[Deschler's Precedents, Volume 3, Chapters 10 - 14]
[Chapter 14. Impeachment Powers]
[D. History of Proceedings]
[§ 17. Impeachment of Judge Louderback]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]
[Page 2198-2204]
CHAPTER 14
Impeachment Powers
D. HISTORY OF PROCEEDINGS
Sec. 17. Impeachment of Judge Louderback
Consideration of Committee Report
Sec. 17.1 The House considered the matter of the impeachment of U.S.
District Judge Harold Louderback under a unanimous-consent
agreement which allowed the minority of the Committee on
[[Page 2199]]
the Judiciary to offer, to the reported resolution recommending
abatement of proceedings, a substitute amendment impeaching Judge
Louderback and setting forth articles of impeachment.
On Feb. 24, 1933, Speaker John N. Garner, of Texas, recognized Mr.
Thomas D. McKeown, of Oklahoma, to call up a resolution, reported by
the Committee on the Judiciary, recommending that charges against
Harold Louderback, U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of
California, did not merit impeachment (H. Res. 387; H. Rept. No. 2065).
The minority report dissented from that recommendation and proposed a
resolution and articles of impeachment.(9)
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9. 76 Cong. Rec. 4913, 4914, 72d Cong. 2d Sess. See, generally, 6
Cannon's Precedents Sec. 514.
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Mr. Earl C. Michener, of Michigan, commented on the fact that the
report of the committee recommended censure of the judge, rather than
impeachment:
Mr. Michener. Mr. Speaker, in answer to the gentleman from
Alabama, let me make this observation. The purpose of referring a
matter of this kind to the Committee on the Judiciary is to
determine whether or not in the opinion of the Committee on the
Judiciary there is sufficient evidence to warrant impeachment by
the House. If the Committee on the Judiciary finds those facts
exist, then the Committee on the Judiciary makes a report to the
House recommending impeachment, and that undoubtedly is privileged.
However, a custom has grown up recently in the Committee on the
Judiciary of including in the report a censure. I do not believe
that the constitutional power of impeachment includes censure. We
have but one duty, and that is to impeach or not to impeach. Today
we find a committee report censuring the judge. The resolution
before the House presented by a majority of the committee is
against impeachment. The minority members have filed a minority
report, recommending impeachment. I am making this observation with
the hope that we may get back to the constitutional power of
impeachment.(10)
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10. Id. at p. 4914. The committee report stated ``the committee
censures the judge for conduct prejudicial to the dignity of
the judiciary in appointing incompetent receivers . . . for
allowing fees that seem excessive, and for a high degree of
indifference to the interest of litigants in receiverships.''
H. Rept. No. 2065, Committee on the Judiciary, 72d Cong. 2d
Sess.
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Discussion ensued as to controlling debate on the resolution so as
to effectuate the understanding agreed on in committee that the
previous question not be ordered until the minority had an opportunity
to offer an amendment in the nature of a substitute for the resolution.
The House agreed to the following unanimous-consent request
[[Page 2200]]
propounded by Mr. McKeown (and suggested by Speaker Garner):
The Speaker: Under the rules of the House the gentleman from
Oklahoma [Mr. McKeown] has one hour in which to discuss this
resolution, unless some other arrangement is made.
Mr. McKeown: Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that two
hours' time be granted on a side. One-half of mine I shall yield to
the gentleman from Missouri [Mr. Dyer]. At the end of the two
hours' time, that the previous question shall be considered as
ordered.
Mr. [Fiorello H.] Laguardia [of New York]: Mr. Speaker, will
the gentleman yield?
Mr. McKeown: Yes.
Mr. LaGuardia: The gentleman will remember that the committee
unanimously voted that the previous question should not be
considered as ordered until the majority had opportunity to offer
the articles of impeachment.
Mr. McKeown: I yield now to the gentleman for that purpose.
The Speaker: If gentlemen will permit, let the Chair make a
suggestion. The Chair understands that the committee has something
of an understanding that there would be an opportunity to vote upon
the substitute for the majority resolution. Is that correct?
Mr. McKeown: Yes.
The Speaker: Then the Chair suggests to the gentleman from
Oklahoma that he ask unanimous consent that general debate be
limited to two hours, one-half to be controlled by himself, and
one-half to be controlled by the gentleman from New York.
Mr. McKeown: I want one-half of my time to be yielded to the
gentleman from Missouri, and that the other hour shall be
controlled by the gentleman from Texas.
The Speaker: Then the Chair suggests that the gentleman from
Oklahoma control all of the time.
Mr. [Hatton W.] Sumners [of Texas]: Mr. Speaker, I am quite
willing that the gentleman from Oklahoma may control the time,
because I am sure that he will make a fair distribution of it.
Mr. McKeown: Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the time
for debate be limited to two hours to be controlled by myself, that
during that time the gentleman from New York [Mr. La Guardia] be
permitted to offer a substitute for the resolution and at the
conclusion of the time for debate the previous question be
considered as ordered.
