People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 May 1894 — ABUSE OF POWER. [ARTICLE]

ABUSE OF POWER.

Charged Against Judge Jenkins by Congressional Investigators. Washington, May 5. —Representative Boatner, of Louisiana, chairman of the special committee of the judiciary committee of the house of representatives appointed to investigate the Northern Pacific injunctions of Judge Jenkins, on Friday submitted in behalf of the majority of the investigating committee a report to the full judiciary committee. The report The subcommittee find that the object and purpose of both writs of injunction was to prevent the employes of the Northern Pacific railway from striking; that is, withdrawing from the service in a body, which the court was informed by the officers of the road would result in a suspension of its operations, inflict great damage to the property and inconvenience to the general public. The order which practically compelled the employes to accept a lower rate of wages, and which prevented the officers of the labor organizations from the discharge of one of the most important functions in their possession, is, in the opinion of the committee, a gross abuse of judicial authority, without the. warrant of law, and void. The committee finds no sufficient evidence to sustain any charges against the judge, as he may have conscientiously believed that he had the power to issue the writs complained of and that a proper occasion for the exercise of this power was presented. The committee recommends, however, that, to set at rest any doubt on the subject, a prohibitory statute be enacted which will prevent a recurrence of such orders. It also recommends the enactment of a statute defining and limiting the powers of United estates judges in proceedings for contempt.

It also recommends that a statute be enacted which will declare the causes for which a railroad receivership may be ordered in the United States courts.