The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1910-02-02
WASHINGTON LETTER
By CARL sCHOFIELD. Special Core
.spondent.

V0JectIonS 70 Nonr0oeTato UNIFORM.
Lately complaint has been made Of
the fact that the Confederate uniform
Is shown in the figure, and those who
do not like this say they could prob
ably overcome their objections If this
feature had been omitted by the sculp-
tor and those who accepted the design.
They forget entirely that General Lees
fame was won as a commander Of the
Confederate forces. However, there
r not many Of these complaining ex-
soldiers Of the Union, and pretty much
everybody has settled down to the be-
lief that the statue which Virginia has
proffered to the nation will in due
time be accepted by congress when
the formal ceremony is arranged.
Rumpus About Over.
The rumpus that is being raised ID
expected to blow over, just as it did
when a lot Of anti Catholic politicians
endeavored to work up a religious sen.
timent that they hoped might make
congress refuse to place in the hall the
statue Of Father Marquette.
That movement was led by certain
congressman up III the northwest, who
imagined that they would win favor
with the Protestants out in the rural
districts If they tried to rule out this
statue of the great pioneer priest, but
the Protestants did not appear to think
the proposition was what the politi-
clans tried to make it, and hence the
matter was dropped.
Congress invited each state to send
two statues of favorite sons, and when
the legislatures make the selection that
ends it.
Calhoun Statue In Place.
As is we'll known, the last statue to
reach the hall was that of John G. Cal
houn of South Carolina. 1t was given
it's place at the opening of the present
session of congress, and visitors to the
capitol take keen interest in gazing
upon the marble figure that perpetu-
ates the fame of that renowned states
man of antebellum days.
Compared with others among the
older states, the south has fewer stat
ues in the hall, but within the next
year quite a number will be contrib
uted. One of the earliest expected to
be put in is that Of the late Senator
Zeb Vance of North Carolina.
First Governor Of Idaho.
OF the e. states, Idaho is the
only n that has presented a statue
of one of her distinguished citizens,
that Of the late United States Senator
George L. Shoup. He was the first
governor of Idaho after the state was
admitted and was one of the first SEN
ators elected. He was one Of the p1O-
neers out in the far west and was a
noted Indian fighter when the red men
used to give trouble to the white set
tiers. Senator Shoup was a native of
Pennsylvania and is remembered here
as one of the most liberal hearted men
who have served in congress during the
| past quarter of a century.
Delving Into History.
Several employees of the senate have
had a task cut out for them which will
in all probability keep them at work
| for several months. Senator Lodge is
| responsible for their labors, and he Is
| responsible because Of his unquench-
| able thirst for a knowledge of history.
The senator is something Of a histo-
rian himself. The list of books he has
written on historical subjects takes up
quite a bit of space in "Who's Who"
Documents From Fillmore's Time.
Mr.. Lodge discovered during the
hours when he was unmolested by pol
iticians that he desired greater knowl-
edge of the manner in which the Unit
ed States became interested in the
Austria Hungary revolution. One OF
the first things he did upon returning
to Washington was to introduce a res
olution asking the president to send to
the senate a report on the subject
which had been made to the state de-
partment many years ago by a special
Investigator of that department. The
following reply was received from
President Taft:
referring to senate resolution NO
4S, l beg leave to say that the papers
asked for were forwarded to the sen
ate by President Fillmore"
Members Of the senate proceeded tt
have some fun with the Bay State his
torian, but the latter was more deter
mined than ever to find the papers
and the secretary Of the senate wal
ordered to institute search for them
Inasmuch as there are hundreds Of
boxes filed with papers, said boxel
having no marks Of Identification ant
being stored away in a hundred cor
ners of the capitol, Senator Lodge un
doubleday will be back at his home II
Nahant enjoying the summer breeze'
before he gets the Information he i
looking for.
Pension Office Needs Room.
What to do with the congressional
rag bag Is puzzling the brains o
statesmen, and the prospects are tina
tons and tons Of once priceless paper
win be destroyed for the sake of room
space. In the pension building ar
some 2,5OO.OOO admitted or allowe'
claims, occupying some t~wenty-sevel