Omaha daily bee., 1897-03-01
WASHINCTON'S GALA ATTIRE
National Capital Donning Its Best Clothes
for Inauguration Week.
PREPARATIONS ARE NEARLY COMPLETED
Major McI<inley's Apartments mt the
Ebbitt House In Readiness for the
Distinguished Guest - List
OF Prominent Arrivals.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2S.-Inauguration
preparations are going on apace Within
the past twenty-four hours the crowds have
began to show themselves noticeably In the
streets; the depot platforms and hotel lob
bies are becoming more and more congested
with each incoming train. Decorations be-
gin to faunt along the avenue, that Is, Oh
course Pennsylvania avenue, which no
Washngtonian ever thinks of calling by It's
full name.
The grand arena of the inaugural display
will be the short section of the avenue be-
tween Fifteenth and Seventeenth streets,
Hanked on the south by the white house and
on the north by Lafayette square. Here
both sides of the street are solid front OF
covered stands. This year the stands are
of uniform design and decoration save that
from which the president will review the
parade. This, with it's white front, Corin-
THAN columns and severely classical out
lines, is not unlike miniature of the whlte
house in its rear. The other stands those
for the multitude, are covered in imitation
of stone work, rooted over against the posi-
bility of bad weather. The decorations, as
they. finally will appear. are so far but
suggestion. Now, there are sunbursts OF
bunting over the fronts of the larger stores
and hotels. and flags floating from every
building that owns a f1agpole. These are
but symptoms. There will be more to fol-
low After nightfall, too, there are already
to be seen garlands and clusters OF lncan-
descent lights, but these, too, are only an
earnest of somewhat better things to come.
The inaugural committee has practically
wound up its work, but the headquarters in
the Glover building are still open for the
reception of more or less distinguished Wis
| itors. Among these today were Generals
| Horace Porter and o. O. Howard National
| Chairman Hanna and MIR. McKinley's secre-
| torv "a pf
official interest in the work of the committee.
They expressed themselves as well satisfied
| with the arrangements. So far as the launch
ing of the new administration can be provided
| for in advance, there seems to be nothing left
| undone to secure success.
| M'KINLEY'S APARTMENTS.
] Practically all of the southwest corner of
| the Ebbitt house on the third floor, has been
| reserved for the Mckinley party. The suite
| of three rooms that has been set apart for
| the president-elect has been arranged with
| excellent taste. Blue and gray are prevail
| ing tones. All Of the desks and tables are Of
! polished cherry and birdseye maple, while the
d, piano which stands in one corner is of white
| enamel with fluffy white angora rug spread
| over the blue carpet in front OF 1t. Tropical
| plants in tho jardenieres, but not too many
| of them, are grouped in the corners of the
| apartments and connecting with the suite Is
| marble lined bath. The whole Is not too
| large to be homelike, and may be aptly de-
| scribed cosy. The location is sucn as to
! have the best of the sunlight all day and
1 Major Mckinley could hardly be more COM
| fortably lodged before getting finally settled
| in his new home. The side halls leading to
/ this part OF the hall have been boarded up,
! ami the entrance to the main corridor will
| be constantly guarded by factotum who vii.
insure the party from intrusion by those who
| have no real business in that part of the
| house. Farther, and this is not specially
known, there has been special dining hall
set apart for the Mckinley party. 1t is a
| small banquet hall in the rear of the main
| dining hall. 1t is capable of accommodating
about seventy-fve people, and is the only
thing needed to secure the complete privacy
of the Canton visitors.
The, general police arrangements in Wash
ington have also been perfected. Four hun
dred special officers have been sworn In foi
inauguration week, and Chief of Police Moore
has been in correspondence, as is usual al
such seasons, with the chiefs OF police in al
the large towns of the country. Details Of
detectives from the big cities will be sen
to Washington to keep watch on whatever
members of their own criminal population
drift this way, while both the Baltimore ani
Ohio, and the Pennsylvania roads have
| massed a number Of their own detectives un
der their respective chiefs along the road
twenty miles outside the city in each drec
tlon, in the hope of corralling any crooks o
prominence before they reach the city.
PROMINENT PERSONS ARRIVE.
The ever increasing crowds OF arrivals
contained many prominent persons, and tn'
lobby of the Arlington hotel, to which they
naturally drifted, presented such an ap
pearance as it usually does preceding some
important public event.
Mark Hanna was probably the most sough
parsonage in the group of politicians. M
less figure was Russell A. Alger, who is t.
be the next secretary of war. others Wh'
figured in the throng were Governor Bush
nell of Ohio and his staff, who reached TN
! IL. J,
of New York Cornelius N. Bliss OF New
York Senator-elect Spooner of Wisconsin
Abner Mckinley, brother of the president
elect Secretary Fairbanks of Indiana, Stu
art l.. Woodford, General Butterheld OF yer
a mont and General Sickels of New YORK
During the afternoon Mr.. Hanna and Gov
ernor Bushnell accidentally met In IN
lobby Mr.. Hanna had just returned iron
= walk in the brisk air when he noticed IN
n Bushnell group. AS he espied the governo
-, there was only an instant's hesitation OF
his part Then he walked straight to tn
governor and stretching out his hand SAID al,
Hello, governor glad to see you" IN IN
: governors response was equally corala
s but there was an awkward moment on tn
i part of both for the next word This wa
5 happily broken by General Samuel Thomas
$ the Ohio veteran, who said to G0VeTno
i Bushnell, "Who is your friend?' Ihi
g bright sally broke the ice, and the tw
t leaders in Ohio politics talked pleasant
L OH commonplace topics.
+ Today Mr. Hanna paid a visit to inaugura
headauarters, saw Mr.. Bell, the chairma
of the inaugural committee, and later. !
!. company with Hon. Benjamin Butterwortf
went on a tour of inspection OF the Variou
a reviewing stands, which are now about con
plete Mr. Alger, in company with Mr'
II Alger, attended the New York Avenue Pres
o byterian church at the morning service
The sermon was preached by Rev. DIR. Rae
: cliffe who was the minister at General
/ geris Detroit church for a long time.
n The new secretary of agriculture Hoi
J. I James Wilson, spent the day quietly at III
: Ebbitt, going out but little. Mr., wilson
n alone but a daughter is expected TO Joi
& him soon.
Governor Tanner of Illinois and his sta
reached the city about o'clock this -afte
noon. A portion of the party, includln
n Mr. and Mrs Tanner, Mrs. Colburn tlel'
90 Buck, Mr. ], p. Van Cleaye and wire an
John IT. Peters and wife, are staying
II the Shoreham. while the remainder al
e making their home in the cars at the sti
IN tion Others who have arrived IN the eil
g include j. w. Gates OF Chicago, Hon. ID.
is Littler OF Springfield. ILL.,, and Senator'S -ele
as Fairbanks of Indiana and family. w.
IN Bryan returned to the city during the da
Tuesday Mr. Bryan leaves for Lincoln.
President Cleyeland's last Sunday In u
Z. executive mansion was rather busy ON
m There are a large number OF bills whl1
j; have passed congress on his table awaltlI
D. his action. and he spent some time In
o. examination of their provisions
Mrs. Beecher's Condition.
STAMFORD. Conn, Feb 2S.-Notwit