The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-08-03
NATIONAL LEGISLATORS.
II Was Beef Tea that Cobb Drank
While Speaking.
VOICE AND STRENGTH AsKEW,
"Might Have Taken . Little Beer That
Day"-More Fiiibustering and No End
in Sight to tho Disgrsceful Democratic
Wrangle.

wAsHINoroN, Aug. 3.-Yesterdsy tho
House committee investigating the allega-
tions made by Representative Watson In
his book OF drunkenness among members
of Congress, heard Mr.. Cobb In his own
defence.
For several days before the night re-
ferred to In Mr.. watson's book, Mr.. Cobb
said he was engaged In laborious work
gathering matter and preparing his argu-
ment. He had worked late and early, ana
as q result, when he began his srgume mt
on the floor he was not In his usual ply
sical condition. His throat he said, was
particularly weak, and in order to relieve
soreness In II and alleviate the annoy
ance OF tickling, he had requested an
employe of the House, before beginning
his remarks, to bring him cup OF beef
tea.
"SursIy beef tea Is mild and un in
toxiosting liquid,n said Mr.. Cobb, "and
IL was frequent thing for memb bers to
refresh themselves with IL during .
cause Il was warm and soothing TO the
throat. From time to time he had the
cup sent back and replenished In order to
exchange the cold tea for hot tea. and
from that circumstance he thought all
the trouble had grown.
serted by Mr.. Watson that he had said to
Q page: "Bring me some moro whiskey."
"The point 10 this" said Mr.. Cobb, mo
one could have heard me ask q page to
bring me some whiskey, for I never said
It,"
Mr.. Cobb acknowledged that some
whiskey was brought him during the
course Of the evening and placed on his
desk. It had been brought by friend;
he had used IL only to relieve his throat.
II II affected him In voice or manner he
was not conscious OF II. He was 40 sober
then as he 10 now. IL was true he had
drank little beer during the day.
Mr.. Watson at this point interrupted
the proceedings by asking Judge Cobb
how he indicated that the beverage was
out and that he wished the cup replen-
ished; to which the answer was that SO
far as he (Mr. Cobb) remembered, he had
said to friend that he wanted little
whiskey was put before him he had slipped
II two or three times and when he con-
cluded his remarks he took another sip,
but he was not made drunk by 1t nor did
his state approach intoxication.
He was fully persuaded that II In his
remarks there was anything unusual, IL
resulted from one of two causes--either
from his anxiety to put before tho House
every legal point In the case, or because
he had occupied the floor too long and
was anxious to complete his remarks.
Mr.. Watson then made statement In
reference to the paragraph in the book
which has caused 80 much discuss ion,
saying that 1t could not be understood
thoroughly unless the whole chapter was
taken into consideration. He paid .
tribute to the character of Mr.. Cobb and
stated that he had never meant to draw
the gentleman into the difficulty.
Mr.. Watson argued at some length In
eynlanatfou 0f tha rara0ranh In tha
book, the substance OF the argument be-
ing that it meant to infer that the House
had not kept any Of the promises OF the
Democracy and that 1t had been virtually
derelict in its duty to the country. His
wss nd M Sy
ner, In which each gentleman accused the
other Of discourtesy In the course OF the
Investigation.
Bad feeling between them was particu-
Iarly manifest during Mr.. Boatner's close
cross questioning to draw from Mr.. Wat
son statement that his paragraph re-
ferred personally to Mr.. Cobb and to the
House In general, and Mr.. Watson's SEEM
ing indisposition to answer.
Mr.. Watson, after testifying as to his
admiration for Mr.. Cobb, In answer to a
question put by the chairman, reasserted
his belief that Mr.. Cobb had been drink
ing on the night Of the debate, but modi-
fed his statement somewhat by declaring
that after all 1t might only be q matter OF
opinion and that 1t was quite difficult
matter for men to agree whether man
was drunk or not.
Here Mr.. Boatner interposed this ques-
tion: "Do you still believe Mr.. Cobb was
intoxicated
81 do.
Mr.. Wilson OF West Virginia and Judge
Patton Of Indiana both testified that
they listened to Mr.. Cobb and had no.
ticed nothing in his manner to indicate
intoxication. The hearing was then
ended.
N UETTER