St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-07-31
WHO WAS DRUNK :?
investigation of Tom Wat
sons Charges Begun by
the Committee.
Eany Witnesses Testify to
Seeing Mild Jags Carried
by Members,
Eut mitigating Conditions"
Are Coupled With the
Admissions.
Only One Name Mentioned,
and the Gentleman Courts
Examination.

WASHINGTON, July 50.-The name of
one of TIE members Of congress whom
Mr.. Watson. Of Georgia, had i'll mind
when he wrote i'll his book about
drunken congressman OH the floor OF
the house, came out inadvertently this
morning i'll the investigation Of the
special committee appointed yesterday
to inquire into the charges made by MIR.
Watson.
Mr.. Watson was the first witness. Ee
said that he knew enough to subStan-
tiate the charges he had made. He
would regret TO mention names. and
would only do so under compulslOn.
He had in mind two members present
during the debate on the silver bill
at night session early in March, when
he wrote about members Keeling Oh the
floor of the house in state of intoXi
cation. The phrase drunken speakers
debating grave questions" referred TO
one speaker on one occasion only-the
Noyes-R Rockwell debate. In front of
the speaker was cup and saucer. Its
contents were replenished several times
and it was noticed the more he drank,
the more he wandered in his argument.
FEe Cried for More.
Mr.. Watson testified that he heard
the speaker say to page: Bring me
more of that stuff-that whisky" That
gentleman witness regarded as Iowa
BILE and honorable man. and ole who no
doubt regretted the occurrence as much
as any one possibly could. Mr.. Watson
added he would not shrink from men,
tioning names if forced to the issue.
His hesitation came from desire to
shield the persons concerned.
Chairman Boatner said that the COM
mittee would consider whether or not it
would ask for names.
Representative Otis. of Kansas, said
that he had seen evidences of intOxica-
ton on the part Of members on two oc-
casinnS. Asked about the degree OF in
toXication of the member addressing the
house while under the influence of
liquor, witness said:
He was pretty we'll set up. | thought
the longer he proceeded the worse be
grew"
Witness told Representative Simpson
that most certainly he had noticed
drinking habits on the part Of members.
perhaps more noticeable to him than it
would have been otherwise.
Miss Dwyer, a congressional reporter,
corroborated the previous witness as to
member being under the influence of
liquor while addressing the house. In
response TO general question from
Representative Simpson, Mr.. White
said that he had not seen anything to
make HIM think that great number of
members were drinking while OH the
floor of the house.
What EzalvOrsen Saw.
Representatives Halvorsen, of Mime
sofa, and Butler, Of Iowa, each testified
chat Oh two occasions they had seen a
single member drunk in the aisle. On
another occasion man was drunk
when addressing the house. MIR. Butler
added another instance to those men-
toned by naming the silver debate and
pension night as the times of drunken
ness. Mr.. Butler testified that lie had
seen only four members drunk during
the session.
Representative Shell, of South Caro-
lima, and Representative Clover, of
Kansas, each testified that he Lad seen
only one instance of intoXicatiOn in the
house.
Representative Davis, of Kansas, cor
IOUoTaleu Tile testimony OF previous
witnesses as to two OF three Instances
of drunkenness on the floor of the
house. He thought one occasion was
when a local bill was up.
Mr.. Watson then wanted to prove the
existence Of bar room in the capitol
building. but Chairman Boatner would
notlet him, and would not agree that
the Record should show the refusal. say
ing that it was matter of notoriety that
whisky could lie had at either the SEN
ate or house wing OF the capitol and at
many other places.
Shielding the Restaurant.
By vote of Messrs Boatner, Bu-
chanan, OF Virginia, Wolverton and
circuit, against that of Mr.. Simpson, a
motion to admit evidence of drinking in
the house restaurant was overruled.
Representative Ken, of Nebraska.
named two occasions, one he thought
when the river and harbor bill was
under discussion. when he saw mem
Der drunk on the floor, and Representa-
tive Baker recalled four instances
Representative Logan had gone home