Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-26
CHRISTMAS QUIET
IN WASHINGTON
OFFICIAL BUSINESS NEARLY
ALL SUSPENDED
President Remains at Home With His
FamiIy--His Son Archie Distrib-
utes Presents From
Tree
BY Associated Press.

By Associated Press.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 25.-Onicial
Washington celebrated Christmas by a
general suspension of governmental
business. Only matters Of urgent inn
portance were considered no routine
business being taken up. All of the
governments departments were closed.
but some of the cabinet officers were
at their desks for a time attending to
important mail and telegraph advices
President Roosevelt appeared at his
office for only brief time, just long
enough, in fact, to dispose of few
matters of Importance that required
his attention. He did not attend church
service, remaining during the morning
hours with the members of his family
and intimate friends who called at the
White House during the morning hours,
but for. the most part no visitors were
received.
During the morning there was a gem
eral gift giving at the White House.
This exchange of presents was con-
fined principally to members of the
family. The presidents third SON,
Archie, as usual, had a Christmas tree
in his own room, and from that he dis
tributed his gifts to the family and the
household people. Mrs. Cowles. the
presidents sister, entertained the mem
bers of the family with gift giving at
her home.
During the forenoon the president
and Mrs. Roosevelt went for long
ride.
A family dinner was given at the
White House later in the day. Among
the guests was Representative Nicholas
Longworth, the fiance Of Miss Roose-
welt.
The president has notified the MEM
bers 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 importance and will re-
ceive no callers or visitors unless their
business Is imperative. 1t is his pur-
pose to make this holiday week, and
he will spend as little time as possi-
BILE in the transaction of routine busi-
ness.
The Vice President and Mrs. Fair
banks entertained a party of friends at
their home, but it is their purpose to
spend the holiday recess at their home
in Indianapolis.
The members of the cabinet after dis
posing of such business in their depart
ments as required immediate attention
passed the day with their families and
friends at their homes.
Throughout the city business gener-
ally was suspended and the day was
very like a Sunday in the national
capital.
Admiral Dewey's Christmas greeting
to the officers and men of the navy
bespeaking united stand for the good
of the country and the service, was
communicated today to the officers and
men aboard the vessels throughout the
world wherever they could be reached
by telegraph. To the men of the navy
along the Atlantic coast there was also
sent a Christmas greeting by means of
wireless telegraph, which incidentally
proved an elaborate and practical test
of this auxiliary of the navy.
The wireless messages were sent by
direction of Admiral Manney, chief of
the bureau of equipment, and the re-
suits were most satisfactory to him.
The messages containing the greetings
were sent out last night from the wire
less station at the Washington navy
yard and were relayed from place to
place Early responses came from the
officers near Washington, but before
midnight many of the stations had re-
piled, including New Orleans and Co
Ion and San Juan, the Colon reply
coming by way of Guantanamo. Prac-
tically no work was done today in
ships everywhere.
Liberal shore leave had been granted
to the officers and men. while the dim
ner served aboard ship was under the
usual custom characteristic of the
Christmas season. Many of the ves-
sels captains Joined with officers in
the wardroom celebration of the day.
On the ships the only work required
today was the necessary cleaning and
by o'clock this morning most of the
officers and men felt free to celebrate
the day as they chose.
Thousands of pounds Of turkey.
cranberries and plum pudding and
other things that make up the Christ
mas dinner aboard the vessels were
served in generous fashion on board
each ship. The men had their Christ
mas dinner at noon and the officers
in the evening.