The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1905-01-13
news FOR IDAh0ANS.
Weekly Letter From Wash
ington, d. c.
PLANS FOR INAUGURAL.
Work Of Senator Hepburn and
Congressman French.

Congressman French.
President and Mrs. Roosevelt were
at home to all the world last Monday.
StandingsiB the beautiful blue parlar
of the White House and surrounded
ay the ladies and gentlemen OF the
cabinet clrc.e, they received the
representatives of thirty~eight foreign
powers and many thousands of Amer
can citiz-ns who wished them a happy
new year. Never has the birthday Of
IA new year been celebrated in more
characteristic fashion at the home of
the Presidents, and never has the
function passed of more pleasantly.
At this reception every phase Of life
was represented. The statesman who
make the laws, the jurists who con.
struc them. ihs warriors who defend
them, all took part aud all received
their greetings from the man they
have chosen for President for the
next four years.
Plans for the inaugural ball are
proceeding as rapidly as possible un-
der existing circumstances. but there
has been considerable delay as to
where it should be held. The Pen
sion Building was not considered
available, the opposition to the use Of
The Capitol Building was very great,
and there seemed to be no disposition
on the part of the House to concur 10
the Senate resolution to use the Con-
grcssional Library. The inaugural
hall is probably the largest social
function in point OF attendance and
Importance IN the world, and there
are very few structures that can be
adapted to accommodate the vast
crowd sthat is always sure To be pres
ent.Fo several years the ball has been
held in the Pension Building, which
was amply large for the purpose, but
the work of the Pension Office is so
important that it cannot be inter.
rupted for the length Of time required
TO put the building in shape. 1t is
very likely that Congress will be
asked to construct building to be
permanently used for such affairs.
Prior to q year ago many additions
to the forest reserves in Idaho were
proposed and lands were withdrawn
in contemplation Of the creation Of
these additions. These proceedings
were vigorously contested by Senator
Hepburn. and he has had numher
Ut interviews and many communica-
tions with the officers OF the Govern.
ment in regard to the matter. He
has just been furnished map show
ing the lands restored TO settlement
These proposed forest reserves were
opposed by Senator Hepburn with the
view OF keeping open for ett'emenl
as large a portion Of The public do
main as possible. He took the
ground that these forest reserves ex-
cluded public lands from settlement
without any cOmpeusating advanta-
ges. The lands restored in Idahu to
settlement as a result Of his efforts
aggregate MUre than six millions of
acres.
Congressman French is doing some
good work for the country people OF
Idaho in endeayoring 10 have the
rural free delivery service extend d as
much as possible throughout The
State. lie is now ur- lg the estab'
lishMent OF several OF these routes
On January !, 1903, there were only
12 OF these routes In operation in tht
whole State, while today there are 2S
and ten more applications are pend
ing. Mr. French is of the opinion
that there is opportunity for the es
tabllshment Of many new routes IL
Idaho. and Is anxious that they b,
lcgun as early as possible.
domestic Troubles.