Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-28
National Committee to Con-
slider Question Of Change.
HELD MEETING TODAY
IN THE BOARD ROOM AT DIS
TRICT BUILDING.
Prominent Men From All Sections of
Country to Ask Congress to
Make a Change

The national committee of the proposed
change of inauguration day, consisting of
fifteen residents Of the District of Column
bia and forty -four governors of states and
territories. convened for its long anticl-
pated meeting in the board room at the
District building at 2:30 o'clock this after
noon, and discussion was almost imme-
diateiy begun to the most feasible means
of obtaining the desired action by Congress.
Among those present when the chairman.
Commissioner Henry -. F. Macfarland.
called the meeting to order. were:
Gov. Preston Lea of Delaware, Thomas
w. Smith, c. J. Bell John JOY Edison, Gen.
John NJ. Wilson, Lieut. Gen. Nelson A.
Miles and Mr.. John W. Foster were repre-
scented by letters giving their views on the
subject.
Character of Committee.
In opening the meeting Commissioner
Mcfarland briefly reviewed the work of the
committee since it began, three years ago,
recalling that Senator Hoar's resolution,
naming the last Thursday In April as the
new Inauguration day in proposed amend
ment to the Constitution, the only method
for changing the day, which was supported
by the committee, passed the Senate, but
did not reach a vote in the House. Mr.. Mac
farland spoke of the reorganization of the
committee after the last Inauguration day.
when governors of states and territories
still in Office were asked to continue on the
committee and new governors were asked
to serve. He said that fortyfour governors
had accepted service on the committee, all
expressing interest in the proposition.
The deaths of Senator Bate. Ambassador
Aspiroz and Judge Lawrence Weldon as the
result directly OF exposure last Inauguration
day. although the weather was not as Sc
we're as In former years. and the death OF
Senator Plat OF Connecticut. indirectly due
to the same cause, the chairman continued.
had made great impression on the public
mind. The Commissioner said that the gov
ernors had not been urged to attend this
meeting because 1t was entirely feasible to
get their advice In writing on the questions
to be decided as to the manner of present
ing the matter to Congress. These were
First. What day should be recommended
for the new Inaugural ton day and specia-
caliy. which Of the two most favored
namely, the last Thursday in April, sug-
gested by Senator Hoar In order 10 avoid
SUNDAY, or the Both of April, George Wash
fnstons first Inauguration day?
Second. Whether the committee should
make any recommendation to Congress as
TO change In its time of meeting.
Some or the governors. he said, had re-
Piled 10 the letter of the chairman asking
advice on these questions in writing they
would be unable to be present; that they
would leave the decision OF those questions
to the members Of the committee who
might be present their chief concern being
to have tine day changed Thirty-one OF
the governors sent positive expressions
Commissioned mcfarland then read the let
ters from the following governors: John c.
Brady. Alaska; George c. Perdee, Califor-
MIA; Jesse T. Mcdonald, Colorado; Ma
poleon e. Broward. Florida; J. Frank
Hanly, Indiana: Charles s. Deneen. IL
linois: William T. Cobb. Maine; f. NJ
Warner. Michigan; John II. Johnson, Min
nesota: Joseph W. Folk Missouri: Miguel
A. Otero. New Mexico: Frank W. Higgins
New York; F. Y. Sarles,- North Dakota:
George z. Chamberlain, Oregon; Samuel
w. Pennypacker, Pennsylvania; S. H e.
rod, South Dakota Charles J. Bell, Yer
mont John G. Cutler, Utah: w, NJ o.
ard, Louisiana: ]. NJ. Terrell, Georgia; F.
r. Gooding, Idaho E, W. Hoch, Kansas;
T. B. Ferguson, Oklahoma; Edwin War
field Maryland: r. B. Glenn, North Car
olina; Joseph H. Kibbey. Arizona; A. ].
Montague, Virginia. William L. Douglas
Massa chusetts: Albert Z. Mead. Washing
ton; Henry Roberts, Connecticut.