Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-07-31

man for the purpose OF exciting Sympa-
thy al home.
The oniy thing he has succeeded IN
proving before the investigating COM
mittee is that lumber OF members OF
the House drink, and that on two or
three occasions, certain members have
appeared on the floor of the House
somewhat under the influence OF liquor
He has shown no drunken conduct on
the paat Of any member nor anything
elA which would excuse the general at-
tack upon the house. His reason for not
wanting 70 give names OF men whom ne
accused Of being on the floor drunk was
the fear that they might hold him per-
sonauy accountable. There Is little
doubt that he is at present very uneasy
and he will probably try 10 stralghten
himself with the house II be is given
an opportunity.
The names Of the members Of Con-
Qress, whom Mr.. Watson had In mind
when he wrote in his book about drunk
en- Congressmen, did not come out this
morning i'm the investigation OF the spe-
cial committee appointed yesterday TO
INQUIRE into the charges made by MT.
Watson.
Mr.. Watson was the first witness. He
said that he knew enough 10 suostsn-
tiate the charges be had made. lie
would regret 10 mention names and
would only DO so under COmpulSiOn. de
had in mind two members present dur
ing the debate on the silver bill az
night session early in March, when he
wrote about members reellng on the
floor Of the House in 3 state OF intoXica-
tlon.
The phase drunken speakers de-
batting grave questions referred 70 one
speaker on one occasion only-the
Moves Rockwell debate. ln his opinion
that speaker was IN state OF msudlln
intozicatiOn. In front Of the speaker
was a cup and saucer. Its contents were
replenished several times, and 10 was
noticeable that the more be drank the
more he wandered in his argument
SIR. Watson testified that be heard q
sjeaker say 90 q page: '8riEg me moro
tAat Nstud-that whisky" That
gtntlemsn witness regarded as love
able and honorable man and one whono
doubt regretted the concurrence as
much as anyone else possibly could.
Mr.. Watson added that be would not
shrink from mentioning,names II forced
70 the issue. his hesitation came en-
tirely from a desire to shield the per-
sons concerned.
Chairman BOatner said that the COM
mittee would consider whether or not II
would ask for names.
Representative Otis, OF Kansas, said
that be had seen evidences OF intoxlca'
tion on the part Of members on two oc-
casions. Asked about the degree OF In
toxication of a member addressing the
House when under the influence OF
LIQUOR, witness said "he was pretty
well set up. / thought the longer be
proceeded the worse he grew Wit
ness told Representative Simpson that
most certainly be had noticed drinking
habits on the part of members. Coming
from a prohibitory State it was perhaps
more noticeable than it would have
been otherwise.
Miss Dwyer, congressional reporter
OF the National Economist cOrrOOOsated
the previeus witness as TO a member
under the influence of liquor addressing
the House. In response 70 general
question from Representative Simpson
Mr.. White said that he had not seen
ANYTHING % make him think that a
great number Of members were drink
ing while on the floor OF the House.
Representative HalverSon, Of Mime
Epons, and Butter, of Iowa, each teStl-
fed that on two occasions he had seen
a single member drunk in the aisle.
Representative Shell, OF South Caro-
INA, aud Representative Clover,ot Kan
sas, testified that he had seen only one
instance Of intoxicatiOu in the House.
Representative Rockwell, Of New
York testified that he was the con-
testee In the Rockwell-NoyeS contested
election case, decided by the House
some time ago. He was present during
the discussion Of the case in the House.
Witness had not seen any members reel
irg on the floor during the present SeS-
siOn. He saw no members whom
he thought were appreciably drunk.
The gentleman who made the remark
,syYhere am ! at" had made a speech in
his behalf while the election case was in
progress. He (witneSs) was associated
with him a great deal before the speech
vas delivered, assisting him. The man
sd worked hard aud was considerably
xbausted. He was, Mr.. Rockwell said,
\ no sense intoxicated or under the in
ipepce Of liquor. Witness saw the
gentleman Immediately after the speech
and be was not in the least intoxicated.
Representative Turner, Of Georgia,
ssti6ed that at one night session he had
seen a member whom be thought was
drunk.
Representative Oates, Of Alabama,
was the next witness. During his teSti-
mopy it developed that Representative
Cobb. OF Alabama, was the person who
had made the speech in the contested
election case and who was the perSOn
charged with intoxicatiOn by Repre-
sentative Watson.
some question having arisen as to
whether it was proper to allow the
name TO remain on the record, mas
much as no other names had been
given, Mr.. Cobb remarked that whether
his name was mentioned or not, every
bodv knew who was meant. He ap-
pealed to the committee to let the mat
ter proceed openly, and asked the CON-
NJ 70 ms a thOr0ugh searching
t'oF ring thai he (Witness)
the reSht.
that while Mr.Cobb was
red exhausted, aud
souk thing to drink.