The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-08-02

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.-[Speciall-
The special committee appointed to in
vestigate the charges of drunkenness of
members of the House. resumed it's ses-
sion this morning, and half dozen W it.
nesses testified that, in their opinion,
Representative Cobb, Of Alabama, was
not drunk when no delivered his argu-
ment in tho Noyes- Rockwell election
contest, the witnesses testifying that
in their opinion Cobb was suffering
from exhaustion, incident to the deliv-
cry, then in poor health, of the long
speech, marked by many interruptions
and much badgering on the part of
other members. Representatives Patter-
son, OF Tennessee; Bynum, Meyer, of
Louisiana; Delegate Smith. of Arizona,
and Peyton Wise, Of Virginia, clerk to
tho House commerce committee, and
Solicitor Hepburn, Of the Treasury de-
partment, testified to Cobb's sobriety on
the occasion in question. Patterson,
Bynum and one or two OF tho other
witnesses testified that they did see a
cup on Cobb's desk and had seen him
drink out OF it, but from a close obser-
walton and knowledge of Cobb, thew
knew that he was not under the influ-
enee of liquor.
Bynum testified that he knew it was
not an uncom mon practice for members
to take bouillon, beef tea, coffee and
other stlmulants out of cup during
long and continued arguments and from
his knowledge Of Cohb's physical con-
dition he was satisfied that that gentle
man could not speak continuously for
two hours without taking some stimu-
liant. Delegate Mark Smith said that
he had heard Cobb use the phraze, "Mr.
Speaker, where was 1 at?" Cobb had
been frequently interrupted, and the
interruptions had caused him to loso
the thread of his argument, and Cobb
use the remark for the purpose of get
ting into his argument.
Representative Bynum, Delegate
Smith and also Representative Never
testified that they had not seen any
members drunk on the floor of the House
during the silver debate or at any other
time this session. Bynum was testify
ing In eulogy OF the general sobriety Of
Of the House during this session when
Simpson, the Alliance mem Der of the
committee, objected, and said that their
side had been closely held down in the
investigation, and latitude should not
oe allowed the other witnesses, but the
chairman overruled him.
Delegate Smith had been so emphat tic
in testifying that he had seen no drunk
enness on the floor during this session
that Simpson asked him If he had seen
any members under the influence OF
liquor during the three terms he had
been in Congress. but tho question was
ruled out of order on the ground that
the conduct OF previous Congresses was
not under investigation.
Solicitor Hepburn testified that he
was on the floor of the House part of
the time that Cobb was speaking and
paid close attention to his argument as
he had boarded at the same house with
Cobb for some time. He did not suspect
Cobb of intoXicatlon in any degree. Tho
witness was asked about Cobbs habits,
but Simpson objected to the any tcsti-
mony relating to matters outside tho
floor Of the House, on the ground that
they had not been allowed even to prove
drinking in the house estaurant. Grant,
OF Vermont, wanted to insist on an
answer to the question, buta ma iority
ruled it out Of order.