The Speaker: Then the Chair submits this: The gentleman from
Oklahoma asks unanimous consent that debate be limited to two
hours, to be controlled by the gentleman from Oklahoma, that at the
end of that time the previous question shall be considered as
ordered, with the privilege, however, of a substitute resolution
being offered, to be included in the previous question. Is there
objection?
Mr. [William B.] Bankhead [of Alabama]: Mr. Speaker, reserving
the right to object for the purpose of getting the parliamentary
situation clarified before we get to the merits, is there any
question in the mind of the Speaker, if it is fair to submit such a
suggestion, as to whether or not the substitute providing for
absolute im
[[Page 2201]]
peachment would be in order as a substitute for this report?
The Speaker: That is the understanding of the Chair, that the
unanimous-consent agreement is, that the gentleman from New York
[Mr. LaGuardia] may offer a substitute, the previous question to be
considered as ordered on the substitute and the original resolution
at the expiration of the two hours. Is there objection?
There was no objection.(11)
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11. Id. For more comprehensive treatment of impeachment proceedings
against Judge Louderback, see 6 Cannon's Precedents
Sec. Sec. 513-524.
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Voting
Sec. 17.2 At the conclusion of debate on the resolution and substitute
therefor, in the Harold Louderback impeachment proceedings, a yea
and nay vote was taken on the substitute, which was agreed to.
On Feb. 24, 1933, the House had under consideration a resolution
abating impeachment proceedings against Judge Louderback. A unanimous-
consent agreement was adopted, as follows:
The Speaker: (12) . . . The gentleman from Oklahoma
(Mr. Thomas D. McKeown] asks unanimous consent that debate be
limited to two hours . . . that at the end of that time the
previous question shall be considered as ordered, with the
privilege, however, of a substitute resolution being offered, to be
included in the previous question. . . .
There was no objection.(13)
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12. John N. Garner (Tex.).
13. 76 Cong. Rec. 4914, 72d Cong. 2d Sess.
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At the conclusion of the two hours' debate on the resolution
abating the impeachment proceedings and on the amendment in the nature
of a substitute, the Speaker put the question on the substitute and
answered a parliamentary inquiry as to the effect of the vote:
The Speaker: The question is on the substitute of the gentleman
from New York [Mr. LaGuardia].
The question was taken, and the Chair announced that he was in
doubt.
Mr. [Thomas D.] McKeown of Oklahoma]: Mr. Speaker, a division.
Mr. [Carl G.] Bachmann [of West Virginia]: Mr. Speaker, I ask
for the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
Mr. [Earl C.] Michener [of Michigan]: Mr. Speaker, a
parliamentary inquiry.
The Speaker: The gentleman will state it.
Mr. Michener: As I understand, a vote of ``aye'' is a vote for
impeachment and a vote of ``no'' is against impeachment; is that
correct?
The Speaker: An aye vote on the substitute of the gentleman
from New York is a vote to impeach and a ``no'' vote is a vote
against impeachment.
[[Page 2202]]
The Clerk will call the roll.
The question was taken; and there were--yeas 183, nays 142,
answered ``present'' 4, not voting 97.(14)
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14. Id. at p. 4925. The resolution, as amended by the substitute, was
then agreed to. H. Jour. 306, 72d Cong. 2d Sess., Feb. 24,
1933.
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Election of Managers; Continuation of Proceedings Into New Congress
Sec. 17.3 The House having adopted articles of impeachment against
Judge Harold Louderback, the House adopted resolutions appointing
managers and notifying the Senate of its actions, but did not
resolve the question whether such managers could, without further
authority, continue to represent the House in the succeeding
Congress.
The House having adopted the articles of impeachment against Judge
Louderback on Feb. 24, 1933, Chairman Hatton W. Sumners, of Texas, of
the Committee on the Judiciary, called up on Feb. 27, 1933, resolutions
appointing managers and notifying the Senate of the action of the
House. Discussion ensued as to the power of the managers beyond the
termination of the Congress (the Congress was to expire on Mar. 3):
Impeachment of Judge Harold Louderback
Mr. Sumners of Texas: Mr. Speaker, I offer the following
privileged report from the Committee on the Judiciary, which I send
to the desk and ask to have read, and ask its immediate adoption.
The Clerk read as follows:
House Resolution 402
Resolved, That Hatton W. Sumners, Gordon Browning, Malcolm
C. Tarver, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, and Charles I. Sparks,
Members of this House, be, and they are hereby, appointed
managers to conduct the impeachment against Harold Louderback,
United States district judge for the northern district of
California; and said managers are hereby instructed to appear
before the Senate of the United States and at the bar thereof
in the name of the House of Representatives and of all the
people of the United States to impeach the said Harold
Louderback of misdemeanors in office and to exhibit to the
Senate of the United States the articles of impeachment against
said judge which have been agreed upon by the House; and that
the said managers do demand the Senate take order for the
appearance of said Harold Louderback to answer said
impeachment, and demand his impeachment, conviction, and
removal from office.
The Speaker Pro Tempore: The question is on agreeing to the
resolution.
Mr. [Thomas L.] Blanton [of Texas]: Mr. Speaker, will the
gentleman yield?
Mr. Sumners of Texas: Yes.
