The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-12

RooEs-ssoSei OF the Enlarged TX
eeatfve Mansion Exposed to View.
Colonel BinghaIa's Explanation of
Its Chief res-commissioner
aacfnrlnna,s Address ON the Dc
velopment of the D5strict-eover-
nor shaw an Progress of the states
In the famous East Room of the Execu-
tive Mansion. the oldest building of the
United States Government stIl in exist
enee were held this morning the opening
exercises of the Centennial Celebration
commemorating the establishment of the
National Capital in the Federal City OF
Washington.
There were present to participate in this
important event the President Of the
United States and the members of his Cab
inet: the Governors OF thirty-one sover-
eign States Of the Union. accompanied by
their respective STATS: the members of the
| Supreme Court Of the United States. the
members of the Supreme Court OF the Dis
trict CT Columbia and Of the Court of APP
peals. members Of the Committee on the
District OF Columbia in the Senate and
House Of Representatives. the Commanding
I General OF the Army and members OF his
stan. officers OF the army and navy, the
! commanding officer Of the District Mill
IA, the Commissioners of the District Of
Columbia, Commissioners, ex-Mayors.
; members OF the Columbia Historical So
ciety. the American Institute Of Archi-7
tects. representatives Of the Adams fami-
tive citizens Of Washington who have been
| especially active IN emphasizing the 10eth
anniversary Of the city, named in honor
of The greatest American.
Only at me quadrennial inaugural oere-
monies have there been assembled at ihe
White House SO many of the distinguished
| officials of the nation as were gathered
/ at the historic Mansion this morning
While the proceedings were in no way
I spectacular. and in fact az air of SOL
eulDity prevailed. they. nevertheless. sig
1aIized. so far as the speeches delivered
we're concerned. the great progress ard
development which the nation has under
gone since the seat Of the National Gov
ernment was located here.
Decoration of the Mansion.
The White House has upon ether oc-
casions been more gayiy decorated, but
the space usually occupied by flowers was
needed for the accommodation OF guests
i The mirrors, windows. and corners OF thu
East Room were banked with flowers and
autumnaI foliage and palms and potted
plants were seattereS through the main
corridor and adorned the state dining
room and other YaTsest the house.
In the centre OF the East Room was
stationed the model of 4zs White Housa
with the proposed wings on the east and
west sides, as design&t for the enlarge
ment Of the Presidert's home under the
direction Of Col. Theudore a. bingham
This stood upon PEDESTAL, which was
| fanked with ferns AMI plants
The Marine Band, With sixteen pieces,
under the direction Of Lieutenant santel-
mann. was stationed in the main corridor,
and during the exercises rendered ma
tionai anthems and patriotic music espe-
cially suited TO the occasion. Chairman
John Joy Edison was early at the White
House with members OF his committee.
and together With Secretary Cortelyou and
the White House staff, arranged the fnal
details Of the opening exercises. An ex-
/ ira guard OF police. under command OF
/ Sergeant Goss. looked after Affairs cut
side the Mansion
Admission was BY special card OF inyi-
tation only, owing 20 the limited capac-
/ ity of the East Room As was anticipat-
ed. many PERSONS who had received the
handsome official souvenir programmes
and the special Invitations to the exer-
cises at the Capitol and Corcoran Art Gal
| lery, also sought under misapprehension
admission 20 the White House and in
consequence 1t was necessary 10 turn
away many who desired 20 enter. Only
/ those holding tickets we're allowed to pass
7 through the gates into the grounds.
Governors Greet the President.
The Governors OF the various States and
their respective staff officers began to err
rive shortly before 10 o'clock and were
escorted by the ushers 20 the Blue ParIor.
where they we're receiyd by Colonel Bing-
ham, who presented them TO the President
and members OF the Cabinet, who were
also present
In the meantime the invited guests ar
rived and were seated ia the East Room
! The south portion of the room was re-
served for the Governors. the members Of
their STATS and distinguished officials oi
the Government. while the Invited eiti-
zens Of Washington generally occupied the
opposite side OF the room.
There were but few ladies present,
among them being Mrs. Stone. the wife Of
the Governor OF Pennsylvania: Mrs. Pow
ers. wife OF the Governor of Maine and
Mrs. Rollins the wife OF the Governor OF
New Hampshire.
During the exercises. Mrs. Mckinley,
| together with the wives OF the Cabinet
ministers and Eleir daughters. occupied
seats IN the red corridor just outside the
! East Room. She retired to her private
+ apartments Immediately after the speeches
! had been delivered.
/ It was 1880 o'clock at the conclusion Of
the Governors reception when the Presi-
dent entered the East Room on the arm
| OF John joy Edson and took his seat on the
east side Of tie centre OF the room beside
/ Senator Hale He appeared il very happy
mood and wore j red ea9nation upon the
| lapel OF his coat For ten minutes he sat
| and cen7ersed with the Senator As the
latter arose to open the ceremonies a hush
| fell over the assemblage.
] Senator Hale called upon John Joy Ed
! son to preside M Edison without pre-
/ IiminaTy remarks introduced Col. Thee
| dore a. Bingham, who spoke upon the pro-
jected improvements of the White House
and incidentally gave a hrief history oi
the building OF the Executive Mansion
He called attention TO the elaborate
| drawings illustrative of the plans sug-
gested which hung ceDspicuo1sly upon The
>4s- 49,