The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-07-12
FRIDAY MORNING, JULY IL.
Three Congressman and their Ways,


The Democratic New Orleans Times gives
the following description of the different ways
OF which Messrs. Reed, Stenger and Blackburn,
the members of the Louisiana subcommittee,
find out what witness knows:
1t Is interesting to note the various methods
employed by the three distinguished Congress
men here present in their endeavors to learn,
discover, persuade, force, entrap and throttle
the truth from the many witnesses whom they
summon to give evidence before the sub-inves-
tigation committee.
Mr.. Stenger is q quiet, shrewd man, and
makes his direct examination accordingly. He
sits straight upright in his chair and keeps his
clear blue eyes fixed upon those of the witness.
In fact, the only vigilant things noticeable
about Mr.. Stenger are his eyes, At times,
when the answer is expected to be important,
or when by questioning the witness is reduced
TO hard pam replies, those eyes sparkle and
the lids come closely together as the examiner
concentrates his gaze.
Mr.. Stenger is so quiet in his manner that
often the witness Is thrown off his guard. For
instance, in obtaining repetition of evidence
the chairman will mildly remark: Il would
like to have one little point settled-your state
ment little while ago that you said in an inter-
view with Anderson, you would pay. is incor-
rectI believe and the witness hurriedly
denies that be said he would pay, before he
recollects that he previously stated that he had
no interview with Anderson whatever, had
only seen him, etc. Then Mr. Stenger mods
his head towards the witness, repeats the last
three or four words of the testimony, as 1t
scoring them upon the tablet of memory and
Immediately springs another explosive ques-
ton.
Mr.. Blackburn is abrupt, energetic and quick
In his questioning, blufing and confusing the
witness until the latter is induced to say some
thing he never intended to say. 1t is the ex-
animation of rough-shod cavalry officer, who
sees the enemy in the entrenchment and is not
satisfied until he gets at him. When he has
cornered the witness, and murmur of appro-
baton arises from the crowd of spectators, his
eyes twinkle, his eyebrows run up and smile
of self-amused satisfaction gathers around his
mouth.
Mr.. Reed differs in manner from either of
the above described gentlemen. He sits COM
placently back in his chair and asks questions
pretty much as country farmer would con-
verse with another about the crops. This is
MIR. Reed with his claws hid. He smiles upon
the witness-smoothes him with sunny
glance from his large rolling eye, and silently
his best friend on earth. Presently he differs
from the witness about two concurrent answers
and kindly ventures to inform witness of the
fact
Witness persists in his last assertion; Mr..
Reed shows him, by logical deductions, Ia Ia
Whately's Manual) that he is wrong, but wit
ness still persists. Then Mr.. Reed ceases tc
smile, and cloud of disappointment settles
upon MS nign arcnlng brow. 1t Is said that a
this stage of the game Mr. Reed is more terri
BILE than Mr.. Blackburn.
In conclusion, it may be matter of congrat
ulation to the State that Congress has sent here
so versatile and talented committee.
One thing is certain; If it be possible for the
three men to discover anythiDg, these three arr
capable of doing so, for where the talent of one
committeeman stops, that of the other COM
mences, and the rafting fire of questions al
ways at their command, is apt to break down
any concocted story which can be brought be
fore them.