The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-02-15
lands |MPEACHED'
IN NATIONAL HOUSE.
OF REPRESENTATIVES.
WeIty, Democrat of Ohio, Files
Five Specific Charges In His
Attack on the Federal
Judge

washington, February H.-On charges
of high crimes and misdemeanors, Fed
eral Judge Kenesaw Mountain Lands of
Chicago was impeached in the House OF
Representatives today by Representative
welty, democrat. of Ohio. because of his
acceptance of the office of supreme ar
bitter of baseball while still serving on
the bench.
In taking this step. the Ohio member
eral Palmer that Judge Lands was
within the law. and that there was no
law making such acceptance = crime,
either misdemeanor or felony. The opin-
ion was rendered recently by the attor-
ney general on the written warrant Of
Mr.. Welty, who had questioned the
judges right to hold both positions.
Before proceeding to the floor Of the
House, where his charges were read, Mr..
Welty refused request by Senator Dial,
democrat, South Carolina. to include IN
the general Indictment a statement at
triDuted to Judge Lands in refusing to
send to Jail young Ottawa. ILL.,. bank
clerk because of the belief that Off
Gals of the bank were responsible for
the clerks population by failure to pay
him living wage.
DIAL GETS BUSY
Senator Dial, on receiving the Ohio
representative refusal, announced he
would file complaint against Judge Lam
dis with the department of justice, and
late in the day attacked the Chicago
jurist on the floor of the Senate, describ-
ing him as a freak" and crank"
The South Carolina senator characterized
Judge Lands statement that the OF
tawa bank clerks employers were in
measure responsible for the youths
theft Of $4,000 as the most bolshevik
doctrine / ever heard and added that
il the action taken by the judge in pa
rolling the clerk ever amounted to en-
couragement of such acts as these OF the
clerk, cit is striking at the foundations
of our government"
There was no comment in the House
when Mr.. We1ty concluded the reading OF
a formal indictment Of Judge Lands On
his own motion, as is customary in such
proceedings. the indictment was referred
to the judiciary committee without de-
bate. Less than a third fthe members
present voted, and a number of scat
tering voices were lifted in opposition.
Nobody asked for a rising vote. Rep
resentative Sherwood democrat, Ohio.
sitting 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, be-
fore the judiciary committee. with such
witnesses as he sees fit to call. to amplfy
his charges. The cofnmitee Will then de-
eide whether to go ahead with the case.
1t has the power to dismiss the charges
and SO report to the House, and adop-
Judge Landis Of the charges preferred
by Mr.. Welty.
MAY THROW OUT CASE
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, the
end would coma before adjournment Of
Congress March 1. Adjournment. how
ever, would not stop proceedings should
the committee find enough evidence 70
send the case to the House.
IN Impeachment proceedings, the judi
ciary committee acts in similar ca
uacity to . Justice of the peace. The
House is the grand jury and If the house
indicts. il transmits its findings to the
Senate, which becomes the trial court
tt requires only majority vote for the
House to indict, but a two thirds vote
by the Senate is necessary TO convict.
Chairman Volstead OF the judiciary
committee, said that no meeting had
been called to hear Mr.. Welty, but he
prollably would appear within week. |
The retirement a the accuser from Con-
gress next monAh has no possible bear
ing. the chairman explained. II the
COMMITTEES decides that Mr.. Welty has
made out q prima facie case. Judge Ian
dis viii have the right to be heard. |
Friends Of the Judge immedetely called