Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1921-02-25
MOVE TO OPUT Lands.
OFF u. S. BENCH
Representative B. r. WeIty,
Of Ohio, Files Charges
PROPOSES HIS IMPEACHMENT
Dial Calls Judge A Freak-senator
Says Statement In Paroling Bank
Clerk Was Bolshevist
Propaganda.

Washington-On charges of high
crimes and misdemeanors. Federal
Judge X. NJ. Lands. Of Chicago, was
impeached in the House OF Representa-
tives by Representative welty Demo
craft of Ohio, because Of his accept
ance Of the office Of supreme arbitrator
Of baseball while stiH serving on the
bench.
In taking this step the Ohio mem.
Der swept aside an opinion by Attor.
ney General Palmer that Judge Ian
dis was within the law and that ..ere
was no law making such acceptance
crime, either misdemeanor or fel
ony. The opinion was rendered re-
Gently by the Attorney General on the
written request OF Mr.. welty, who
had questioned the Judges right TO
hold both positions.
Before proceeding to the floor OF
the House. where bis charges were
read. Mr.. welty refused a request by
Senator Dial (Democrat) of South
Carolina. to include in the general
indictment statements attributed to
Judge Landis in refusing to send to
jail a young Ottawa (Ill) bank clerk
because Of the Judges belief that
officials Of the bank were responsible
for the clerks peculation by failure
to pay him living wage
Senator Dial, on receiving the Ohio
representatives. refusal, announced
he would file complaint against Judge
Lands with the Department of Justice,
and late in the day attacked the
Chicago iurist on the floor of the SEN
ate, describing him as freak and a
Crank The South Carolina Senator
characterized Jndge Landis' state
ment that the Ottawa bank clerks
employers were. in a measure, re-
sponsible for the youths theft of
$4,000 as ''the most bolsheyik doctrine
ever heard and added that il the
action taken by the judge in paroling
the clerk is to be encouraged, "it is
striking at the foundations of our gov
ernment"
There was no comment in the House
when Mr.. Welty concluded the reading
of formal indictment Of Judge Ian
dis.
On his own motion, as is customary
in such proceedings, the Indictment
was referred to the Judiciary Com.
mlttee without debate. Less than
third OF the members present voted.
and number of scattering voices
were lifted in opposition. Nobody
asked for rising vote. Representa-.
tive Sherwood, Democrat, of Ohio, sit
ting on the front row. clapped his
hands, but otherwise there was no in.
dication as to how the House felt.
The next step will be by Mr.. Welty,
who will appear, possibly this week,
before the Judiciary Committee, with
such witnesses as he sees fit to call.
to amplify his charges. The commit
tee will then decide whether to go
ahead with the case. It has the power
to dismiss the charges and so report
to the House, and adoption Of such a
AbpOAb NOulA tAJutfdlt JuuEE lsdnllS
Of the charges preferred by Mr.. welty.
Relief was expressed in House
circles that the case would be thrown
out by tine committee, in view Of the
opinion by the Attorney General. In
that event the end would come before
adjournment OF Congress on March 4.
Adjournment, however, would not stop
proceedings should the committee find
enough evidence to send the case on
10 the House.
The impeachment proceedings the
Judiciary Committee acts in a SINH
. lar capacity to Justice Of the peace.
The House IS the grand jury, and If
the House indicts 1t transmits its find
ings to the Senate. which becomes the
trial court. 1t requires only a ma.
jority vote for the House to indict.
but two-thirds vote by the Senate is
necessary to convict.