The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1882-07-12
WASHINGTON LETTER
A SCENE IN THE HoUsE-RoBEsoN AMI
wHIrTHORNE EXCHANGE INNEC-
TIVE.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., July 8, 50.
To the Editor Morristown Gazette.
Yesterday was what is termed
field day Congress. hessrs. Robe
son. of New Jersey, and Whitthorne,
of Tennessee, gave expression 10
long pent feeling on the Naval ques-
tor and personalities were hurled
with a violence that reminded one
of the days before the war.
On the question of reconstructlng
the Navy, Mr.. Robson held that 1t
was far more necessary to maintain
a complete Navy, than to contribute
so literally to our extraordinary
growth of the army. The appro-
priations that were now being made
for the support of the Navy, he
claimed, were simply for the com
fort and convenience of the officers
and others who composed the per-
sonnet of that branch Of the service
He then proceeded 70 reply to the
newspaper attacks made upon him
which he was Secretary of the Navy
He said that such attacks were ma
Iicious and libelous. He had beer
charged with an extravagant ex
penditure of the appropriations
This he denied most emphatically
Mr.. Robson was very earnest IL
his delivery, and was listened Il
with close attention, and more thar
once expressions were heard OF
various sides to the effect; "Thanl
Heaven, the old man has a chane
at last"
While Mr.. Robson was CLOSING
the debate on the bill, at l2:3
o'clock, he took occasion to max
some scathing remarks in refer
ring to his administration OF tn
Navy Department, and the re1e(
tions which have been cast upon /
He referred, in the most scorchin
language to the action of the Forty
fourth Congress, which, under tn
Sage of Gramercy Park, came int
power with the cry of reform, whlc
sounded much like the rebel yell
and, without mentioning any nam
referred to Mr.. WhitthOrne, OF Tel
nessee in the bitterest terms. IL
ferring to the Investigations under
taken by that Congress, and I'll
men qualified to carry them on
the manner they were, he said: q
there was a man who was charge,
whether true or false, with purloiI
ing the funds of his State"
At this juncture MIR. WhitthorI
stepped directly in front of Nj
Robson and eXcitedly exclaimed
THAT'S a lie, and whoever repea
il is q liarr This created roal
ING sensation, and every memb'
sprang to his feet and rushed to
ward anticipating personal set-t
Mr.. Peelle, of Indiana, asked thu
the language be taken down. Nj
Robson, waving dissent with bot
hands, protested by saying: 60
never mind it. l have applied NJ
language to no one. If any ma
feels it true let him step forward an
acknowledge it." An exciting scer
was that on the floor at this tim
the confusion from which attracte
the Sergeant at Arms to the foo
and his presence and the rattle
the Speakers gavel soon quiett
matters.
After the Naval bill had passe
Mr. WhitthOrne arose and said tn
he made a personal application
Mr.. Robeson's remarks, because IL
} latter, true to his instincs, "a wh6
Secretary of the Navy, had bee
, looking up the school fund matt
of Tennessee. He said that he h;
never had any connection with I'll
J school fund. He said that he hs
been folled day and night by dete
tives from the Navy Departmer
who had made inquiries into h
moral defects. These men elaine
that they had a case, but it was ;
: Infamous lie. He had proposed
do his duty without fear or fave
, and he was followed because he hs
done his duty as q member OF Il
e. House. This explosion has be-
long expected from the unpleasant
ness that has existed, since the ia.
: of Grants last term, between Il
} ex-Secretary of the Navy and Il
eX-Chairman of the Democrat
naval committee.
!