The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-02

wATsoNs UyEsrIan1E POSITION.
Tho Committee Disprovcs Hls Chnrgsn Of
D'uo"ennoss--so, hicss simpson lis
Sole S1upathi1ee.

rptN NA fupafnlTsg.
WAsHworoN, D. G., August Especial
TIE House committee on Congressional
ia-s.' as tho select committee 70 investi-
gate Waison's sandcrous charges against
congressman IS called, spent an OF to-day in
prosecuting its inquiry. Many witnesses.
nearly aA of thom members Of the House.
were examined. Among those who testified
were Messrs. Wise and Meredith. Of Viz
ginia. Captain Wise said he listened very
atteutively to the argument Of Judge Cobb
iu behal. of Rockwell in the contested cleo
tion case. lie sat very close 10 Cobb aud
was surprised that anybody should charge
h.m with having been under the influence
ot liquor on that occasion. There was no
foundation Tor 10. Captain Wise said that
Cobb spoke for several hours and that when
Sc was evident ho was becoming physically
exhausted somebody provided him with a
cup containing q drink of some kind. Cap
tain Wise did not examine the drink. but
supposed 20 was "a sumuiaut, perhaps
whisky 10 some shape. Cobb slipped from
tbe cup now aud then very moderately. bat
Whatc Yerdt Was 10 made no outward effect
upon his manner. Captain Wise said that
COBB was frequently Interrupted and many
of The Interruptions, IN bis opinion
were not pertinent 20 the case
but were made by members who desired 10
figure In the Record 10 was q common
thing for speakers to be interrupted by
members who liked 70 get their names in
print but in the case of Judge Cobb these
interruptions were more frequent and fla
grant than usual.
Alr. Meredlths testimony was much ia line
with that of Captain Wise He sat near
Judge Cobb because he sympathized with
the Rockwell side Gnd wanted to hear al
the arguments IN support Of II. He pro-
nounced the charge unfOunded. saying he
n0t only heard Judge Cobb speak. but con-
yersed with nim just after he concluded.
Other members. among them kiigOre and
Long OF Texas. Rayner and Stump Of
Maryland, DUNCAN of Ohio. and perhaps
twenty more testified 20 having atteutlvely
followed hir. CObbs argument ana that 10
their opinion the charge of iutoxication
was vile siander.
WATSON SUBJECT or RrDfCULE.
Watson, whose efforts 10 obtain notorie-
ty have finally brought him before the pub
lie ia q ID Jst unonvable light sat Immediate
ly next % derry Simpson. his sole sympa-
thizer ia the committee. Simpson stands
alone in attempting tc wiring some sort of
testimony from the witnesses which might
in a remote degree tend % excuse Watson.
To IS amusing TO hear Simpsons cross
exam nations. He is not a lawyer. nor
has he any conception OF the rules and
application of evidence. Watson. who is
about as poor a lawyer as he Is a congress
man, occasionally prompts Jerry, but the
latter frequently ignores the suggestions,
apparently flatterng himself that he Is do
ing admirably Watson evidently realizes
that he has gone too far, and that there Is
no way tor him 10 eXtrcate himself IN
manner TO meet the approval OF honorable
men. Watson lounges back in q big arm
chair as If no would like to shrink
ont of sight. With the exception OF
the Third party members of the House
nobody holds any Intercourse With
Watson. He is ignored and avoided.
he was disappointed at the course of
Judge Grant. Republican member OF the
Gommittee Watson undoubtedly eApScts
sCme support and encouragement from
Grant but the latter has with even more
positiyeness than some of the Democrats
manifested his disgust with the peanut
member from Georgia. Even Funston. OF
Kansas, who, when Watson was SO dr0mati-
caiiy reiteraung his charges on the floor and
defying the Democratic majority, openly
sustained the latter and urged him 10 go
ahead, % to-day went before the committee
aud swore that he had never seen anything
on the floor or in the conduct on members
t0lend cOuntenance 20 the charges.
Tho committee say they Will wind up
their work and be ready 20 report 70 the
House tomorrow In view Of the testimon my
ii is difficult to see how the committee can
escape from At least ceDtuung Watson.
Some members openly declare IN favor of
expelling him. but that would not be an
easy task at this junctuTe. as there are
90 many absentees that a tWO-thlrd5 vote
could not be mustered.