Omaha daily bee., 1905-12-26
DAY AT WHITE HOUSE
President Spends Christmas Quietly with
Members of His Family.
SPENDS BRIEF TIME IN OFFICE
BE Attends to Few Urgent Matters and
Goes for Horseback Ride.
NO CABINET MEETINGS THIS WEEK
Chief Executive Expects to Mako ssassn
heal Holiday.
NO CABINET MEETINGS THIS WEEK
DINNER At FAIRBANKS RESIDENCE
vice President and wife Leave for
indianapolis In the Evening
Business Generally sus-
pended In Capital.

ington celebrated Christmas by a general
suspension OF government business. Only
matters Of urgent Importance were con-
Bdered. no routine business being taken
up. All of the government departments
were closed to the public, but some of
the cabinet officers were at their desks
for q time attending to important mail
and telesraphic advices.
President Roosevelt appeared at his Of
fee for only brief time-just long enough
in fact TO dispose of few matters OF i'm
portance which demanded his attention.
He did not attend church service, remain
ing during the morning hours with the
members OF his family. intimate personal
friends called at the White House in the
morning hours, but for the most part no
visitors were received.
During the morning there was general
gift giving at the White House This ex-
change of presents was confined practically
TO the members of the family. The presi-
dents third son. Archie, as usual, had a
Christmas tree in his own room and from
that he distributed his gifts to the family
and the household people Mrs. Cowles,
the presidents sister. entertained the mem
bers of the family with a gift-giving at
her home.
During the forenoon the president and
Mrs. Roosevelt went for a long ride A
family dinner was given at the White
House later in the day. Among the guests
was Representative Nicholas Longworth,
fiance of Miss Roosevelt
No Cabinet Meetings This Week.
The president has notified the members of
his cabinet that during the present week
there will be no regular meetings OF the
cabinet He will take up during the week
only matters of the most urgent impor-
tance and will receive no callers or Wis
itors unless their business is imperative.
1T is his purpose to make this truly a
holiday week and he will spend as little
time as possible in the transaction of rou-
tine business
The vice president and Mrs Fairbanks
entertained u party of friends at their
home today but it is their purpose to spend
the holiday recess at their home in In
dIanapolis. They expect to leave for In
disnapolis tonight. a
The members of the cabinet, after dispos-
ing of such business in their departments
as required immediate attention passed the
day with their families and friends at their
homes.
Throughout the city generally business
was suspended and the day was very much
like a Sunday in the national capital.
Celebration in the Navy.
Admiral Dewey's Christmas greeting to
Che officers aud men of the navy. bespeak.
ing united stand for the good of the
country and the service, was communi-
Gated today to the officers and men aboard
the vessels throughout the world, where
ever they could be reached by telegraph
To the men of the navy along the At
Iantic coast there was also sent Christ
mas greeting by means OF wireless teieg
raphy, which incidentally served as al
elaborate and practical test OF this auxil
iary OF the naval service. The wireless
messages were sent by direction OF Admira
Manney chief of the bureau OF equipment
and the results were most satisfactory &
him The messages containing the greet
ings were sent out last night from tn
wireless station at Washington navy yar'
and were relayed from place to place
Early responses came from the Office
nearest Washington. but before midnigh
many of the stations had replied. includ
ing New Orleans and Colon and San Juan
the Colon reply coming by way of Guam
tanamo.
Only necessary work was done today o.
the ships everywhere.
Liberal shore leaves had been granted Z
the officers and men, while the Dime
served aboard ship was under the usus
custom characteristic of the Christmas sea
son. On many of the vessels the captain
joined with officers in the ward room /
celebration of the day.
Miles Relieved from Duty.
Secretary Taft has granted the appl
cation of Lieutenant General Nelson 4
Miles, L. s. A., retired for relief fror
further duty with the organized militia {
Massachusetts and the necessary orders
that effect will be issued tomorrow.
Since january last General Miles hs
served as military adviser ana inspectC
general on the star of Governor Dougla
of Massachusetts.
Pardon for Lieutenant Mcdonald.
Because NJ the prisoners good militar
record, the president has issued pardo
in the case of Paul Il, Mcdonald. formerl
first lieutenant, Tenth infantry.
While serving with his regiment AT Fo
Lawton, Wash. Mcdonald was convicte
10y court martial about a year ago
the charge of obtaining money under fall
pretenses and was sentenced to be di
missed from the army and To two year
confinement in the military prison at Fo