The Portland daily press., 1900-12-13
IMPOSING.
cen.lnssa from Far.. rage.

Q hair the members or the cabinet and
governors sitting at sither SIDE In tiers OF
chairs. AS the parade swung into the
plaza mighty cheer went up. The
President stepped forward as the parade
approaohed with Secretary Root standing
az mis- left and speaker Henderson at bis
right The first sniutes were exchanged
betwean the President and Lieut.. General
Niles, this latter giving - sweep OF his
sword and looking toward the President,
who raisd his hat. Back OF General Miles
came q flag escort bearing tntnsred
American tag, which had seen service In
the Spanish war. The President took of
his hat and stood uncovered as ths flag
passed. Again each time "Old Glory
passed, the President stood with bare
head while the acknowledgment to the
various commanding officers was the con-
ventional salute.
IL was three o'cio3k when the last Of
the msrchers passed. The President and
his party then went direct TO the House
OF Representatives for the exercises.
REPRESENTATIVES, HALL.
After the parade came imposing exer-
discs in the hall OF the House of Hepre-
senfafives On the floor were the Presi-
dent and the member OF his cabinet,
the members of the Senate ana
HOUSE, the Ambassadors and
ministers Of foreign countries In full
Uniform, the chief justice and associate
Justices OF the supreme court In their
judicial robes, Lieut.. General Miles and
many distinguished officers of the army
and navy who had received tue tnanKs of
Congress; the governors of more than
half the states OF the Union and the COM
missinners OF the District OF Columbia,
while the galleries were Respondent with
the wealth and culture of the national
Az
have been more imposing or Impressive.
The bright sun streaming through the
ground giass ceiling on which were the
arms OF the several states. flooded the hall
with light and heightened the effective
gowns of the ladies, tho galleries. the
glistening uniforms on the floor and the
elaborate scheme OF decoration, which
submerged the hail In q sea OF color.
Never before In the history of the House
has the staid old Legislative hall, with It's
severe gold and white galleries and its
plain marble rostrum bean decorated to
anything like the extent It was today.
company OF 1aokies from the government
yacht Dolphin had literally swathed the
hall In tiags. The fronts of the galleries
were hidden by them, the brass ratings
which marked off the Hobbies were fes-
tooned with them and the Speakers
marble rostrum was covered with them.
Not more than half were American flags
and that fact was at first rather startling
until the full beauty or the color scheme
dnwned upon the spectators. From the
galleries every other flag was that OF
foreign country. The royal standard of
Il ngland was draped from the reserved
gallery on the east, next the executive
gallery, and the imperial black. white
and red of Germany on the right. The
crested flag Of Austro- Hungary the tri-
color OF france, the royal ensign of nus
STA, the gresn, white and red OF Mexico
and even the red and yellow OF Spain
wers there. Blu. below, circling the hall
and waliing in the distinguished as
semblage were glorious buff and blue
under which the continental army OF
Washington had achieved the independ-
euce of the American republic while
fronting the audience back OF the Speak
eris desk hung this beautiful silk flag Of
the republic and from 1t, strstching away
on either side over the paintings of Lafa-,
yetts ami Mashingv0B, blazed the Stars
and Strines. The tiags OF the continental
army, many OF which were old and tat
tered, had beer brought from the war de-
partment for the occasion,
The cumbrous swinging chairs had
been removed from the nall and smaller
chairs substituted to eoonomize space.
Circling the area In front OF the rostIum
were large leather chairs for the Presi-
dent, his cabinet and the members of
the Supreue court. The members of the
the whole right of the hail for the yisi-
tors The procession into the hall was n
stately one. The door keeper announced
each division as 1t appeared at the main
door First came Senator Frye, presi-
dent pro tenn, and the members OF the
Senate. Senator Frye assembled the ros-
trum and took his place beside Speaker
Henderson end the Senators seated them
selves in the first three rows on the right.
The mem hers or the Senate We're followed
by Chief Justice Fuller and the associate
justices of the Supreme court In their
judicial robes. They were seated oppo-
site the place reserved for the President
and his cabinet. Next came the ambas-
sadors and ministers TO the United States
and other members OF the diplomatic
corps headed by Lord Pauncefote. They
were seated Immediately behind the
members OF the Senate. The governors Of
states and territories, headed by Governor
Sooiield OF wisconsin, sat In the rear of
the diplomatic corps. There was much
eager curiosity to see Governor Roosevelt
OF New York and he acknowledged the
attention manifested by smiling and
bowling to the right and iefb
Following the governors came Lisutan-
ant General Miles in full uniform, the
commissioners Of thu District Of Colum
bia and the members of the centennial
committee at largo The President and
the membsr Of tine cabinet were the last
10 enter tne nall 4ney were escofbou 10
the chairs reserved for thDm by President
Mcfarland Of the district commissioners
Meantime the speakers OF the occasion,
Senators Hoar, Daniel and MoComas and
Representative Payne and Richardson
had taken places facing tine asssmblage
at this desk Immediately below the pre-
siding officers, When all had been seated
Speaker Henderson called the distin
Ruished gathering to order and briefly
explained the purpose OF the celebration.
Everybody rose and stood with bowed
head while DIR Milburn, the blind chap
lain OF the Senate, Offered an impressive
invocation in his wonderfully rich and
vibrant voice The SpeAKer then turned
the gavel over to Senator Frye, who
called the Joint assembiage to order and
introduced Mr.. Richardson of Tennessee.
the minority leader OF the House, who
delivered the opening address on the
transfer of the seat Of government from
Philadelphia. MIR. Richardson's address
was generously applauded.
The address of MIR. Payne Of New
YORK, the floor leader of the majority in
the House on "Ihe Establishneat OF the
Seat or Governments In the District OF
1ad Inf mo