Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-03-05
lEy Associated rrcss. J

(By Associated rrcss.)
WASHINGTON. March I'm the
presence OF as many of his fellow cit-
Zens as could be crowded into the
Senate chamber. Charles Warren Fair
banks was at high noon today indicted
into the office Of Vice-President of the
United States. The ceremony was
quickly followed by the final adjourn
1nent of the Senate of the Fifty-eighth
Congress. the beginning of a special
session, an address by the Vice-Presi-
dent and the swearing into Office Of
almost a third of the membership of
the Senate. All these official acts took
place in the chamber just before the
inauguration of the President and were
in reality. while themselves Of great
import, the prelude Of the more i'm
portant event. The installation of the
new Fice-President was severely sim
pie. and as brief as simple. 1t con-
sisted OF a promise, solemnly made
with uplifted hand and bowed head, to
perform the duties of the Office and to
support and defend the Constitution of
the United States. This was the oath
OF office. and it was administered by
Senator Frye as president pro tempore
OF the Senate. The two officials stood
confronting each other on the elevated
platform on which rests the desk of
the presiding officer of the Senate,
practically on the same spot on which
all the incoming Presidents for
the past fifty years have stood, and
where a majority Of American freeman
have decreed that Mr.. Fairbanks shall
preside for the four years to come.
Plain and democratic though the cere-
~f$ 4 ~,
gathering Of notable people. many of
them OF such Importance that, i'll ac-
cordance with time honored custom,
their appearance was heralded with
pomp and platitude sufficient to atone
for the simplicity Of the official acts of
the occasion, If not to quite overshadow
them. These guests included the fore
most representatives of the official life
Of the Capital City. foreign and do
nestle, civil and military and also
many other persons Of prominence
from all parts of the country.
President and Cabinet Present
On the Senate floor, With his Cabi-
net. were the President OF the United
States. himself about to be inaugu-
rated: the diplomatic corps. the SUI
premc Court Of the United States, the
House Of Representatives the lieuten-
amt general OF the army, The COVER
nors OF various States, anu many
others distinguished by reason Of posi-
ton or achievement. These sufficed to
tax the capacity of that part Of the
hall. and they We're splendidly supple
mented and surrounded by the attend
ancc IN the galleries, consisting in
large part OF the wives, relatives and
friends of the men who occupied seats
below, many of them as distinguished
in private and social life as the others
in the public service.
Practically all the variety Of hue and
viracity OF scene came from the gal
lcries, for aside from the decora tons
worn by the foreign Representatives
and the gold lace with which the uni
forms OF the few army and navy Off
GERS present were decorated. there
was dull level OF black and brown on
the first floor. This monotony was re-
1icvcd somewhat in the background by
sprinkle Of gold on the gray walls of
the chamber, but it was not sufficient
70 compensate TOR the absence of ami
nation which only the ladies'. with
their flowers and ribbons and feathers.
could contribute. The section of the
gallery usually devoted to the private
use OF senator's was today entirely SUI
rendered to what may be called the eX-
ecutive party. and was occupied by the
families and immediate friends OF the
President and the Vice-President and
OF the members of the Supreme Court
and the Cabinet. The front row of
seats on one side of this section was
filled by the members Of the Presi-
dents household, and the correspond
ing row on the other side by those Of
the Vice-President's. Mrs Roosevelt
and the wife and mother of Vice-Presi-
dent Fairbanks being prominent among
them. The diplomatic gallery, which
is rarely occupied by more than two or
three persons at a time, was crowded
today by the wives of representatives
OF the various foreign embassies and
legations, all manifesting much eager
ness to witness what they evidently
considered an exceptional ceremony
Directly opposite that quarter numer-
Gus members of the newspaper frater-
nifty occupied their usual places in the
press gallery, most of them diligently
engaged in portraying the interesting
scenes about them. Other portions Of
the gallery were given over to persons
holding special tickets. Every niche
and canny was filed. but the artful
Encouragement which limited the,
number of tickets to the exact capacity
OF the hall prevented unseemly crowd
ing.
Gallery Crowded Early.
Tho gallery visitors were practically