Show ta the ie smoot oase case washington jan 11 the first speech in defense of the right of reed smoot to a seat in the senate was delivered today by senator hopkins of illinois mr hopkins took tho the position that senators were not federal am officers cers to the extent that the senate could pass upon their qualifications and eligibility or could impeach them for high crim crimes es or misdemeanors if a senator was to be be punished he said it ih mutt mut be done by the state or federal courts only federal officers he maintained were impeachable and this impeachment m peach ment must be for acts corn com bitted as such federal olli officers cers |