The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-01-07
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial CORRESPONDENTS

- ~NSA "a NAS
fact that Senator Mason's speech in the
last session Of congress praising the
purity Of American champagne has
been sent all over the country by en-
terprising wine manufacturers under
Senator Mason's frank, thus securing
the distribution of a valuable indorse-
ment without the payment Of postage.
$50 far as l am concerned" said SEN
ntor Mason the other day, Il have no
apology to make. 1t liz true that certain
American grape growers and wine
makers took the speech and printed it,
Just as a political party prints and cir
culates a political speech. They went
to the public printer, paid him for
printing the speech and for the envel-
opes, paid for having the addresses
written and then mailed the speech al
a public document. l have great conf
dence and respect" added Senator Ma
son laughingly, "for any gentleman
who will circulate a speech that l de-
liver"
Blue and Gray.
In the senate friendships are not linn
tied by party lines. Some of the strong
est personal attachments exist between
men of exactly opposite political views.
Senator Bacon of Georgia, who might
be termed a hard shell Democrat, has
many warm friends on the Republican
side, while Senator Aldrich, one of the
most prominent leaders among the Re-
Dublicans, has very close personal rela-
lions with the older Democratic mem
Republican from Vermont, has a great
attachment for Senator Mallory, an ex-
IRENE southerner from Florida. Mr.
Mallory served in the Confederate ar
my and in the Confederate navy; Sena-
tor Proctor was a colonel and served on
the staff of Major General "Baldy"
Smith in the Union army. This makes
10 difference. however. and it is a very
common thing FOR eX-Confederates and
ex-Federals to ve found in the house
and senate the most intimate of friends.
A Convention Building.
A bill to provide for the construction
of a building for exhibition and assem-
bly, purposes in the District has been
introduced in the senate by Mr.. Nc
MILAN, chairman of the senate COM
mittee on the District of Columbia.
This bill is in response TO- an urgent
appeal that has frequently been made
for a building in which exhibitions
may be held and in which assemblies
Of a semipublic nature may be con-
vened.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Mcmillan
provides for an appropriation of $$3,OOO.-
900 to carry it out. This amount is for
the purchase of a site and the con-
struction of a building suitable for con-
ventions, exhibitions. assemblies and
concerts. 1t is provided that this mon
ey is to be expended under the direc-
ton of the president Of the United
States. The bill was referred to the
senate committee on public buildings
and grounds.
r. Damon and Pythias.
Speaking of friendship, Bard Of Cali
fornia and Quarles of Wisconsin are
the Damon and Pythias Of the senate.
Every morning they walk down Penn
~sylvania venue to the capitol and look
so much alike that they might natural
" be mistaken for brothers. Bard has
slightly the advantage in height, but he
cannot boast a mustache as handsome
as Quarles possesses.
When they get together for a talk.
Quarles is fond of relating his expert
ences during the civil val. for Bard
never was a soldier, while Bard tells
Of his struggles in the early days of
California. for he went to that state
nearly forty years ago. Both men be-
long to the self made class. They have
worked hard. Quarles in the practice of
law and Bard in the railroad and min
ing businesses.
Curious Indian Names.
"The government pays money to In
dams with the most curious names in
the world" said a treasury official as
he labored hard the other day in coun-
,arsigning FIVE or six hundred war
rArts for small sums to Shawnee Indi-
AIS, "These names l have here are
be'rties compared to the names Of
SOM. Of those f3rther west than the
SAlu 'SNCSs LIZ ! ~ Col Jug NOA1~
mon names, with few exceptions. One
of these checks here is for the chief of
the Shawnees, whose name is Johnson
Blackfeather. The name is not so curl
GUS. after all, but all through this list
are such names as Bigknife. Bluejack-
ct. Blackish. Greyfeather. Whitedeer.
SQUIRREL. ect. These are among the
most honored names in the Shawnee
country"
When "Cinch' Meant sBounce."
He was a rough rider Of rather small
stature who was earnestly %conversing
with the president in the crowded re-
ception room on Saturday. He had
served under Colonel Roosevelt in Gu
ba. and there was an air of familiarity
about the meeting. Finally the presi-
dent in an impulsive tone that could
ho hand oil rror %lha xcay,o coid..