The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-05

tne united states, initiated the practice,
it has been the almost unbroken custom
for the chief justice of the United States
to administer the oath of office to the Pres
ident-elect in the open air the high par
ticipating officials standing on a platform
erected in front of the eastern portico of
the capitol. This rule has occasionally
been deviated from when a President was
reelected to succeed himself, or when
Vice President has succeeded to the Of
flee through the death of the President.
There was one other notable exception in
the case of President Hayes His inau-
guration day falling on Sunday, and there
being still unsettled questions as to the
validity of his title, he, out of abundant
precaution, took the oath of office in the
White house on the day before he deliv-
cred his inaugural address. These estab-
lshed al fresco features of the proceedings
necessarily caused those entrusted with
the arrangements of to-day's ceremonies
to look forward with some anxiety to the
weather conditions, Severe blizzards in
the extreme west in the latter part of
February had made their effects felt to
some extent in the national capitol and
hau caused alarm for inauguration day.
But after slight snow furry on Friday
last and freezing spell for several days
Following the weather contemporaneously
with Maj. McKinleys arrival in Wash
mgtoh TOOK on the pleasantest of spring
aspects, the thermometer ranging between
sixty and seventy degrees and balmy sun
shlne bathing the streets and lighting up
the gaily-colored decorations with which
every house on the Presdent-elect's line
OF progress was emblazoned. The rain
OF yesterday was followed by a perfect
March day, clear, cool, crisp, invigorating
with bright sunshine and fleecy clouds to
enliVen the scene
The decorations of the city were ex-
ceedlngly effective, with but one notable
exception. That was the treasury de-
partment the majestic lines of which
We're disfigured in violation of all rules
or taste. Each of the graceful futed
columns of the eastern facade on Fif-
teenth street was partially swadded in
striped pantalettes, falling short of the
pediments, exactly after the fashion of
Uncle Sans" trousers as depicted in
the comic papers, and over the entabla-
lures at each end, and also over the main
eastern entrance, the shield and eagles
OF the United States were daub-
ed upon a hideous yellow back
ground, the whole forming a
tawdry combination which a third-rate
circus would have scorned to display
Everywhere else, however, the scenic
effect was fine, and even the bad taste
displayed in the treasury drapings
was in part obliterated by the animated
concourse Of employees and their families
and guests who occupied the temporary
seats which piled tier above tier, reached
half way up the side Of the building and
entirely covered the garden at the south
end, looking down Pennsylvania avenue.
The pavilion in front of the white house,
from which President Mckinley reviewed
the returning procession, was a thing of
beauty-an architectural creation of
white and gold, strongly resembling in
its apparently substantial pillars and its
general outlines the portieo of historical
Arlington, and conveying no impression
that it was simply fiimsy structure of
wood erected for a day.
No grander theater for such a pageant
could well be found. Pennsylvania ave-
nue.. 125 feet from curb to curb, along
which the procession passed from the
white house to the capitol presents an
uninterrupted vista of over a mile, com
mencing with the massive Grecian facade
of the treasury department, which inter
| sects the view at one end, and terminat-
| ing in the beautiful white marble dome
| crowned capitol at the other end,
with the needle-like shaft of
| the Washington monument standing
| sentinel guard on the right hand, tower
! ing 800 feet upwards to the clouds. On all
| the little parkings and government res
| ervations formed by the different angles
| of the intersecting streets and the radiat-
ing avenues, gaily decorated stands had
| been erected, capable of seating at least
! 10000 people, and these were densely
| packed with spectators, one row above
the other like the rowers on a Grecian tri-
| rem. The entire route from the white
| house to the capitol was banked with
| hoarsely shouting enthusiastic specta-
| tors. All street car traffic was, of course,
| suspended along the route of the process
| sion; the sidewalks were roped off and
were so crowdedlwith people that locomo-
ton was impracticable. Mounted police
| prevented any one from attempting to
| break through the "trocha." 1t seemed
| as If Washingtons normal population of
100000 had been swelled by more than an
equal number of visiting strangers and
that all were out to see the sight. Every
| building on the line of march was draped
in bunting of the national colors and ev-
cry window and point of vantage was oc-
cupied. The beautiful stars and stripes
were everywhere seen, with other appro-
pirate banners and emblems. In addition
| to these festive demonstra tions, $4,000
| miniature United States flags had been
| gratuitously distributed by the committee
on arrangements. These were exhibited
! at all available points and were waved
with enthusiasm as the President and
others known as public men rode by. AT
least 100000 throats voiced a continuous
welcome from the time the procession
started until the capitol was reached. And
these vociferations were still more enthu-
s,astically echoed on the return trip.
The grand marshal entrusted with the d.
rection OF to-day's pageant was Gen. Hor-
ace Porter, formerly of the staff Of Gen
Grant. His organizing skill had beer
tested in peace as well as In war-notably
IN the conduct of the great sound money
procession through the narrow and tortu'
Gus streets OF New York city last Octo-
Der during the presidential. campaign
with the broad avenues and smooth as
phalted streets Of Washington, Gen. Por'
ter had full opportunities to display his
genius for controlling the movements o1
large bodies Of men, and he ayailed him
self of them. From the nature of the
days proceedings there were practically
two professions, though at the close they
merged into one massive and Impressive
body, part military, part civic, and eacf
most effective. The escort, largely mill
tary, but also consisting OF governors o.
different states and other distinguished
guests Of honor which accompanied thu
President and President-elect to the cap
itol. naturally formd in the immediate vi
cinity Of the white house. the executive
mansion. The civic organizations which
followed the President and ex-Presiden
| On their return tourney from the capitO