ARGUMENTS AND ECISION OF THE COURT IN CASE OF FEBRUARY 13, 1902.-Ordered to be printed WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 1902. Fury is, 1302. Ordered, That Senate Resort No. $27 and Hot se pori No. 2471. parts 1 and 2, Fifty-fourth Congress: Senate Doe umet No. 58, FiftySixth Congress, together with other papers d treats herewith srmitted, be printed as one doen, nt. Attest: BENNETT. Scenfard. 2 Senate Report No. 827, Fifty-fourth Congress, first session. APRIL 30, 1896.--Ordered to be printed. Mr. HILL, from the Committee on the Judiciary, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany S. 2984.] The Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred Senate resolution No. 83, which was as follows: Resolved, That the Judiciary Committee is hereby directed to investigate the law upon the whole subject of "Contempts of court," as enforced by the Federal courts, and to report to the Senate whether any additional legislation is necessary for the protection of the rights of citizens; and if so, to report such legislation; and to whom was also referred Senate bill No. 418, entitled "A bill concerning the trial and punishment of contempts of the United States courts herein mentioned," respectfully report: In obedience to the resolution aforesaid, the committee have duly investigated and considered the whole subject of "Contempts of courts," as enforced by the Federal courts, and believing that some additional legislation is necessary, or at least desirable, upon that subject, recommend the passage of said Senate bill No. 418 with an amendment striking out the title and all the provisions of said bill, and in their place inserting the following: A BILL in relation to contempts of court. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That contempts of court are divided into two classes, direct and indirect, and shall be proceeded against only as hereinafter prescribed. SEC. 2. That contempts committed during the sitting of the court, or of a judge at chambers, in its or his presence or so near thereto as to obstruct the administration of justice, are direct contempts. All other are indirect contempts. SEC. 3. That a direct contempt may be punished summarily without written accusation against the person arraigned, but if the court shall adjudge him guilty thereof a judgment shall be entered of record in which shall be specified the conduct constituting such contempt, with a statement of whatever defense or extenuation the accused offered thereto and the sentence of the court thereon. SEC. 4. That upon the return of an officer on process or an affidavit duly filed, showing any person guilty of indirect contempt, a writ of attachment or other lawful process may issue, and such person be arrested and brought before the court; and thereupon a written accusation, setting forth succinctly and clearly the facts alleged to constitute such contempt, shall be filed and the accused required to answer the same, by an order which shall fix the time therefor, and also the time and place for hearing the matter; and the court may, on proper showing, extend the time so as to give the accused a reasonable opportunity to purge himself of such contempt. After the answer of the accused, or if he refuse or fail to answer, the court may proceed at the time so fixed to hear and determine such accusation upon such testimony as shall be produced. If the accused answer, the trial shall proceed upon testimony produced as in criminal cases, and the accused shall be entitled to be confronted 3 |