New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-05
IN THE SENATE CHA MBER.
MR.. HOBART ASSUMES THE DUTIES OF
VICE-PRESIDENT.
SWORN INTO OFFICE BY CHIEF JUSTICE FULLER
THE MOST STATELY CEREMONIAL OF THE
DAY-RRIIIIANT AssEMBLAGE rREs
BNT-DsCoURTEsY TO THE DIP
LOMATIC CORPS.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBUNE.1

tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBuNE1
Washington. March 4.-While IT is true that
Inauguration ceremonies do not eliminate In the
chamber of "the most august body earth"
to borrow Vice President Stevensons amiable
but some what extravagant hyperboe. the scene
In the Senate when II perfects its organization
by swearing in the newly elected members and
Inducing into office the Vice-P President who is
to preside its deliberations for the next four
years 10 probably the only feature Of the day
which may be said to partake Of the nature Of a
stately and solemn ceremonial The admins
tering of the oath Of office In front OF the Capitol
in the presence Of a vast concourse Of people. the
march past the White House of troops and civic
bodies in apparently endless succession, and at
night the festive throngs which bring the great
day to close amid midnight shout and
revelry." are sights more impressive and sienih-
can't perhaps. than the scene in the Senate
chamber but they can be seen by any one equal
TO the fatigue or favored with a plethorc purse.
while favored few only. comparatively speak
ing can secure admission to the chamber Of the
upper house"
THE DEMAND FOR SEATS.
In one Of his cynical and misanthropic moods
and he seized by them quite often-ex-
Senator ingalls,. OF Kansas. remarked that Wher-
ever the sign Of mo admttance' was displayed
IL generated at once in the breast Of the average
American citizen a wild desire TO penetrate be-
yond it, He was speaking of the secret sessions
of the Senate. but he might with equal justice
have applied his observation. 1aundced and Ill
natured though it be- TO the great scramble for
seats In the Senate chamber on Inauguration
DAY. A certain atmosphere or exclusiVeness'
the knowledge that To- every seat there have
been a hundred applications II there has been
- ticfo xShi oh
overcomes the fortunate holder Of ticket of adj
mission that he will be the object Of envy on the
part OF all his friends and acquaintance for
do vs and weeks to come-all contribute TO make
a ticket to the Senate gallery on this day prize
worth laboring for.
There are less than 500 seats In the galleries.
and ar each Senator this time thought himself
entitled TO four seats and the members or the
House were compelled to get along as best they
could with two. the problem Of admitting the
general public can readily be seen to have been
one TO puzzle even the most expert mathema-
tician.
SOME OF THE DIPLOMATS LEFT OUT.
Some Of the color and animation which dis
tinguished former inaugurations. so far at least
as the scene on the floor of the Senate is con-
cerned was partly wanting to-day. This was
ow,ne TO the fact that the Senate committee
having the ceremonies in charge did not see It's
way clear TO invite this time. as II had Formerly
the entire Diplomatic Corps. new departure
indeed, seems to have marked the treatment vi
the Diplomatic Corps outside as well as 'hsiue
the Senate chamber. Heretofore all ihVi'a'iohs
OF this character have been sent as Propap'S
they always ought TO be, through the department
y, ctoto This wear they were distributed by the
Sonote committee directly, and they included
tina cb,efs only of the embassies and legations.
but not their secretaries and attaches. Neither
was any provision made for the Dpoiia'o
Corps as SUCH on any of the reviewing s'ahos'
Even the invitations to the ball were FEWER III
number than former occasions. ana were coi'-
fined as rule to the ranking mempers oi '"e
corps.
The Younger diplomats are probably 100 poii'c
N cxnress their real sentiments tonight. but
there can he little no doubt as to what 'hey
are No other Government, certainly, would
venture treat the representatives. or o'hei
Governments. for the time being its guests. in
such top-lofty, not 10 say i-bred. manner IL
want Of room is pleaded In extenuation Of this
remarkable exhibition Of lack Of courtesy IL
might not be amiss to draw attention to the
horde of employees and understrappers VINO TO-
day found their way into the chamber. as, In
deed they always do on such occasions. no mat
ter what the rules may provide, or t" indulge
in the suggestion that the impressiveness OF inc
scene might greatly be heightened by the re
moval Of a motley assortment Of desks and
chairs and other paraphernalla. There would
be standing room only" 10 he true. but as
an Offset there would probably he no crowding.
And II standing involved too great a strain upon
the feeble and weak the ceremonies might
proftably and easily be blue-penced by re-
straining the ardor Of the chaplain or appeal
ing 10 the generosity and good sense, not 10
say the unsurpassed wisdom" Of the valedic-
torian Of the occasion.
In abort IL may be said that the ceremonies