Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-07-17
RE1IIGERENT CONGRESSMAN.

A personal rencounter between members
! of The House of Representatives yesterday
took place within sound of the Speaker 8
chair. The members concerned were MIR.
Ccbh, of Indiana chairman OF the commit
tee oil public lands: a democrat, and MT
Laird, cf Nebraska, a republican. Bitter
feeling has existed between the two for
some time past, and the affair of yesterday
was the elimination. Mr.. Cobb has been
warning upon all land grant railroads and
in annuling land entries claimed To BIO IT.
regular, LII the course of his warfare he
and Mr.. Laird have several times Crossed
parliamentary swords. Mr.. Laird has
claimed that Mr.. Cobb was unjust in his
statements and suspicious in several IN.
stances, and Mr.. Cobb has rctorted with in
limalions that the Nebraska member was
personally Interested. week or two ago
in the course of debate the two went to The
very verge of parliamentary decorum IN
their structures on each other, and each
warned the other not to go too far. lester-
day while several members, including Mr..
Cobb, were discussing the merits of certain
Senate amendments to House bill on The
subject of public lands, in the vicinity OF
Mr.. Laird's seat, that gentleman leaned tor
ward, and not addressing any one particu-
Iarly, said: "Why don't you break up the
frauds and tho land rings in the South -
Mr.. Payson, one of the members in the
uronp, said that was what they were trying
10 do Mr. Cobb put in with the remark
which Mr.. Laird construed as meant for
him, "Wa stop frauds wherever we
fad them" Some further words then pass
4 Al T i,,1
Mr.. Cobb the lie direct, and was immcdl-
tliatciy challenged to come outside the hall
and repcal his language. Mr.. Laird sprang
up and rapidly walked out into the lobby in
tho rear Of the Speakers chair, followed by
Mr.. Cobb. rs they went out, and after
they entered the lobby, they continued the
exchange of personalities of vigorous
character. 1t is supposed the purpose of
and settle their differences in good old
fashioned smuggling match, but before they
had half gotten to the bottom of the stairs,
Mr.. Payson, Mr. Strait and other members
who had followed after them as fast as they
could in the hope of preventing difficulty,
overlook them. Mr. Payson took hold Of
Mr.. Cobb, and plead with him not 10 make
fue:her scene, and Mr.. Cobb finally con-
sented to return with him, but as he turned
TO go back Laird said "He's c. d
old liar anyhow, and he knows it," Cobb,
although he had consented to turn back, re-
piled: you are a G. d psrjured
= --- and can provo it," Quick
"a a flash Mr.. Laird struck out from the
shoulder. Mr.. Payson partially intercepted
the blow, but it was too telling TO miss en-
tiraly, as the flow Of blood from Mr.. Cobb's
cut lin attested Mr.. payson held on To Mr..
Cobb, and Mr. Strait Immediately piuioned
Mr. Laird. MIR. Cobb struggled to return
the blow, hut was prevented from doing so,
and then, under The escort Of fiiends, the
two went oil in different directions. In ~
short time they returned TO their seats in
the House. II is not supposed the matter
will go any further. Both are men of fine
physique, weighing two hundred. pounds
and over, with powerful frames. Mr. Laird
has the advantage Of Mr.. Cobb in being
twenty years younger.