The resolution reported by the House Judiciary Committee for the appointment of a special committee to investigate the charges filed against Judge Grover Moscowitz by Congressman Somers of Brooklyn, was adopted by the House Wednesday following a discussion participated in by Congressmen Celler, Dickstein and Somers.
Congressman Celler took the floor and spoke in defense of Judge Moscowitz when the resolution was offered. He explained that he did not rise to object to the resolution, since Judge Moscowitz welcomes the investigation as it will prove the falsity and lack of justification for the charges. Congressman Celler briefly replied to the charges in order, he said, to remove any unwarranted impression which might arise through the filing of the accusation. He said that Congressman Somers did not sign or assume personal responsibility for the charges, but had filed an affidavit of Levine. This affidavit was actuated, Congressman Celler declared, by the motive of revenge against Judge Moscowitz, because the latter had sentenced him to imprisonment for contempt. Congressman Celler denied that Judge Moscowitz had done this to force Levine to make a settlement with his creditors in order to favor the attorneys to whom Moscowitz, according to the charge, was partial.
Congressman Bert Snel. chairman of the House Rules Committee, took exception to Congressman Celler’s speech interrupting him by declaring that the question of Judge Moscowitz’s in (Continued on Page 4)
nocence or guilt was not before the House.
In a tilt between Congressmen Dickstein and Somers, Mr. Dickstein repeated Congressman Celler’s contention that Somers had not assumed personal responsibility for the charges. Congressman Somers stated that he would be sponsor for the charges and that he is making the accusation.
Congressman Dickstein protested against the investigation proceedings, declaring that the case was one where an affidavit charging misconduct against a Judge was presented by a private individual and that such a course was unconstitutional. He contended that the resolution was not sponsored by any Congressman and that Congressman Somers had acted merely as a messenger boy, carrying the affidavit from New York to Washington. When Mr. Dickstein said he would withdraw his objection if a member would endorse the resolution, Congressman Somers rose and said he would sponsor the charges.
The resolution will now go to the Senate where it is expected to be adopted this week.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
