The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-06-02
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National Topics Interpreted "a fFY7F1SSS8
by William Bruckart ADxn{1T
by William Bruckart
The public works section of the bill
Is OF less imaginative character


Is of less Imaginative character.
Outright and with
HopetoSpeed no RECEPTIONS, it
Recovery makes provision for
the expenditure Of
three billion three hundred million dol
lars for public construction. 1t pro-
poses the expenditure of these funds
over period of two years, or so much
of it as may be necessary, to provide
employment. The construction work,
of course, will cause all of the lines
of business making or selling mate
rial for building to speed up. 1t ought
to expand pay rolls in hundred-odd
lines as well as give the railroads
some business. 1t appears to be gi-
gantic effort to increase the momen-
tum of recovery which most everyone
believes to be well under way. If 1t
succeeds, no one will question the cost.
1t holds out that hope anyway, accord
ing to the President
Mr.. Roosevelt has not drafted the
program of construction, nor did he
offer to congress the plan of taxation
to raise funds for the interest on the
bonds for financing the work. He left
the tax matter to congress and thus
avoided causing trouble for himself,
for he can say thereafter that the
taxes were laid by the wisdom Of con-
gress.
After a lapse of twenty years, the
senate of the United States again has
performed the functions of a court of
trial on articles of impeachment. 1t
has just concluded this task on
charges of impeachment adopted in
the house of representatives against
Harold Louderback, federal judge
in the northern district of California,
marking the tenth time in our history
that the senate has organized as a
court of trial.
Even blase Washington is not &C
quainted with the procedure because
it occurs so seldom, and the trial drew
to the galleries crowds of the proper
ton attracted by the most extraordi-
nary murder case. They were, for the
most part, curiosity seekers. The thing
was new. OF course, there were some
seventy witnesses in the galleries.,
awaiting call, but there were enough
others desiring to see the trial that
the places of the witnesses would have
been taken instantly had they stayed
away.
1t will be recalled readily that one
President, Andrew Johnson, was i'm
peached and tried, but he was &C
quilted of the charges by single
vote. w. w. Belknap, secretary of
war, also was tried and acquitted, and
senator, William Blount, of Tennes-
see, was also tried but the charges
against him were finally dismissed for
lack of Jurisdiction. Federal Judges
were defendants in the six other in
stances. Judge Pickering was the
first federal judge impeached. He
was convicted of malfeasance and
drunkenness in 1904. Judge West 81.
Humphreys was convicted in 1862 on
charges that he upheld the secession
movement and Judge Robert w. Arch
bald was convicted in 1913 for cor
rupt collision with coal mine owners
and railroad officials. The other judges
were acquitted.
Because the senate sits as a court
so seldom, it might be worth while to
recall what the pro-
When Senate cedure is. In gen.
Acts as Court eral, the federal Con-
stitution prescribes
the work to be done and how it shall
be performed. The house of repre-
sentatives sits as a grand jury, hearing
accusations or charges brought against
a federal official. The charge orig
inally is one of high crimes and mis-
demeanors" followed by a statement
of house member that Il, therefore,
impeach" the individual named.
The next step is performed by
house committee to which is referred
a resolution of impeachment and that
committee determines whether it will
recommend formal vote of impeach-
ment by the house itself. Thus, when
the matter is placed before the house
it votes for or against impeachment,
which to all intents and purposes ia
like an indictment by grand jury.
On March 4, just few hours be-
fore the old congress adjourned, o
senate attache appeared in the middle
aisle Of the chamber and addressed
Vice President Curtis, announcing the
arrival of committee of the house.
Their arrival having been duly noted.
the Vice President inquired their mis-
sion.
"To present articles Of impeachment
against Harold Louderback," replied
Representative Summers, of Texas, the
chief manager on the part of the
house.
"They will be received" replied Mr..
Curtis, without emotion.
Then the senate sergeant at arms
arose in his place.
"Hear We! Hear We! Hear vel"
cried the sergeant at arms. "All per-
sons are commanded to keep silent on
pain Of Imprisonment while the house
of representatives is exhibiting to the
senate of the United States articles
of impeachment against Harold Lou
derback."
And so the senate had been notified
formally and officially, and in due
course it organized itself into court
Of trial.
The defendant is allowed legal coun-
sci. Each side may call witnesses and
they testify under oath In the senate
chamber just as they would In court.
There is the direct examination and
cross examination, the house managers
acting at all times in the role of the
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