A Special Session Becomes an Impeachment Court

Olympia — The Washington legislature assembled Thursday for the third time this year, and there are those who predict that ere the current month has expired the state's lawmakers will again be specially summoned for a fourth session. The chief purpose of this special session is the removal of Insurance Commissioner Shively.

During the recess of the legislature, the house members who are managing the impeachment have been gathering and preparing their evidence. The pleadings have been brought to an issue and the senate will assemble as a court to try the case.

Almost the first thing to come up when the senate meets as a court will be the arguments on the petition of Schively that more than a dozen of the senators be disqualified from sitting because they have by public statements and actions indicated they believe Schively guilty and that he should be removed from office. This, Schively contends, is sufficient reason why they cannot act as unprejudiced judges. The state will oppose this bitterly, because there can be no impeachment except by the whole senate.

Under the 60-day limitation upon sessions, the present session which began June 23 will expire August 21. Attorneys differ as to what will happen should the latter date find the impeachment incomplete. Some contend the governor will have to call another special session and in that event the whole impeachment proceedings will have to be started over again.