Omaha daily bee., 1892-03-04
DENOUNCED BY Mr.. WATSON
He Brands as Falsehoods Statements Pub
lished in the Atlanta Constitution.
ARRANGEMENT OF THE SPEAKERS CLERK
why the Congressman Voted for the Repub-
,lican Contestant In an Election Case
Rates FOR Commercial Travellers
Proceedings of the Senate.

WAsnINGToN, d. c., March 3.-There was
lively scene In the house this morning
when Representative Watson, leader of the
peoples party, arose to question of privi-
lege and denounced the correspondent of the
Astianta Constitution for accusing HIM OF i'm
y proper motives in voting with the repubii-
cans in the Craig Stewart election case. Mr..
Watson caused to be read from the clerks
desk dispatch TO the Constitution from hs
Washington correspondent, wherein 1T was
stated that MIR. Watson had voted In favor
Of the republican contestec because he ex-
peoted fin ancal aid from that party in his
next race for congress.
Mr.. Watson's Defense.
at has not been long, Mr.. Speaker" said
MIR. Watson, "since my good name was all
the property had on this earth; since 1t
was to me both house and home, and the
time has not come yet when 1 possess any
AMng that is dearer to me. l nm as humble,
trust as the humblest member OF this
house, but If any member of 1t, high or low,
charges me either directly or indirectly in
the cowardly language of insinuation with
having acted corruptly as sworn Juror in
passing upon law question in this house,
he shall get my answer steruly and as
promptly delivered as honesty and courage
require it to be made. If one Of these read
public journals to deDounce as corrupt a
member of this house, it would startle into
attention every member who knew OF that
charge, but when the clerk Of the speaker OF
this house denounces IN the public print
gentleman whom he knows to lie the political
opponent Of the gentleman to whom he Is
clerk, then it certainly becomes still more
significant, aud the justification for the reply
Is still more complete.
Denounced the Statement as False.
.,rr,,- 90.
1t preteIds to state the f9 It's, is false. Ihe
speaker of this house knows it to be false;
tho gentleman who wrote it knows 1T to be
false. and every member OF this house knows
1t to be false. He says the case was so
plainly in favor of the democratic contestant
that onlv seventeen repu olicans voted to
keep the sitting member in his chair. That
iis absolutely false, and the speaker OF this
FhUuse knows 1T, and his clerk ought to have
known it, aud every member Of this house
knows it. Applause. Every republican in
his seat, saving two, voted to retain the re-
publican in his seat, and the two republicans
who voted against their party associates
were met and overmatched; met by three
democrats, outside of the deposed lepers who
are known as third party men," Laughter,
"rhere were three repu bllcans who voted
against MIR. Stewart interrupted Mr..
Haughen.
"Then it is set-off ard three republicans
did what they thought was only their duty
as sworn Jurors: and the three democrats
whose loyalty to the party cannot be ques-
toned. Mr.. Cochran of New York is one Of
the chiefs of the national democracy.
lLaughterl He is supposed by any test TO
come up to all the requirements OF loyalty
and honesty The others were Mr.. BSbbit
OF Wisconsin and Mr.. Hall of Minnesota
Derided by the Speakers Clerk.
''These three loyal and staunch democrats
voted against their party. Whya Because
upon the testimony and upon the law 1t was
ion m lUhith
estly differ. Ever since / have been here
this clerk of tho speaker has thought it his
duty to der;de me, ridicule me- and msrepre-
sent me. In the article which have sent to
tShc speakers desk, the climax is reached
- the time when silence was prudent and good
policy Is past. The time when any man, be
he ever SO patient, woald be driven to his
denial and his denuncation has come and
here, Mr.. Speaker, denounce that insinua-
tion, cowardly as it is as base and in
famous falsehood" Great applause.
With these personal remarks OF Mr.. Wat
son the matter was dropped and the house
went into committee of the whole, Mr. Rich
ardson of Tennessee in the chair, and re-
sumed the consideration of the DIST fict OF
Columbia appropriation bill. The unfinished
sections were considered without amend
ment and the committee then rose and re-
ported the bill to the house aud it was
passed.
In the Morning Hour.
In the morning hour (which began about
tion Of the bill allo wing railroad companies
to give special rates to commercial trav.
eers.
Mr. OTIS of Kansas antagonized the meas
ure 1t was stroke directed at the funda-
mental principle upon which the interstate
commerce law was founded.
MIR. O'Neill of Pennsylvania offered an
amendment providing that norhing in the
bill shall be construed TO prohibit any com
mon carrier from granting reduced rates of
Transportation to passengers or making re
Yduced rates for freight.
Mr. Harris of Minnesota offered an amend
ment providing that any common carrier
may give reduced rates to members OF tht
Grand Army Of the Republic when travelling
to any annual encampment.
In speaking to the bill MIR. Simpson o.
Kansas referred to the author of the inter.
state commerce act Senator Cullom, as an
''iniquituous railroad attorney"
He was promptly called to order by Lind
of Minnesota.
Simpson expressed willingness to with
draw the word ''iniqutuous," but that would
not satisfy Lind, aid Simpson withdrew tn,
entire expression.
A demand for the previous question wa.
voted down, and pending action the hous,
adjourned.