The Washington times., 1902-07-02
Present at Close of Ses-
sion, in Conformity
With CT Stom.
SIGNS TWENTY-FOUR BILLS
Ceremony Dispensed Within. Roose-
welt Makes Display of Democratic
Spirit-0pens Doors of Senate
Shakes Hands With Every body

President Roosevelt, following i'm
memorial custom, yesterday went to the
Capitol with his Cabinet and occupied
the Presidents room north of the SEN
ate chamber during the expiring hour
of the session.
He signed the Philippine civil gov
ernment bill, the naval and general de-
ficiency bills, and number of other
measures, after each had been yconsid-
cred briefly in Cabinet meetingsaT
The other object OF his visit was TO
receive the quaint, formal call of the
messenger from Congress informing him
that it was ready to adjourn unless he
had something further to communi-
cate. He did not have.
An Exhibition of Democracy.
From the time the President ascended
the bronze stairway until he went out
to his carriage to drive back to his tenn
porary home on Lafayette Square, he
gave an exhibition of democratic sim
plicity that could have been possible
nowhere else than in the Capitol OF the
United States. 1t was a unique demon
stration even in Washington, and could
not have occurred had anyone than The
odore Roosevelt been President of the
United States.
1t was mild shock to some of the
sticklers for old-style dignity. and the
observance of time worn traditions and
precedent and stilted forms of official
courtesy. But it was most refreshing.
pleasing, and even amusing to the great
of all those who had the good
fortune to see or take part in it,
When the President first entered the
Senate. wing he walked eagerly into
bis old headquarters, the Vice Presidents
chamber, which he occupied officially for
a few days in the spring of 1901, when he
presided over the deliberations OF the
Senate at the extra session. II was
suggested to him that he stop and hold
court there. But the President said
no, and his portable establishment was
set up in the somewhat bizarre Presi-
dents room at the other end of the
corridor.
Secretary Cortelyou and the clerks ar
ranged the books and papers, and Capt.
Charles LoefIier stood guard at the door.
just as If the President was at the
White House instead of at the Capitol.
Mr.. Roosevelt, as he came down the
corridor on his way to the Presidents
room performed an act so characteristic
of him as to be a matter of consuming
interest, although of no especial impor- |
tance.
Opened Doors of Senate.
In passing by the swinging glass doors
leading from the corridor into the SEN
ate chamber he could not resist the |
to see what was going on.
Acting on the impulse, he pushed the
doors apart and ''peeped' in, and then
IN being caught buried of, laughing, 10
he Presidents room. There the scene
was enacted that will live long in the
memory OF those who saw It, and which
furnishes the striking illustration of the
fact that democracy and catholicity OF
feeling reigns at Washington today as
hey never have before
The President had no sooner seated
himself than his callers began to ar
rive For few moments there was a
show of formality, and then it was all |
brown to the winds and for more than
IN hour that room, which had been so
hastily converted into the office of the
President OF the United States, was the
for everybody about the Cap
tol who cared to enter 1t.
Cabinet officers, Senators, Representa-
ives. clerks, messengers, pages, news
PAPER reporters, and even children