Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-12-13

the President to the White House.
The head OF the escort reached d the Gap
Pennsylvania avenue. there was tremen-
dous cheering. The Presidential party
was a center of attention. The President
sat in an open victoria, smiling and mt
ing his hat to the salvos along the line.
With him sat Senator Hale, while the
cabinet officers rode in carriages ana
shared in the ovatioGS.
The President alighted at the Senate
wing and was greeted by the waiting
committee, resplendent in badges. There
was a momentary pause as senators and
other public men welcomed the Chief Ex-
ecutive and then the party proceeded 10
the east front of the building.
Here the spectacle was brilliant ana IN,
spring. out on the broad plaza stretched
masses of people, held back by piatoonS
of bluecoats. The reviewing stand was
Respondent in the national colors. IN the
midst of which rose an artistic stand pro
vided for the President He occupied a
large leathern chair, the members OF the
cabinet and governors sitting at either
side in tiers of chairs. AS The parade
The President stepped forward as the
parade approached, with Secretary ROOT
standing at his left and Speaker Hender-
son at his right. The first salutes were
exchanged between the President and
Lieut.. Gen. Miles. the latter giving "A
sweep of his sword and looking toward
the President, who raised his nat. Back
OF tell. Mites came Al mas tstoil bth'ihD
a tattered American flag which mad seen
service in the Spanish war. The Presi-
dent took his hat and stood uncovered
as the flag passed. Again each time 'Old
Glory" passed the President stood with
bare head while the acknowledgment TO
the various commanding officers was the
conventional salute
1t was o'clock when the last OF the
marchers passed. The President and his
party then Went direct To the House OF
Representatives for the exercises
the floor the President ana the
members of his cabinet, the me m
bers of the Senate and House.
the ambassadors and ministers OF
foreign countries, in full court uniform,
the chief justice and associate justices OF
the supreme court in their Judicial robes
Lieut.. Gen. Miles and many distinguished
received the thanks of Congress; the gov
ernors Of more than half the states OF
the Union and the commissioners OF the
District OF Columbia, while the galleries
were respondent with the wealth ana
culture of the national capital
AS spectacle nothing could have been
more imposing or impressive. The bright
sun streaming through the ground glass
ceiling on winch were the arms Of the
several states flooded the hall with light
and heightened the effective gowns OF The
ladies. the galleries, the ehstenins uni
forms on the floor and the elaborate sch
scheme of decoration which submerged
the hall in Il sea of color Never before
in the history of the House has the staid
old legislative hall WIN its severe gold
and white galleries ana its plain marble
rostrum. been decorated to anything like
the extent ii was. today.
y company of jackies from the govern
ment yacht Dolphin had literally sWathed
the hall in flags. The fronts Of the gal
leries were hidden b. them. the brass
ratings which marked off the Hobbies
were feStooned with them and the Speak
erS marble roStrum was covered with
them. Not more than half Were Ameri-
can flags and this fact was at frst rather
startling until the fun beauty OF the color
scheme dawned upon the spectators.
From the galleries every other flag was
that of a foreign country. The royal
standard of England was draped from
the reserved gallery on the east, next the
Executive gallery. and the imperial black.
white ana red OF Germany on the right.
The crested flag Of Austro-Hungary. the
tri-color of France the royal ensign of
Russia, the green. white and red OF Men
leo and even the red and yellow of Spain
We're there.
But below. crcling the hall and walling
in the distinguished assemblage We're the
glorious buff and blue under which the
Continental army of Washington had
achieved the independence OF the Ameri-
can republic. while fronting the audience
back of the Speakers desk hung the
beautiful silk nag of the republic. and
from ii stretching away on either side
over the paintings Of Lafayette and
Washington, blazed the Stars and Stripes.
The flags of the Continental army. many
of which were old and tattered. had been
brought from the war department for the
occasion.
The cumbrous swinging chairs had been
removed from the hall and smaller chairs
substituted to economic space. Circling
the area in front OF the rostrum We're
large leather chairs for the President, MS
cabinet and the members OF the supreme
court. The members of the House We're
seated on the left, leaving the whole
right of the hall tor the visitors. 1ne
procession into the hall was a stately
h. announced each d.
vision as il appeared at the main door.
First came Senator Frye. president pro
tempore, and the members OF the Senate;
Senator Frye assembled the rostrum ana
took his place beside Speaker henderson
and the senators seated themselves IN the
first three rows on the right The mem
bers of the Senate were followed by CnleI
Justice Fuller and the associate Justices
of the supreme court in their judicial
robes They We're seated opposite the
place reserved for the President and his
cabinet Next came the ambassadors 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 ter
ritories. headed by Coy. Scotield OF WIS
cOnsin, sat in the rear OF the diplomatic
CORPS There was much eager curiosity
To see Gov. Roosevelt OF New York, ana
he acknowledged the attention manifest
ed by smiling and bowling 70 the right ana
left.
Following the governors came Lieut.
Cen. Miles in full uniform, the commits
sioners of the District Of Columbia and
the members of the centennial committee
at large They We're escorted to the
chairs; reserved for them b. President
Mcfarland Of the district commissioners
Meantime the speakers of the occasion.
Senators Hoar. Daniel and McComas and
! Representative Payne and Richardson,
had taken places facing the assembla3c
at the desk imme diately below the pre-
siding officers
When all had been seated Speaker Hen
| derson called the distinguished gathering
| to order and briefly explained the purpose
| of the celebration. Everybody rose and
| stood with bowed head while Or. Milburn,
the blind chaplain of the Senate, offered
| an impressive Invocation in his wonder
| fully rich and vibrant voice. The SPEAK
| er then turned the gavel over to Senator
| FRYE. who called the joint assemblage 70
| 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 Govern
| ment from Philadelphia.' Mr.. Richard
| son s address was generously applaudtG.
| In was an interesting historical review Of
| the contest which began as soon as the
| first Congress convened at New YORK IN
| lE9 after the location of the seat OF gov
| eminent
| The address Of III. Payne of New York,
! the floor leader OF the ma jority in the
! House, on '"Nhe Establishment of the
| Seat OF Government iii the District of co-
| lumbia" afforded am interesting glimpse
t,.ni n