New-York tribune., 1921-02-15
Senator's Misconduct Ac-
cusation in Bank Case
Followed by Charge Jur.
ist Is i'm Baseball Illegally
Hearing Depends
On Action of House
Assertion Made Duties as
Arbiter Disqualify Judge
for Service ON Bench
From TIL. Tr.oune,s wosh,noto, u...u..


WASHINGTON, Feb. 14.--Impeach CHI :
ment of Judge X. M. Lands, of Chi
cago, was asked in the House to-day by
representative Benjamin V. Welty, of
ONO. The jurist was charged with
high crimes and misdemeanors" in
connection with the acceptance of his
$4,000 job as supreme arbiter of base
ball.
representative Welty, in introducing
the proceedings as "a question of oh
personal privilege" made no mention
OF Judge Landis's action in paro!:ng
srancls j. Carey, nineteen-year. old
pank clerk, of Ottawa, Ill.,, who en-
bezzled $4,000, and for which Judge
Lands had been threatened with i'm
peachment by Senator Dial, of South
carolina. Previously, Representative
"elty had refused the Senator's re-
quest that charges against Judge Ian
DIS on this count be included in Mr.
Weity's impeachment proceedings.
senator Dial, however, took the cues
tlon up again in the Senate, assai]ed
Judge Lands as freak and crank.
declared that his course Of action had
been revolutionary and announced his
intention of calling the Carey case to
the attention of the Department of
Justice. He said he might introduce
a bill to prevent judges from having
outside occupations.
Five Counts Specified
Representative Welty, In demanding
that Judge lands be tried, made these
five specific charges against him:
"First-For neglecting his official
duties for another gainful occupation
not connected Herewith
"Second-For using his Office as dis
trict judge of the United States to
settle disputes which might come into
hi, court, as provided by the laws Of
the United States.
"Third--For lobbying before the
Legislatures of several states to pro-
cure the passage of state laws to pre-
vent gambling in baseball instead of
discharging his duties as district judge
of the United States.
"Fourth-For accepting the position
as chief arbiter of the disputes in
baseball associations at salary of
$42,5O0 per annum, while attempting
to discharge the duties as district
Judge Of the United States, which tends
TO nullify the effect of the judgment of
the Supreme Court of the District of
Columbia and the baseball gambling
indictments pending in the criminal
courts of Cook County, Illinois.
"Fifth-For injuring the national
sport of baseball by permitting the use
of his office as district judge Of the
United States because the impression
will prevail that gambling and other
illegal acts in baseball will not be
punished in the open forum, IS in
other cases."
Made From Floor
Mr.. Welty's charges were not con-
tanned in a resolution, but were made
on the floor. His motion for impeach-
ment was referred to the Committee
on Judiciary.
After announcing that he Sim
peached" Judge Lands, Representative
Welty reviewed the history of the in,
dictment at Chicago of the ten baseball
nlayers who were charged with throw
ing" the 1919 worlds series, and the
Judgment of the District of Columbia
Supreme Court against the American
and National leagues for S240,000 fol
violation of the Sherman antitrust
laws.
Judge Lands has done great deal
of good work." continued Mr.. Welty
"but if he wants to retain the con-
fdence and respect as judge, he must
divorce himself from the tleshpots OF
illegal combinations.
after the baseball associations We're
found guilty under our laws of being
trust and while the fine of $240,00C
was still pending against them, they
rushed into Judge. Landis's court and
for an additional salary of S42,500, he
became chief arbiter of trust which
was declared illegal, and at their re,
quest remained on the Federal bench.
This case is now pending in the
Supreme Court of the United States
What will hinder each member of this
court from accepting a. like sum from
these baseball associations? II Judge
Lands can lawfully accept this addi,
4 Continued on page four