The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-08-02
COBB'S ALLEGED "JAG." !"
Incoherent Debate Is the Only Evil
dence That He Had II.
WHISKEY TAKEN FOR WEAKNESS
Many Witnesses for Him-Two Reports
Coming The Majority VIII Exhonsr-
ate tho House, but sockisss Jerry VIII
Back Up Watson.


committse appointed to investigate
the House, resumed Its sessions yes
terday and half dozen witnesses tes-
titled that In their opinion Represents-
tive Cobb of Alabama was not drunk
when he delivered his argument In the
Noyes- Rockwell election case, the wit
nesses generally testifying that In their
opinion Mr.. Cobb was suffering from ex-
haustion incident to the delivery when
In poor health OF a long speech marked
by many Interruptions and much badger
ing on the part Of other members.
Messrs. Patterson, Byam and one or
two OF the other witnesses, testified that
they had seen Q cup on Mr.. Cobb's desk
and had seen him drink out OF IT, but
from close observation and knowledge OF
Mr.. Cobb they knew that he was not
under the influence OF liquor.
Solicitor Hepburn testified that he was
on the floor OF the House part OF the time
Mr.. Cobb was speaking, and paid close
attention to his argument, as he had
boarded at the Same house with Mr.. Cobb
Cobb of intoxioation In any degree.
Representative Rayner of Maryland,
who sat close to Mr.. Cobb, testified that
in his opinion the charges made In Mr..
Watson's book were absolutely untrue SO
far a. Mr.. Cobb was concerned. He
liquor could have made the argument
Mr.. Cobb made In that cass. Represent.
tative Long Of Texas testified to the same
general effect.
Representative Kilgore OF Texas testi-
fed that he had seen one member drunk
on the floor OF the House during this
session, and perhaps one or two members
who, he thoug ht, were under the influence
Of liquor. He could not recall having
seen any member reel through the aisles.
He recalled one occasion when q member
addressing the House seemed under the
influence of whiskey. Mr.; Kiigore said
he was In the chair during the greater
part of Mr.. cobb's argument. 1t never
occurred to him that Mr.. Cobb was un-
der the influence OF liquor.
Representative Breckenridge of Ken
tucky said he bad seen no evidence Of in
toxication on the part OF Mr.. Cobb. Mr.
Cobb was little bedevilled during his
argument and once or twice was little
put out at 1t. Witness saw in some news
papers an allegation that Mr.. Cobb had
been drinking and wrote to him express
ing surprise at the statement. He put
that letter In evidence. Witness had not
seen single member within the rail OF
the House at this session who impressed
him as under the influence Of liquor. He
had o vague impression that on one oc-
casion he saw a member flushed with
liquor behind the rail.
Representative DeForest OF Con necticut
did not think Mr.. Cobb was under the
influence of liquor. He sat so near Mr..
Cobb that he thought he would have de-
tectcd the odor had Mr.. Cobb been drink
ing. He saw Mr.. Cobb SIP from cup,
but its contents could not have been
strong. He remembered one speech on a
pension night which he thought erratic,
but he did not attribute IL to liquor.
Representative Fellows of New York
gave general absolution to members OF
the House as to drunkenness. He saw
telegram in a New York paper charging
that Mr.. Cobb was drunk during the
election debate, and he sent long tele-
gram OF denial to the paper. He knew
Mr.. Cobb's condition was due to exhaus-
tion.
Representative Mutchler OF Pennsyl-
vania and Representative Tracey OF New
York testified in denial OF the truth OF
Mr.. Watson's charges. The members of
this House, Mr.. Mutchler said, were par
ticularly free from habits of intoxicaticn
and were as sober a set OF men as he ever
saw in his life.
O'Brien Moore, correspondent Of the
st. Louis Republic, testified that he
talked with Mr.. Cobb Immediately be-
fore and after his argument and he knew
Mr.. Cobb was not under the influence OF
liquor.
Andrew Devine, one OF the omcial
stenographers OF the House, produced
the manuscript OF the official report OF
Mr. Cobbs argument, and testified that
he saw nothing In Mr.. Cobb's actions to
justify the charges made.
Representative Funston of Kansas,
Cummings ard Rockwell OF New York,
WheeleT OF Michigan, Dungan Of Ohio,
Wise and Meredith OF Virginia, Byrnes
of Missouri, Kyle OF Mississippi, Sperry
of Connecticut and Stump OF Maryland,
all testified that they listened to Mr..
Cobb's argument and were surprised at
the charge that he was under the intiu-
ence of liquor. Mr.. Cummings said that
when the charges appeared In New
York paper he telegraphed the editor
that the statement was untrue.
Mr.. Wise OF Virginia said he saw what
was In the cup. He supposed there was
no dispute that it was whiskey; but Mr.
Cobb took very little OF IL and witness
knew he was not intoxicated.
The determination OF the committee is
to close the case today after Representa-
tive Cobb has made a statement. The
reports will be made today IL possible. 1t
is very likely that two reports will bs
printed and that Representative Simp-
son OF Kansas will find a minority report
in behalf Of his colleague, Representative
Watson.
THF FIFTY-sECOND CONGRESS.