The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-11-23
OUR NATIONAL LEGISLATORS.

OO1S
Senator Mason Of Illinois, Chairman Of
the Committee on Postoffices and Post
Roads, is the only man in the Senate who
can write shorthand. He will have ample
opportunity 20 use his pothooks and hero
glyphics when the Senate meets, for the
committee of which he is chairman is one
of the busiest in the Senate.
To look at Senator Mason he would be
the last man one would suspect OF being
capaSIe of the remarkable activity neces-
sary to take down verbatim the erossfire
OF questions and answers before commit
tees. But he does it without ever turn
ing hair He used to be an official court
stenOgrapher
Senator Chandler, now Chairman of the
Spanish War Claims Commission, was also
a shorthand man and took frequent notes
of the speeches made on the floor when
he intended to reply during the same sit
ting. As Chairman of the Commission The
Senator now utilizes his talent, and attor-
neys are frequently astoHished at the quo
tations he makes frCEn their remarks.
Uncle Joe Cannon. Chairman of the Com
mittee on appropriations is one of the
most picturesque men in Congress. He is
a forcefuI speaker and able to irritate
his opponents in the most artistic fash
ion.
Mr.. Cannon's fondness for corn on the
cob is well known. While living at the
Cochran last year he invited a rural con-
stituent to dine with him Uncle joe or
deTed corn on the cob and the waiter
brought not fewer than dozen ears
What do you pay for board here, joe"
the constituent asked He was told the
( figure which was not SO very modest de-
spite Uncle Joe's carefulness of public
funds The rural constituent looked up
in surprise and remarked. soto voce.
Say Joe, wouldn't it be cheaper for you
to i've at a livery stabIe?'
Senator John P Jones of Nevada. one
Of the Oldest Senator's in point of con-
tinuous service in the upper branch of
Congress, walked slowly into the Airing
ton last night, leaning heavily on huge
cedaTwood cane, and put his name on the
hotel register
Yes, In back in the Republican ranks
again. he said, in talking with a party
Of friends.
Six or eight years ago the Nevada Sen
ator wandered of with the Populists,
leaving his old party because of his in
ability to agree with it OF the money
question. Subsequently he became Dem
ocrat and affiliated with that party in
the last two national campaigns.
My only difference with the party was
OF the question Of finance" said he. Il
have always contended that the money
question is d cumulative. not qualitative
one There Is no occasion at present for
renewal of the question of bimetaIIism.
because there is more gold in the world
today than there was gold and silver
when [ first began TO agitate the question
Of the equal use Of both metals"
Senator Fred :. Dubois of Idaho. ana
bic and smiling, iourneyed to the Senate
yesterday, to look over the seat he
would like to occupy, after an absence Of
four years
W. did you put in a vivid green
carpet he asked Colonel Ransdell, Ser
geant-at-Arms Of the Senate.
To make q lot of you countrymen feel
At home" was the Iaconic reply.
Who viii be the minority leader in the
Senate2 Some say the honor viii devolve
upon Senator James K. Jones of Arkan-
sas, Chairman Of the Democratic Nation
al Committee Others think Senator Bal
ley of Texas. fresh from his triumphz
at the other end OF the big building, viii
bound to the forefront and take up the
reins of leadership. TiIIman and Turner
and Cockreu viii doubtless have some
thing TO say concerning the management
Of party affairs. There are no Germans
in the Senate this season, a fact which
the Democrats sincerely regret. It is
only q question Of few short months.
however, before Mr.. German viii again
grace the halls Of national legislation.
He viii probably succeed Senator Well
ington sixteen months hence.