Mr. Blanton: Is it not usual in such cases to provide for the
managers on the part of the House to interrogate witnesses?
[[Page 2203]]
Mr. Sumners of Texas: This is the usual resolution which is
adopted.
Mr. Blanton: But this resolution does embrace that power and
authority?
Mr. Sumners of Texas: Yes. It is the usual resolution.
Mr. [William H.] Stafford [of Wisconsin]: Mr. Speaker, will the
gentleman yield?
Mr. Sumners of Texas: Yes.
Mr. Stafford: This House, which is about to expire, has leveled
impeachment articles against a sitting judge. It is impracticable
to have the trial of that judge in the expiring days of the
Congress. Has the gentleman considered what the procedure will be
in respect to having the trial before the Senate in the next
Congress?
Mr. Sumners of Texas: The Committee on the Judiciary today gave
full consideration to all of the angles that suggested themselves
to the committee for consideration, and this arrangement seems to
be more in line with the precedents and to be most definitely
suggested by the situation in which we find ourselves.
Mr. Stafford: Then, I assume, from the gentleman's statement,
that it is the purpose that the gentlemen named in the resolution
shall represent the House in the next Congress?
Mr. Sumners of Texas: No; I believe not. I think it is pretty
well agreed that the next Congress will probably have to appoint
new managers before they may proceed. I think gentlemen on each
side agree substantially with that statement as to what probably
would be required.
Mr. Stafford: There is nothing in the Constitution that would
prevent Members of this Congress from serving as representatives of
this House before the Senate in the next Congress, even though they
be not Members of that Congress.
Mr. Sumners of Texas: I hope my friend will excuse me for not
taking the time of the House to discuss that feature of the matter.
Mr. Stafford: It is quite an important subject.
Mr. Sumners of Texas: It is an unsettled subject, and one we
have tried to avoid.
The Speaker Pro Tempore: The question is on agreeing to the
resolution.
The resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider the vote by which the resolution was
agreed to was laid on the table.
Mr. Sumners of Texas: Mr. Speaker, I desire to present a
privileged resolution.
The Clerk read as follows:
House Resolution 403
Resolved, That a message be sent to the Senate to inform
them that this House has impeached Harold Louderback, United
States district judge for the Northern District of California,
for misdemeanors in office, and that the House has adopted
articles of impeachment against said Harold Louderback, judge
as aforesaid, which the managers on the part of the House have
been directed to carry to the Senate, and that Hatton W.
Sumners, Gordon Browning, Malcolm C. Tarver, Fiorello H.
LaGuardia, and Charles I. Sparks, Members of this House, have
been appointed such managers.
The resolution was agreed to.
[[Page 2204]]
A motion to reconsider the vote by which the resolution was
agreed to was laid on the table.(15)
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15. 76 Cong. Rec. 5177, 5178, 72d Cong. 2d Sess.
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Parliamentarian's Note: In the succeeding Congress, an issue arose
as to the power of managers elected in one Congress to continue their
functions in a new Congress. On Mar. 13, 1933, the 73d Congress having
convened, the Senate convened as a Court of Impeachment and received
the managers on the part of the House, who were those Members re-
elected to the House who had been appointed as managers in the 72d
Congress (two of the five managers were not reelected to the House). On
Mar. 22, Mr. Sumners called up a resolution appointing two new Members,
and reappointing the three re-elected Members, as managers on the part
of the House to conduct the impeachment trial of Judge Louderback.
Nevertheless, Mr. Sumners asserted that the managers elected in one
Congress had the capacity to continue in that function in a new
Congress without reappointment.(16)
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16. See 6 Cannon's Precedents Sec. Sec. 516, 517.
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In arguing that the impeachment managers elected by one House
should retain their powers in a succeeding Congress, Chairman Sumners
referred to the lengthy period of time that could occur between the
appointment of managers, the adjournment of Congress, and the
commencement of a trial.(17)
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17. See 6 Cannon's Precedents Sec. 517.
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Sec. 17.4 The resolution of impeachment against Judge Louderback having
been presented to the Senate on the last day of the 72d Congress,
the Senate conducted the trial in the 73d Congress.
On Mar. 3, 1933, the last day of the 72d Congress under
constitutional practice prior to the adoption of the 20th amendment,
the managers on the part of the House in the Harold Louderback
impeachment appeared before the Senate and read the resolution and
articles of impeachment. The Senate adopted a special order that the
Senate begin sitting for trial on the first day of the 73d
Congress.(18)
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18. 6 Cannon's Precedents Sec. 515.
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President Franklin D. Roosevelt convened the 73d Congress on Mar.
9,1933, prior to the constitutional day of the first Monday in
December, and the Senate organized for trial on that date, pursuant to
its special order.(19)
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19. 6 Cannon's Precedents Sec. 516. For the proclamation convening the
73d Congress, see H. Jour. 3, 73d Cong. 1st Sess., Mar. 9,
1933.
On May 24, 1933, the Senate acquitted Judge Louderback on
all articles. See 6 Cannon's Precedents Sec. 524.
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[[Page 2205]]