The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1922-03-17
CAPITOL NEWS LETTER

Washington, d. c., March ia
fight to give the western district of
Missouri another federal judgeship
was precipitated in the Senate early
this week by Senator Reed, and the
disclosures he made as to lack of
faith on the part of the. judiciary
committee proved very discomporting
to the Republican members of that
body. Although the result is still in
doubt it is known that number of
the Republicans in the Senate, recog-
nizing the justice of Senator Reeds
demands, are prepared to join with
the entire Democratic membership of
the Senate and give Missouri the adj
ditional judgeship desired.
That another federal Judge for the
western district of Missouri is fully
warranted was shown by Senator
Reed when he disclosed that there
are fully thousand cases now filed in
that district awaiting action. The
enforcement of prohibition has great
ly augmented the business of the fed
eral court and nowhere more so than
in the western district of Missouri.
1t has resulted in such congestion
that some of these cases may be on
the docket for years and men, unable
to furnish bond but ready for trial,
are forced to remain in Jail for
months because their cases cannot be
heard.
In his speech Senator Reed pointed
out that in this bill, as it passed the
House, provision was made for two
new federal judges for Missouri.
Members of the House were so well
convinced that nothing less than this
would meet the requirements that no
question was raised when it passed
that body. When referred to the SEN
ate judiciary committee, however, it
was suggested that one Judge should
be eliminated. Hearing this, Senator
Reed conferred with members of the
judiciary committee and was assured
that full consideration would be Civ
en- the claims for the western district
of Missouri but that, if it was found
necessary to reduce the number of
judges and one were allotted to Mis-
souri, he would have jurisdiction
covering both districts in that state.
Relying on this promise, Senator
Reed returned home for short visit
and during his absence the committee
met and jammed through bill, pro-
viding for but one judge in Missouri
and this one for the eastern district.
Senator Reed did not charge Senator
Spencer with bad faith. feeling that
he, too, may have been imposed upon,
reciting the pledge made, he demands
that the Senate make good that prom
Use.
The combined opposition of the
Senators from Missouri and Kansas
were unable to block the confirmation
of Maj. Robert G. Peck as lieutenant
colonel in the regular army. As re-
suit of the fight made, however, he
was reduced in rank seventy-eight
grades and his censure by the War
Department serves to bar him from
promotion to a brigadier generalship.
The fight against the promotion of |
Peck, who slurTingly referred to the |
Missouri and Kahsast roops, fmmedir |
ately following the ArgUnhe battle, in |
FraAce, was one Of the most spectac.
ular Of this 9SessidnRui Senator Reed |
Led the oFfvsseivii,. s;issliiixi 4, yisiiii-
liant speech. !. The administration,
through SecretafyEW and Mthe |
army f6lidue, however,, had demanded |
that Peck receive his promotion, and
of<the three Republican senators from
those :twS"states, Senator lCappar was
the 6nlyssUne@% recsrdedgTiaS voting
againstS tBetkS Senator Reed forced
announcement of the.tote, (which was
alien inIAxAr,1fivo .soss;o,, -, |