Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-01
REPRESENTATIVE wATsoN's CHARGES
Further Testimony Taken by the Special
House Committee Today,

Further Testimony Taken by the Special
House Committee Today.
A special committee of the House investigst-
ing the charges made by Representative Watson
Of Georgia that members had been seen on the
floor Of the House to stagger and reel from
drunkenness met this morning.
Ex-Gov. Josiah Patterson OF Tennessee was
the fret witness called.
Chairman Boatner asked his name.
Mr.. Patterson replied: Josiah"
Mr.. Boatner-Have you had that name all
the time?
Gov. Patterson-Always.
Witness said he had never noticed . member
drunk on the aoor Of the House and so far as
he knew the statement was untrue. He had
known Mr.. Cobb since his arrival here a. q
member OF the House, and the day that Mr..
Cobb made bis speech on the Noyss-Rockweu
contested election he CMr. Pstter-
SOM had listened to him through
very long and exhaustive one He had seen
MIR. Cobb drink from q cup but as TO it con-
tanning whisky he could not state, but as to the
charge that Mr.. Cobb was drunk he wished the
public to know that it was not true. Witness
sat within four feet Of Mr.. Cobb while he was
making his speech.
Mr.. Bynum Of Indiana was the next witness.
He said he was not in the House the day that
Judge Cobb spoke.
Mr.. Boatner asko him II he had ever seen
any member of the House drunk on the floor OF
the House. Witness replied that he had never
seen such a thing, and was OF the opinion that
no such thing had ever taken place on the floor.
Mr.. Simpson objected to the question. Mr..
Boatner told him that he could appeal to the
committee.
Mr.. Simpson, do not wish to appeal to the
committee.
MR.. WATSON SATISFIED.
Mr.. Watson made a statement to the effect
that he was satisfied with the investigation, as
it had proved that his charges were true and
that he did not intend to make the charge gen.
orally against the House, but only against indi-
viduals &.
Mr.. Simpson moved that the question put to
Mr.. Bynum respecting the general character OF
the House as to sobriety be stricken out.
The committee overruled Mr.. Simpsons mo-
ton.
Mr.. Bynum said that this House WAS as sober
and dignifed body as he was ever in.
Delegate Marcus Smith Of Arizona was next
called. He was present when Mr.. Cobb spoke
on the day mentioned. He was sure that Judge
Cobb was sober.
Mr.. Boatner asked if he had seen any member
or members staggering and reeling about the
House.
Mr.. Smith replied that he had not seen any
such affairs.
Mr.. Simpson-Have you ever seen any such
instance occur during your service Of three
terms in the House?
Mr.. Smith started to answer the question,
when he was told by Mr.. Boatner not to
answer it.
Mr.. Grout Cvt.) objected to the question.
Mr.. Simpson withdrew it.
Mr.. Smith said that Mr.. Cobb, a. every men,
ber Of the House knew, was delicate and Of q
nervous temperament, and that 1t was neces-
sary for him to take some nourishment, as ii
would have been impossible for him to have
talked for two hours as he did without it.
Gen. Myer Of Louisiana was the next wit
ness. He said be was Of opinion that Mr.. Cobb
was sober when he delivered his speech on the
Noyes- Rockwell contested election case. He
noticed that he was somewhat mixed toward
the end Ct his speech, but that was doubtless
due to the frequency Of the interruptions which
occurred during the colloquy.
Gen. Wise Of Louisiana, clerk to the commit
tee on interstate commerce. being called. said
that he listened to Mr.. Cobbs speech from the
gallery and was Of opinion that he was perfectly
sober.
W. P. Hepburn, solicitor Of the Treasury
Department, said that he was at the Capitol
specially to hear Mr.. Cobb's speech on the
Noyes- Rockwell case, and that he had not been
able to discover any symptoms OF drunkenness
about Judge Cubb. He had known Judge
Cobb for years and knew him to be sober and
upright
Mr.. simpson objected to Mr.. Hepburn tss.
tifying a. to Mr.. Cobb's character.
Mr.. Boatner said hs hardly thought Il nee
| eseary to 60 so far as-
Here Mr.. Watson broke in and remarked
"Yes, SO far as the restaurant"
Mr.. Hepburn was excused and the committed
took recess until 1890 in order that member
might respond to q call Of the House.