CHARGES AGAINST A JUDGE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 151, 26 June 1912, Page 2

CHARGES AGAINST A JUDGE

GRAFT ON U.S. BENCH AN UNPOPULAR COURT. . (From Our Own Correspondent.) SAN FRANCISCO,- 29th May. One of President Taft's pieces of constructive legislation was ithe establishment by means of legislation recommended by him of the United States Commerce Court. This tribunal is in a general way a Court of review of the nets of the Interstate Commerce Commission. Tht> latter body has jurisdiction over the railroads, and by its policy of insisting that the railways shall give adequate service, both in th© matter of freight and pabKeuger accommodation, has during the two years of its exThe Commerce Court, on the contrary, has during the two years of its existence done little besides annul the acts of the Commerce Commission when suoh Acts have been objectionable to the railroad corporations. Consequently it has fallen, into acute disfavour, and there is a widespread demand for the abolition of the Court. Formerly the findings of the Interstate Commission were final and binding, except a3 they might be reversed by the Supreme Court for unconstitntionality. The general desire is that this degree of power be restored ,to it. The House of Representatives by a vote of 120 to 49 has passed a resolution in favour of abolishing the Commerce Court. The growing unpopularity of the Court has been greatly enhanced and emphasised by eericius charges of grafting against one of its members. Judge Robert W. Archibald, it is alleged, engaged in financial dealings with the Erie Railway Company at the very time when he was deliberating as a Judge upon charges against that corporation. A committee of Congress is now hearing testimony, with a view to determining whether- or not impeachment proceedings sha.ll bu brought against- the> Judge. 11 is dealings with tho railroad had to do with the purchase of a, certain culm bank, or pile, of refuse coal — from the resale of which he was to make a. pioiit of £1200. H« did not negotiate directly with tho Erie railroad, but through a partner, Edward Williams. The enquiry hae alroady exposed the fact that Williams was unable to buy the cuhn bank until the railroad corporation knew that Judge Archibald was interested with him. It has also been testified, and partly corroborated by correspondence, that the same Edward Williams asked one W. P. Boland, who was then . a Saxty to litigation pending before che ourt, to discount a not* for SOOdols. signed by Judge Archibald. Bolaud refused to do so, and lost the suit, lie was afterwards told by Williams, in a letter that hae been made public, that he made a mistake in not discounting the note, and that had he done no he "would have saved all the cost**." In reply to this damaging indictment, Judgo Archibald replica that he is the I'irtim tit a trap and a put-up job, but he fails io specify. Judge Archibald was appointed a 'Tudgfl by President Tr.il-. apparently without, any invefitigaAou of his onveev, and upon the say-So of ftonatm- P-enrose, the- Pennsylvania I) i.fs. Whoa practicing an ji. lawyer, he v.c"t perused by tho Siipvemc* Court of I*«ni l ;jhi>"ia witk i,u conducting his bcsi'iw >■> tl.ut it was an evasion of tho luiw i iid :* huud upen tuo public.