The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-31
WATSON AND THE JAGS.
COBB OF ALABAMA ONE OF TIE
MEN ALLUDED TO.

He Brought Out His Name Himself in
Order to Explsin-Watson Will Men
tion No Names Unless Forced to Do
So-Two Repor From the Com
mittee Probable.
WASHINGTON, July 30.-The "commit-
tee on jagology," as a member OF the House
calls the special committee to investigate
Representative Tom Watson's charge Of
drunkenness against unnamed members Of
the House, held two sessions to-day. which
proved highly diverting to the frivolously
inclined around the capitol. No name was
brought out except that of Mr.. Cobb of
Alabama, who was the member especially
referred TO in Mr.. Watson's charge and
who brought his own name out in order to
defend himself after ne had been alluded to
by the third party members, who rallied
to the support of Mr.. Watson. and testified
at the opening session. Mr.. Cobb and
his friends had their inning at the afternoon
session. Mr.. COBB, very respectable
Presbyterian, who was very much ashamed
of his predicament excused himself as well
as he could. HIS colleague, Representative
Oates, entertained the committee and
spectators by describing, in the course of
his defense of Mr. Cobb, the three kinds of
drunkenness, viz. simple stimulation, gen.
tlen1anly intoxioation ana rnaudlin dead or
dog drunkenness. He added that he spoke
from experience, albeit it was eighteen
years ago. The committee, after hearing
more evidence Monday, is expected to ex-
onerate the House. though Jerry Simpson,
the third party man on the committee, may
bring in minority report sustaining Mr..
Watson's charge.
WATSON DIDN'T WANT TO TELL.
By the associated Press.
WASHINGTON, July 30.-The names Of
the members of congress whom Representa-
tive W atson of Georgia had in mind when
he wrote in his book about drunken con-
gressmen on the floor Of tina House did not
come out this morning in the investigation
of the special oommittee appointed yester-
dav TO inquire into the charges made by
Mr. Watson. Mr.. Watson was the first wit
ness He said that he knew enough to sub
stsntiate the charges he had made. He
would regret to mention names, and
would only do 80 under compulsiou.
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 reeling on the floor
of the House in a state of intoxication.
The phrase drunken speakers debating
grave questions" referred TO one speaker on
one occasion only-the Noyes- Rock we'll de-
DbL0s III uln OllbiOu tAe2b bpSuAbE was III q
state Of maudlin intoKioation. In front of
the speaker was q cup and saucer. Its con-
tents were replenished several times and it
was noticeable that the more no drank the
more he wandered in his argument. Mr..
Watson testified that he heard the speaker
sag m9rs sG Of that pssS psssshat hrinS HS;skI me
That gentleman the witness regarded as a
lovable aud honorable man, and one who,
no doubt, regretted the occurrence as much
as any one else possibly could. Mr.. Watson
added that he would not shrink from men~
tioning names il forced to the issue. His
hesitation came entirely from desire to
shield the persons concerned.
Chairman Boatner said that the commit
tee would consider whether or not it would
ask for the names.
OTIS TESTIMONY
Representative Otis of Kansas said that
he had seen evidences of iutoxication on the
part OF members on two occasions. Asked
about the degree of intoxication Of men,
ber addressing the House when under the
influence OK liquor, the witness said: "He
was pretty we'll set up. l thought the
longer he proceeded the worse he grow"
The witness told Representative Simpson
that most certainly he had noticed drinkln1
habits on the part OF members. Coming
from prohibitory state it was perhaps
more noticeable than 1t would have been
otherwise.
Mss Dwyer congressional reporter Of the
National Economist, corroborated the pre-
vious witnesses as to a member under the
influence of liquor addressing the House,
and Representative White also testified to
one instance of intoxication on the floor Of
the House. Mr.. White went on to say that be
was not in the habit of freuueDting the
barroom in the Honse, when he was inter-
rupted by messrs. Boatuer aud Buchanan,
who said the inquiry should be strictly CON
fined to proceedings in the House
Mr.. Simpson raised the point that the
House restaurant was part of the House,
but MIR. watson himself said that he did
not refer to anything out OF the hsll Of the
House.
Mr.. Halvorsen of Minnesota and Mr..
Butler Of Iowa each testified that on two
occasions he had seen a single member
drunk in the aisle. On another occasion the
man was drunk when addressing the House.
Mr.. Butler testified that be had seen only
four members drunk during the session.
The House was, on the whole, the soberest
body OF men he b ad ever met in his life and
in his own prohibitory town so many men
could not be got together without more
drinking.
Representative Shell Of South Carolina
and Representative Clover of Kansas each
testified that he had seen only one instance
of intoxication in the House.
Representative Davis Of Kansas corrob-
Grated the testimony OF the previous wit
neeses as to two OF three instances Of drunk
enuess on the floor OF the House.
Mr. Watson then wa ted to prove the
existence OF d bsrroom IN the capitol build
ing but Mr. Boatner would not let him.
aud would not agree that the Record should
show the refusal. Mr. Boatner said thnt il
was matter of public notoriety that
whisky could be had at either the Senate or
House wing of the capitol aud at many
other places.
By the vote of Messrs. Boatner. Buchanan
of Virginia, " olverton and Grant against
that of Mr.. Simpson, the motion to admit
evidence OF drinking in the House restaurant
was overrpied. Messrs. Ken OF Nebraska
and Baker bad each seen one or two mem
bers drunk on the floor. Representative
Logan had gone home and this closed the
evidence Mr. Watson had to present, except
that he said that IL any point were made of
tue words "maudlin rambling" he wished
to have the original stenographic notes.
ROCKWELL TAKES THE STAND.
After tue recess Representative Rockwell
of New York took the witness stand. Mr..
Rockwell testified that he was the contestee
in the Rockwell-Noyes contested election
case decided by the House some time ago.
dc was present during the discussion of the
case in the House The witness had not