National Republican., 1884-06-19
INVESTIGATING ENGLISH.

Representative WeIIer's Family Testify ns
tn His Meeting Them Mt the Depot
English Pcro VIII Testify After He
Hears Messrs. Horr md E<asson.
The investigation under a resolution of tho
house to determine whether any improper
influences were brought to boar to secure
votes in favor of seating Hon. William Il.
English in the contest of English vs. Peelle,
and whether any oS-members of tho house
ad made improper use of their privileges of
tho floor, was continued by the special
committee yesterday.
Mrs. Weller wifo of Congressman Weller,
of Iowa, Miss Mamie Weller his daughter.
and Mrs. Tall, with whom they board in
Washington, were each called to the witnoss
stand aud in turn described tho circumstances
af the arrival Of the wife and daughter in
Washington. They corroboratod the state
ments of Mr.. Weller made to the committee
Tuesday respecting the arrival of Mrs. and
Miss Weller, and their telegram sent in
advance from Cumberland, summoning Mr.
Weller to meet them at the depot.
Ex-Congressmen II. b. Paine, J. II. Nc
Gowan, and Green Il. Raum were called in
turn and told that their names had been
mentioned as having been upon tho floor OF
the house in the interest of pending legisla-
tion, in violation Of house rule "a.
Gen. Paine said he had not been on the
floor during the present session at ALL
Mr.. McGowan had boon on tho floor several
| times but mover for the purpose of lobbying
| for any bill or in anybody's interest.
Gen. Raum had frequently been upon tho
floor, but never to influence legislation. He
said that he was an attorney for the bill pro-
viding for tho extension Of the bonded period
for spirits, and was before the ways and
means committee in tho interest of his
clients. He said he had not been upon the
| floor of the house to lobby for the bill and
had mover asked any man there to vote for
tho bill. He might have conversed with
members upon tho subject but never unless
| they had first broached tho subject to him.
He did not think he could advance tho inter-
ests of his bill by so doing, and did not think
| it proper thing to do.
Congressman Blount, of Georgia, was called
and his attention directed to statement
made by him in debate, that it was notorious
| that ex- x-members of congress were frequently
on the floor in violation of rule "a. He was
asked If he had any personal knowledge of
| the matter. He said that it was evident that
| his purpose in making tho statement was to
argue that Mr.. Englishs presence on the
floor had been preceded by an ignoring OF
tho rule for years. Since witness had been
in congress many ox-membors whom he
believed to have been acting in violation OF
| the rule had been upon the floor
He was told that the proceedings of the
committee related only TO the present session
Mr.. Blount said he had no personal knowl-
edge of the matter in question. He did not
recall any particular Instances.
Congressman Dunn, without being called
to the witness stand, made brief statement
in explanation of his motives in moving an
extension of the resolution. He said that he
had repeatedly seen ex-Congressman John B.
Harris of Virginia, on the floor, and knew
him to be the agent of railroads, and to have
been before committees of tho house in the
| intarnat nf n in nnnOgitinn IN Yondinu lnf,i
| lation.
Congressman Bayne was called. He said
what he knew on the subject of tho investi-
cation was merely a matter of information
He had been told by Mr.. Horr, and he
believed by some other person, that Mr.
Weller had been called from his seat, and
had gone into the cloak room on the demo.
cratic side of the house, where he had O
consultation with Mr. English, senior, and
had subsequently left the house without 0
pair. Witness later recalled the
fact that Mr.. Kasson was the other
person who had given him informa-
tion. Mr. Kasson had impaired tc
him the belief that tho senior Mr.. English
had been lobbying on the floor of the house
in the interest of his son. Mr.. Kasson had
given him substantially the facts that he
WITNESS had put forth in the house. Mr.
Kasson said he believed those to be tho facts
in the case and this accorded with witnesses
own belief. Witness know that Mr.. Wellel
had voted against Mr.. English on previous
vote, and he also know that Mr.. Weller dis.
appeared OH the OCCASION in question.
Judge Pusey came over and spoke to Mr.
Weller, and the latter disappeared Witness
drew an inference that Mr.. Weller had been
influenced by some one in the interest of Mr.
English. Witness did not impute anything
to Mr. Pusey, whom he believed to be a very
upright man.
Hon. VIM. II. English was present. but
asked that his examination be postponed
until after Mr.. Horr and Mr.. Kasson had
testified.
The committee thereupon adjourned.