Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1892-08-03
NO BREAK In THE HOUSE
All Leaves of Absence to BE
Revoked.
COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO CONFER

The Homestead Matter Considered In the
ssnate--JudRs Cobb Appears Before
the Investigating Committee aud Denies
the Charges OF Drunkenness.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 8.-The situation in
the House has not changed. All alb
sentees will be notified to return and all
leaves of absence are to be revoked. If
any absent members shall fail to return
or notify the Speaker that they are en-
route to the Capitol within the ensuing
two days the Sergeant-at-Arms is to en-
force their attendance.
Three recssses were taken yesterday for
the purpose of effecting some satisfactory
solution of the question, but nothing was
accomplished, although a conference was
held, attended by about 20 members, Mr..
Dockery Dem.), of Missouri, presiding.
Several propositions were submitted,
but not entertained, and a committee of
ten was appointed, five for and five
against the Worlds Fair appropriation,
to consider the matter and report at a
future meeting.
The committee is composed of Messsrs-
Bankhead (Ala.), Mcmillan (Tenn.), Nc
Creary (Ky), Cummings IN. W, and
Culberson 1Tex.). who are opposed to the
appropriation, and Messrs. Durborrow
fli0. Williams Qll.), Fellows IN. W,
Reilly (Pa.), and Shively Qnd.), who
favor IL.
In the absence of any other business the
Senate yesterday discussed the Home
stead affair with some warmth and per-
sonality, Mr.. Hawley Comm in the
course of the debate taking occasion to
| remark that Mr.. Palmer (ul.) needed a
guardian"
At the close of the discussion a much
modified resolution of investigation was
adopted providing for a special committee
of seven to inv estigate the employment
for private purposes of armed bodies of
men in connection with differences be-
tween workmen and employer"-the res
| olution not mentioning either Homestead
or the Pinkertons by name.
The special committee Investigating 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, resumed its labors
| yesterday.
Representative Clark, of Alabama, tes-
| titled that the only instance of drunken
ness of members that came within his OBJ
servation was during the night of the sill
yer debate in the House, when there was,
| according to his idea, one case.
Representative Cobb took the stand to
make a statement in defense of the
| charges brought against him.
Chairman Boatner called the attention
| of Mr.. Cobb to the charge in Representa-
| tive Watson's book, which, in effect, re-
ferred to the witness, Cobb, as being in a
state of maudlin intoxication while MAX
| ing an address to the House, and said the
| committee was ready to hear what the
| witness had to say in the matter.
Mr. Cobb said that at the very outset
of his speech during the debate on the
| Noyes- Rockwell contested election case he
| appealed to the House not to interrupt
him, as it was an exciting time in the
House, and Interruptions of previous
| speakers had been numerous. He made
| the remark that it was difficult to answer
multiplicity of questions.
Mr.. Cobb laid before the committee the
| official stenographer's manuscript of the
address he made on the occasion men
| toned, and pointed out in it the many in
| terruptions which he had to contend with
during the course of his speech. He also
read from the manuscript a long colloquy
which took place between himself and
Representative Watson, and then passed
over the pages of the manuscript until he
reached the point where, according to
Mr.. Watson, he made use of the words
"Mr Speaker, where am atN
AS the stenographer Transcribed the
phrase it made Mr.. Cobb say: "Mr
Speaker where am in my argument
Mr. Cobb continued reading his re-
I marks from the manuscript, and when he
had concluded said he would submit his
speech to any fair minded man to judge
if it was a maudlin one.
He did not intend to deny that his Ian
guage could be criticised he was not par
ticular as to that. He hadkbeen continu
ously interrupted, and probably the ad.
dress was at times disconnected.
In regard to the liquor matter, Mr.. Cobt
said he would not claim any indulgence
on the ground of being a weakling, as he
was not. He admitted, however, that he
was not as strong as some men. The
Noyes-Rockwell contest, continued Mr.
Cobb, was an exciting and, to some extent
bitter one.
"For three days preceding the debate,
said Mr.. Cobb, 81 was engaged in ex
haustive labor on the case, in addition tt
my other duties SO that l haC
but little rest, and when entered the ar
gument was not in my usual health"
Mr.! Cobb also explained that he haG
had am attack of the grip, which had af
| fected his throat, and, in order to reliev,
| it, heEhad told an employee to send to hi.
desk cup of beef tea, as he wanted
| warm liquid.
This was done and, from time to time a.
; he proceeded with his argument, he sent
| page to have the cold liquid changed tt
warm 'and from that circumstance,
added Mr.. Cobb, "has grown a great deal
of trouble"
Mr.. Cobb took exception to the testi
mony of Representative Butler given OIL
Saturday last, which was in substanc
that Mr.. Butler had heard Mr.. Cobb say
"Send me more whiskey."
"That is not true" said Mr.. Cobb EN-
phatically. There was brought to m
during the argument little whiskey
and used it as would have done unde
r the hand of a physician.
B 81 slipped it, and If it affected my voic
and manner was not aware of it, as
was as as sober as l ever was"
In conclusion Mr.. Cobb said he was no
responsible for the investigation, and ha,
nothing to do with it, He hoped tina
when the affair was looked at from frs
to last it would be seen that it was moth
ing more than a repetition of the story o
~ Il L