The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-06-16
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial Correspondence.

ward to the time when he will live in
California. the poppy land of rest and
refreshment. where strikes md mergers
and anthracite mix ups sound far off.
as In a dream. He has invested in land
Ut Santa Barbara. within sound of the
old mission bells. and in due time,
when the trusts are busted and the
wicked are laid low, he will build him
a castle Of Incidence and lay down his
troubled oar.
Mr.. Knox has spent several winters
in southern California and has return
ed each time with reluctance to the
strife Of modern times. It is not gen.
orally known that the attorney general
of the United States Is a poet of exqni-
site though modest taste and that In
a strictly quiet way he presented ''sug-
AIRED sonnets to his private friends
rivaling those of the poets of more
romantic days. Some experts have gone
SO far as to assert that the laurel and
the bay belong to Attorney General
Knox rather than to the poet who pre-
sides over the department Of state.
National Museums New Home.
The first step has been taken to-
ward erecting u suitable home for the
National museum. This important and
popular institution has been greatly
cramped for years for a suitable build
ing in which to exhibit the wonders
and curiosities that have been gath
cred under the direction of the govern
ment. Congress was made to realize
the necessity for h new building and
made adequate appropriations. A con-
tract has been made with a firm Of
architects for the plans and specitica-
tons of the new structure, which is to
cost $500, 900. Only general plans Of
the new home of the museum have
been decided upon, and before. the &C
tual construction begins some of the
most noted museums of the world will
be visited and studied. In the mean
time tests will be made of the ground
on which the building is to be erected,
it's location having been fixed between
Ninth and Twelfth streets. or just
about where the present one story
structure now stands. adjoining the
Smithsonian institution. 1t will take
three years to erect the building.
Discriminating Gratitude.
The pension bureau has discovered a
Brooklyn woman with more real, If I'M
conscious, humor to the square inch
than many a professional after dinner
talker. She is the widow of a New
Yorker who fought and bled for his
country, and she had waited long for
the stipend Uncle Sam passes out as a
small token of the republics gratitude.
At last the government has granted
her a pension. and the patient appli-
cant has acknowledged the tardy ac-
ton in the following note:
Brooklyn, May the 18th, 1909.
Commissioner of Pensions:
I wish to express my Grattud and
thanks to you and all Consumed for my
Pension and to God who has given me
Pacunce and Courage to waite. Respect
fully. Mrs. - -.
Coal Dealers Must Reimburse. s
Uncle Sam is not to suffer any loss
through the coal famine of last winter
if Il decision rendered by the comp
troller Of the treasury is sustained and
enforced. 1t is the practice for the
government to make contracts for it's
coal supply everywhere. Few of these
contracts were filled while the dealers
We're receiving fancy prices for the
precious fuel last winter. In many in
stances the government had to enter
the market as a competitor with the
citizens and buy it's coal where it could
be had at any price demanded. The
comptroller in his decision holds that
the government can compel the coal
dealers who contracted to furnish it
coal to reimburse it and pay into the
treasury the difference between the
contract price of coal and the price
the government was forced to pay.
Working Overtime Printing Money.
The presses at the bureau of engray-
ing and printing are running twenty
four hours Il day printing money. The
run is on new national bank notes. 1t
takes about twenty-five days to pre-
pare new money for the banks SO that
it will be properly seasoned" to go
into the hands of the public. The
banks have orders ahead for many mil
lions, and the circulation Is being de-
lfvered to the comptroller by wagon
loads each day. From the comptrol'
ler's Office it is shipped to the banks
upon the deposit of bonds covering the
amount to be shipped. The circulation
of national banks of the United States
has passed the 100000 900 mark. the
largest anlount in their history. Z
Must Remove Evil Influences.
Acting Secretary of the Navy Oar
ling has directed that the Pacific squad
ron. which was ordered to the Bremen
ton (Wash.) yards for docking. remain
in San Francisco until the department
is assured that the Bremerton towr
council has wiped out the notorious re
sorts just outside the gates. In add
ton. the department will discontinue