Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-29

an imperative chorus. that Mr. Watson re-
tract the charges. Representative Benton
McMillin of Tennessee was one of the most
indignant speakers.
Mr.. Watson he said. has made the
gravest charges in the bodest way that
have ever heard made against the mem
bers of the House 1t does not seem to re-
fer to any member of any particular party,
but to the whole House. If false, 1t in
wolves the gravest SANDER against this
body that could be made, and, if true il
is the greatest disgrace to Congress"
BY this time the Georgia member was
surrounded by not less than a dozen men.
who insisted that he make either retrac-
ton or an explanation, and he arose to do
So He left the subject for moment to
exclaim: There is nothing new in that
charge. 1t has been made before. and by
no less person than the Nestor of the
House, Mr.. Holman Because only ten
Representatives of the peoples party have
seats in This body the balance of the mem
bcrs of this House. Irrespective of party,
seem to wish to tyrannze over u.s. but |
for one do not propose to permit"
He was allowed to proceed no further
along that line, but was stopped by the
Speaker. upon the protest of several mem
bers, who reminded him that he had the
privilege of the floor merely for the pur-
POSE of making an explanation and not for
the purpose Of continuing the spirit of the
Paragraph in a speech, but as Mr.. Watson
seemed determined to continue, Mr.. Boat
ner CT Louisiana moved that the gentleman
from Georgia be denied the privilege OF the
| floor Before the Speaker Of the House
could even put the motion there was a
storm of ayes in approval, in the midst OF
which Mr.. Watson sat down and the Speak.
| Ell raped for order. When restored, Nil
| Watson arose to his feet again and an
| nounced that he would simply read the en-
| tire paragraph referred to. and then the
| House could do with 1t as it pleased. He
| read ii, as follows:
The Exact Language.
| tration. Pledged to reform, they have moi
| reformed. Pledged to legislate they have
| not legislated. Extravaganza is the order
| of the day. Absenteeism was never so pro.
pounced. Lack of pun pose was never sc
| clear. Drunken members have reeled about
| the aisles disgrace to the republic
Drunken speakers have debated grave is.
| sues and, in the midst of maudiin ram
| blings. have been heard to ask Mr.. Speak
| er, where am 1 at?' Useless employees
crowd every corridor Useless extrava-
gance pervadeS every der artment"
Now" said Mr.. Watson, commenting I'D.
on the paragraph, 1.-The only crime charged
in the passage L have read is the charge
that member got drunk on the whlSky
which this Congress allows to be sold in the
Lar room situated in the basement of this
building. You have planted the tree; why
should you wonder at its fruits? You al
low the contagion; why should you wonder
at lis sickness? j stand upon the exac,
truth and defy proof to the contrary
With this challenge MIR. Watson sat
down. Nobody seemed to know Just what
to do. and the regular business of the
House was resumed. The matter was
brought up later in the day. however by a
motion from Representative Boatner that
committee be appointed to Investigate
the charges made by Mr.. Watson. The
motion carried and the Speaker appointed
Messrs. Boatner, Wolverton. Buchanan.
Grant and Simpson en- the committee. who
called a meeting that night, but at the
hour appointed Mr.. Watson asked for a
continuance until he could get his witness
es oSethar upon whom he relied to uphold
him and his accusations.
The Man With the Gun.
The case was continued. therefore. until
the next day, Saturday, July 80. when Mr..
Watson took the stand and made a state
| ment. He said that the phrase drunken
speakers Keeling about the House" refer
| red only to one man whom he had heard
during the speech. At any rate, he said
referred to. and that he (Watsom heard him
say to page. in the midst of his address.
Bring me some more of that whisky"
whereupon, Mr.. Watson said, the page
went away and shortly returned with
something in the cup, which the speaker
drank When pressed to tell the name of
the gentleman mentioned Mr.. Watson en-
phaticaIly refused.
OF course this centered the interest of
everybody at the hearing, and especially