The Washington times., 1902-04-08
First Session Held YeSter-
day Afternoon in Com
miSSiOnerS' Office.
Mr.. MACFARLAND CHAIRMAN
Fourth Thursday in April Favored as the
Best Date for the Occasion for Many
Reasons-Action of Congress Awaited.

accordance with the action taken by the
last inaugural committee looking to the
change of the date of the Inauguration of
the President of the United States. was
held yesterday afternoon at the District
Building. The meeting was called to or
der by Commissioner Henry B. F. Mac
1arland, president of the board, and the
committee proceeded to organize by the
election of Mr.. Macfarland chairman
and James L. Norris as secretary.
There was a large representation Of the
local members of the committee present.
among whom were Justice ]. NJ. Harlan,
Admiral George Dewey, Gen. Nelson A.
Miles. Gen. H. V Boynton, Messrs. C. J.
Bell Theodore Noyes, S. w. Woodward.
Thomas W. Smith. ]. w. Foster. C. c.
Glover. and John Joy Edison.
Governor Hill OF Maine was present. as
were Col. George L. Morton, chief of staff
to the Governor OF North Carolina, as the
representative of the Governor; Repre-
sentative T. C. McRae of Arkansas. as the
representative of the Governor of that
State: Representative N. E. Benton. rep
resenting the Governor of Missouri.
History of the Movement.
Commissioner Mcfarland. In calling the
meeting TO order, informally set forth the
history of the inaugural committees res
olution requesting the Commissioners of
the District of Columbia to appoint such
a number of persons as in their judgment
and discretion might be necessary, to con-
stitute a committee of national character.
TO consider the question of and to take
49, f,a
date of the Inauguration of the President
of the United States from the 4th of
March to such date as in the judgment of
said committee would be more suitable
sor Inauguration day.
This resolution set forth that there pre-
vailed a general sentiment here and
throughout the country that change Of
date was desirable, not only on account OF
, the inelemency of the weather in March,
but Tor other public economic reasons. Mr.
Macfarland emphasized the unanimity of
sentiment in regard to the movement. and
the national character of it. He detailed
the steps taken in the appointment of the
committee, and the approval with which
the movement was being met, and then
read the replies of the Governors of the
States and Territories to the invitations
TO be present at the meeting of April Z,
favoring the object for which the commit
tee is striving. and which have already
been published in The Times.
Senate Has Passed Bill.
Commissioner Macfarland reported that
the Senate had passed Senator Hoar's
resolution providing for the last Thursday
in April as the inauguration date. He then
gave way as temporary chairman for the
election of permanent chairman.
On motion of Mr.. Bell, seconded by Gov
ernor Hill, Mr.. Macfarland was elected
permanent chairman.
On motion of Mr.. McRae. seconded by
Mr. Noyes, Hon. James L. Norris was
elected secretary of the committee.
General discussion ensued, in which the
members of the committee spoke of the
desire to have the Inauguration date
changed as shown by the response of the
Governors and by other information. The
best way of presenting the matter was
also discussed. 1t was agreed that the
chairman should appoint an executive
committee and such other committees as
might be necessary.
The question of what proposition
should be presented was fully discussed.
and il was resolved that ii was the sense
of the committee that the date of the in
auguraticn day should be changed from
the ith Of March to the last Thursday in
April, but that no particular bill or reso-
luton was to be advocated.
Incidentally the question Of the exten-
sion o. the term of Congress was consid-
cred and it was agreed that this commit
tee had nothing TO do with the question of
when Congress should adjourn. The
proposition to fix the 30th day of April
was considered. but received no support,
be cause it was felt that it was better to
name a day of the week rather than day
cf The month"; day that would come al
Ways In the middle OF the week, SO as to
avoid Sunday. The committee was unan-
snousiy in favor OF the last Thursday in
April
Local Members of Committee.
The members of the local committee
pre: Justice John NJ. Harlan, Admiral
dewey, Gen. Nelson A. Miles. District
Commissioner Henry B. F. Mscfarland,
Gen. John W. Foster. Messrs. G. c. Glover
and r. w. Ncyes. Gen. H. v. Boynton,
Atessrs. Beriah wilkins. 2. A. Munsey. S.
", Woodward, Thon1s W. Smith, |
Charles J. Bell, John Joy Edson. and
James l.. Nerris. These with the Gov
efners Of the States and Territories of
the United States constitute the commit |
Tee.
Governors Who Have Accepted.
The following is the list OF Governors /
~ho have accepted places on the commit
tee:
jStates-Alabsma. ". D. Jelks; Color
40, James B. Ornran; Connecticut. |
6Sorge r. Mclean: Delaware, John HUM, |
Hk.ea. w. 9. Jennings; Georgia, A. d. |
QkAdier; Idaho, F. w. Hunt; Illinois,
HShard Yates; Indiana, w. T. Durbin:
fsEa. Albert 3. Cummfns: Kansas, w E.
6sAnley; Louisiana. William w. Heard:
8kihe. Jehn F. Hill; Maryland John
Mslter Smith; Massachusetts, w. NJ
ESkfe Michigan, Aaron T. Bliss: Mime
E1&, S. r. Van SAINT; Mississippi. A. H.
46Sips: Montana. J. X. Toole; Nebraska,
p. Savage; Nevada. Reinhold Sadler;
~ Hamsshjye, Chester b. Jordan: New
9SfSey. Franklin Murphy; New York, D.
B, Odell, ir.; North Carolina. Charles b.
Hycock; North Dakota. Frank White;
Ohio George X. Nash; Oregon, T. T.
Geer: Pennsylvania. William a. Stone;
Rhode Island, Charles Dean K:mball;
South Carolina, NJ. B. McSweeney; South
Dakota, Charles n. Heriod Utah,
Aeber NJ. Wells: Vermont. William w.
Stickaey; Virginia. a. ]. Montague:
Washington, Henry Mcbride; West Vlr-
Ginis. Albert B. White; Wisconsin, Robert
~ LaFoIlette.
ferritories-Arizona. n. O. Murphy;
4l1lkn. John G. Brady; New Mexico.
&lguel A. otero; Porto Rico. W. H.
Hunt; Hawaii. S. B. Dole.