The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-24
pEvLIN ON HIs MUSCLE,
Denounces the House Committee and
Gets Into a Row With Mr. Oates.

Denounces the House Committee and
Gets Into a Row With MIR. Oates.
WASHINGTON, July 23.-There was a
lively scene this morning in the House just
before its assembling, and John Devlin Of
the executive committee Of the Knights Of
Labor came near getting good blow from
Gen. Oates, a one-armed veteran OF the con-
federate army and at pres
emit chairman of the special COM
mittee investigating the Homestead
trouble and Pinkerton system. The trouble
grew out OF criticisms made by Mr.. Devlin
on the conduct of yesterdays examination
of the Piukertons, and iRsiuuatiops that au
adjournment OF the committee, taken to
enable the membe OF the committee to
vote on the deficiency appropriation bill
had been taken to give the Pinkertons time
To prime themselves with answers to CUES
tious propounded by the Knights Of Labor.
Wnsn the Pinkertons appeared before the
investigating committee yesterday morning
they found that Messrs. Hayes, Devlin
and Wright OF the Knights of Labor had
preceded them aud were on hand to take
part in the inquiry. The Knights Of Labor
men do not represent the Homestead
strikers, but they had prepared number Of
questions they desired to ASK the Pinkerton
brothers. The proceedings OF the commits
tee we're opened by request that the ques-
tions prepared be put to the witnesses aud
after consultation the members Of the oom-
mittee dec ded, although such a course was
rather out OF the usual line OF conducting
an investigation, to put these questions
to the witnesses and the committee would
then ask such questions any member
might think necessary to secure additional
information. The committee announced
this purpose and were then notified that
they wers desired in the House to vote.
They accordingly took q recess and handed
the questions 10 the Pinksrtons, who, with
their attorney, took the written questions
of the Knights of Labor and prepared writ
ten answers, making direct responses to
each interroEatory.
DEvLIN DENoUNCEs THE COMMITTEE.
Mr.. Devlin this morning, before the as
sembling OF the House, approached Mr..
Oates and asked for a COPY Of the testi-
mony. He was told that no could get an
order TO see the stenographer's notes and
take points from 1t, or he could obtain a
printed copy Tuesday when the report
came from the printer. Mr.. Oates asked
him to furnish as soon es possible any names
of witnesses he had, as the committee de-
sired to close the inquiry. Mr.. Devlin
then said that he thought the action
Of the committee yesterday was
most extraordinary, and criticised the com-
mittee for allowing the Pinkertons to see
the written questions and read them before
they were asked by the chairman. His
manner as well as his words offended Mr.
Oates, who told him that the committee had
treated him and his associates with extraor-
dioary consideration, having given their
questions preoedence over those Of the COM
mittee, aud that his criticism was improper
and impertinent. More words followed
and Mr.. Oates finally told Mr.. Dsvlin that
he might 60 to h. Mr.. Devlin charged
that the committee had taken recess at
tine instance Of the Pinkertons with the in
sinuation that 1t was to enable their lawyer
to prune them.
Mr.. Oates retorted that this was false; tn at
Devlin was a id liar, and that be tDes-
lin knew that he was liar. The two
seemed about to come TO blows. when menu
bers interposed and the doorkeeper hustled
Mr.. Deviin out of the hall.