The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-07-17
FROM WASHINGTON.
A Very Exciting Scene in the House
of Representatives.
Two Congressman Settle an Old Dis
pute by Resorting to Blows.
The Naval Appropriation Bill Passed
by the Senate.
Another Lively Discussion in the
House on the Pension Vetoes.
Especial to the PREss.l


WASHINGTON, July 16.-Under the man.
agement of Senator Hale the Senate passed
this afternoon the Naval appropriation bill
This leaves but three of the regular appro-
priation bills to be acted upon by that body,
the Snndry civil, Deficiency and Fertilization.
The Oleomargerine bill will be next con-
sidered, and may provoke long discussion,
as its opponents will endeavor to kill it by
loading it down with numerous tariff propo-
sitions. The Committee on Agriculture OF
the Senate reported the bill just as it came
from the House. Many Senators favor
the general principle Of the bill and think
that the tax of five cents per pound in manu-
factured butterine, as proposed by the House,
is too high, and that dairy interests will be
amply protected by a tax of one or two cents.
The oleomargarine lobby is a large and
powerful one, and is sparing no effort to de-
feat the measure The House today indulged
in lively fight over the pension vetoes, but
failed to get vote sufficient to pass any of
these bills, Notwithstanding the Presidential
dsapproyal.
A Sensation In the House.
this afternoon by a personal encounter be-
tween Representatives Cobb of Indiana and
Laird OF Nebraska, growing out of the
charges made by the former on the floor of
the House to the effect that the Nebraska
member had been concerned in a land ring.
Representative Payson of Illinois, member
of the Public Lands Committee, was explain
ing to Representative Gilfillan the effect of
certain Senate amendments to a bill intended
to protect the rights of homesteaders, when
Representative Laird leaned from his seat
toward the party, and asked: 'sWhy do not
you fellows Geferring to the Public Lands
Committed do something to break up the
land rings in the South, instead of raiding
upon the North ?''
Mr. Payson replied that that was what the
committee was endeavoring to do.
Mr.. Cobb undertook to defend the commit
tee of which he was chairman, and an angry
passage occurred between him and Mr..
Laird, which ended by the latter gentleman
calling the former a liar
Witnesses say that Mr.. Cobb declared that
Mr.. Laird did not dare to come outside and
repeat his language.
Mr.. Laird is said to have replied that the
gentleman could not get out soon enough for
him. With this the pair started through the
lobby into the basement. Some one called
Mr.. Payson's attention to their exit, with
the statement that they were going outside
to fight it out Thereupon MI. Payson hur-
ried through the doorway, and coming up to
the weuld-be combatants on the stairway,
caught Mr.. Cobb by the collar and remon-
strated with him for pursuing so boyish and
foolish course. He succeeded in getting
Mr.. Cobb to retrace his steps so far as the
west doar of the lobby, Mr.. Laird following,
when the controversy broke out afresh. Re
curing to the charges Mr.. Cobb had made
against him in speech several weeks ago,
was a - liar" Mr.. Cobb rejoined that
Mr.. Laird was a g" perjurer,." but the
words had hardly passed his lips before Mr..
Laird struck him heavy blow on the mouth
and nose. A stream of blood trickled down
Mr.. Cobbs face, and he was thrown back
had collected interposed at this juncture, and
the combatants separated, Mr.. Laird taking
his seat in the House and Mr.. Cobb reclining
in an easy chair in the lobby
The bad feeling between the two members
dates back some months, ard it was apparent
on the occasion when Cobb made his
charges against Laird some three weeks ago.
the last named member with great difficulty
was restrained from emphasizing with his fist
the indignant denial and defiance he hurled
at his antagonist There was every reason
to believe that if interference had not come
a sanguinary personal combat would have
resulted. Both of the members concerned
are of powerful physique, and bear reputa-
tions of men ready at all times to defend
themselves in fitting manner. Cobb stands
SIX 1tGb etllu ONGl, dllu 10 VI PlOpOl
breadth, but is at disadvantage on the
score of being in the neighborhood of 5S or
60 years old. Laird is but 81 years of age,
with girth of chest that would ornament
an athlete, and fiery, impetuous temper.
On the other hand he is also slightly lame,
the result of the fracture of leg year or
two ago.
Changes Announced by the POST
master General.
The following postal information, affect
ing the service in Maine, is furnished by the
Postmaster General:
PoSTMAsTERS COMMISSIONED.
D. Hill, Lyman; B. II. Burr, Springfield.
POST OFFICES ESTABLISHED.
Fortune Rock, York county, special from Bidde-
ford, Biddeford Pool, miles northeast q. K.
Burnham, postmaster.
West Hancock, Hancock county, on route BAT,
Ellsworth 313 miles west j. NJ Butler, postmas-
ter.
South Blue Hill. Hancock county, on route 45S,
Blue Hill Falls, 214 miles south. S, A. Day, post
master.
CHANGES IN STAR SCHEDULE.
Route from Albany to Bethel Leave Albany
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 1.30 PM,
Leave Bethel at $50 p. m.
Tho Copo y,iccian vithoiI+ a Chief Ex-