The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-07-31
CHARGES DRUNKENNESS
AGAINST MEMBERS or THE HoUsE
Investigated by the Special Committee.
Judge Cobb, OF Alabama, One OF
the Men Referred To.

WASHINGTON, d. c., July S0.--Ispecial. /
Watson. tho peanut member Of the House
from Georgia. who made wholesale charges
Of drunkenness against his feilow-members,
would most gladly withdraw his charges if
that would get him out of the dilemma into
which he has placed himself. The investi-
cation as conducted to- day completely dis
proved Watson'sch charges and exposed him as
mean slau1ereg Of the House. II shows him
upasa q "i al bird, and to-day ho Is held in
contempt ~ al save tho few Third party
ties Even the Republicans declined 10
counteuauco Watson any longer. They ap-
plauded and encouraged him yesterday and
now laugh 90 Nrs.
lar pRocEF-42Fs.
Tho committee pointed to investi-
gate Go cherges made 10y Representative
Watson Ghl TIA his book and reiterated
yesterday upon ths floor Of the House be-
ran is investigation to-day.
Air Watson was sworn, and the resoiu-
tI0u unaeg which the ooc1nltteo is working
Was reaQ.
Nr Boatner then called his attention 10
tic paragraph III his book saying that
drunken members reeied about the aisles,p
dc. and asked hlm If be was the author OF
this charge aud II II was published under
Witness replied that he was the grtbor.
and it vas from personal observation.
Mr. BoatncT ssked him if 40 could give
the naules Of tho members who reeled about
the aisles.
lie replied that he could but didno wish
20 do 20 uniess compelled 10 by tho COM
mittee. Tie hadno desire to mention the
names, but on the contrary. was willing to
screen them, Ho was willing, however, 10
give .he names II the committee insisted
Nr. Wolverton asked him how many
members had reeled about the aisies under
tho influence Of liquor
bIr. Watson said that personally he had
seen two members do so. lie had heard Of
others The occasion on which he had
seen the two mem oers be referred to was on
the FIRST night of the Silver bill. This was
tle only time.
DRUNEEN spEAKERs.
Nr. Boalner asked him If the charge
against the House was based upon one Incl
dent He replied that this was the one he
Lad In mind when he wrote the paragraph
referred 20.
3lr. Boatner then called biz attention to
the paragraph iu his book saying that
drunken speakers addressed the Chair, etc.,
and asked him when this took place.
Witness replied that it was during the
Noves-ROokWol contested election case and
that IN his opinion the speaker referred 10
vas 10 q state Of intoxic8tion. lie was
quite close 90 the gentleman when he was
speaking and had interrupted him several
times 20 ask him questions.
Mr. Boatner asked him If 10 was because
the speaker asked the Chair 'Where.am
At, that he concluded that he was intoxi-
Gated.
Mr.. Watson said that it was not. It was
from the general conduct and appearance OF
the member.
His conduct and painful condition, Mr..
Watson said, became the talk of the House,
aud remarks were passed on 1t IN the gal
leries. He was sorry for the gentleman.
Representative Otis (han.G Miss Bessie
A. Dwyer. a newspaper correspondent;
Fsuresentativ6s White and Butler QR).
srheel rs. c.. ., ,D,e4s l)asis Den end
Baker Kan. ;. oil testified IN substantietion
OF Mr.. WRteon's charge.
Representatives Rockwell On. -, Uc-
Kaig (Md). Turner (Ga.), Oates (Ala.), all
said they had not seen any drunken men,
bers on the door.
Representative Oates testified that he had
not seen any drunken members reel about
the aisles nor heard drunken members ad-
dress the House.
JUDGE COBB THE MAN REFERRED TO.
When asked about the Noyes- Rockwell
case he said no had heard some talk about
itand he knew that the gentleman referred
Mr. Boatner interrupted him and asked
him not 70 mention any names as the COM
rnittee had prohibited this heretofore.
Judge Cobb being in the room, asked the
Chair 10 allow bis name TO 20 in.s as every
one knew he was the person referred to. All
he wanted was an opportunity to meet the
lie wanted it understood that he was the
man referred to, and wanted the committee
TO fully investigate the matter. He had
nothing 10 conceal and nothing 10 eYade.
He preferred 10 let his name stand unless
Mr. Watson came forward and withdrew the
charges which he will not do" interiected
Dir. Watson.
Mr.. Watson said that he had withheld the
name of Judge Cobb at the request OF Mr..
Bailey Tex
Continuing. Mr.. Oates said he was present
during the s-ROckwell case and heard
Dir. Cobb speak. During the speech he be-
came ex hauated before he completed and
some one sent him q drink OF "toddy." lie
did not know its composition, but thought
that there was liquor in 10. Judge Cobb
sipped IL and thought it enhvened him. lie
went 70 Judge Cobb and suggested that he
had covered all the points and had better
conclude his argument. Judge Cobb WAS
not drunk What he drank may have
stimulated him some, but 1t ala not ihtoXl-
cate him.
Mr. Watson was recalled, and said that he
referred - Judge Cobb Ala as the mem
Der who was intoxicated and IN such con-
dti0n addressed the Chair on the Noyes-
Rockwell case. At this point IN the inYes.
tgaliOn the committee adjourned until ~
o'clock Monday morning. -, ~,
The committee refused TO allow MT. Wat
s0n 10 prove that liquor was sofa ID Tue
restaurant Of the Capitol.
The Senate.