The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-07-24

WASHINGTON, July 23.-lSpeciall-
There was lively scene this morning
in the House just before its assembling.
and John Devlln, of the executive COM
mittee Of Knights of Labor, came near
getting good blow from Gen. Oates.
the one-armed veteran of the Confeder-
ate army, and at present chairman of
the special committee Investigating the
Homestead trouble and Pinkerton sys-
tenn. The trouble grew out OF criticisms
made by Devlin on the conduct of YES
days examination of the Pinkertons
and insinuations that an adjournment
of the committee was taken to enable
members to vote on the deficiency an
preparation bill had actually been taken
10 give the Pinkertons time to prime
themselves with answers to the cues
tions proposnded by the Knights of
Labor.
When the Pinkertons appeared before
the investigating committee yesterday
morning they found that HAYES. Deylin
and Wright,of the knights of Labor, had
preceded them and were on hand to take
part in the inquiry. The knights of
LABOR men do not represent the Home
stead strikers, but they had prepared q
number OF questions thoy desired to ask
the Plnkerton brothers. The proceed
ings of the committee were opened bv
request that questions prepared be put
to witnesses, and aftor consultation
members OF the committee decided, al
though such course was rather out of
the usual line OF conducting an inyesti-
gatlon, to put these questions to the
witnesses, and that the committea
would then ask such questions as any
member might think necessary to secure
additional information. The committee
announced this purpose and were then
notihed that they were desired in the
House to vote.
They accordingly took a recess and
handed the questions to the Pinker tons.
who, with their attorney, took written
questions OF tho Knights of Labor and
prepared written answers, making direct
responses to each interrogatory. Devlin
this morning, before tho assembling of
the House, approached Oates and asked
for copy OF the testimony. he was
told he could get an order to see the
stenographer's notes and take points
from 1t or he could obtain a printed COPY
tuesday when the report came from the
printer. Oates asked him to furnish as
soon as possible any names of witnesses
he had, as the committee desired to
close inquiry. Devlin then said that he
thought the action Of the committee
yesterday was most extraordinary, and
criticized the committee for allowing
the Pinkertons to see the written cues
lions and read them before they were
asked by the chairman.
bis manner as we'll as his words Of
tended Gen Oates, who told him that
the committee had treated him aud his
associates with extraordinary considera-
ton, having given their questions pre-
cedence over those OF the committee,
and that his criticism now was inn
proper and impertinent. More words
followed and finally Gen. oates told
Devlin thai he might go u Devlin
charged that the committee had taken
recess at the instance OF the Pinker-
IONS, with the insinuation that it was
to enable their lawyer to prime them.
Cen Oates retorted that this was false,
that Devlin was d liar and that he
(Devlin) knew he was liar. The two
seemed about to come to blows, when
members interposed and doorkeepers
hustled Devlin out OF the hall.