the court to say whether the compensation of the bank clerk was enough, the senator contin- ued, adding that this freak did not confine himself to denunciation in the court house, but went out on the high ways to turn loose his venom on me. l Senator Dial announced that he would call the attention of the depart ment of justice to the case to see if the sentiments expressed on the bench might not be rebuked."
 1 Belief was expressed in house circles that the case would be thrown out by the committee. in view of the opinion by the attorney general. In that event ment March I. Adjournment. how ever. would not stop proceedings should the committee find enough evi- dence to send the case to the house.
 Rules of Procedure
 In impeachment proceedings the committee acts in a similar capacity to justice of the peace. The house is the grand jury and if the house in diets it transmits its findings to the senate, which becomes the trial courG } It requires only a majority vote for the house to indict, but two-thirds vote , by the senate to convict.
 Chairman yolstead of the commit !, tee said that MT Welty probably would l. appear before the committee within a
 week. The retirement of the accuscr from congress next month has no bear
 ing, the chairman explained. l If the committee decides Mir. Welty . has Dlade out prima facie face,
 Judge Landis will have the right to be
 heard.
 In bis .tatement MT. Welty declared Judge Landis in his long service had
 done much good. but that if he wanted ) to retain the confidence and respect } as a judge "he must divorce himself
 from the flesh pots of illegal combina :
 tions.' There were five specific
 charges, chief of which was that he neglected his official duties for "an :
 other gainful occupation not connected . herewith"