Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-04

k--AM.sN~ g. T. v VI = 81 - q g
When the long record of historic
events that have occurred in and
about the beautiful Capitol that fol-
a hundred years has been the home
| of the American Congress is viewed
in the generations to come none will
inspire greater interest than the in
auguration of Theodore Roosevelt
as President and of Charles Warren
Fairbanks as Vice President of the
United States.
The vast plaza that stretches east of
| the Capitol took on; an air Of animation
early in the day. People began to gather
long before the hour hxed for the official
ceremonies. They occupied the most ia
vorable vantage ground from which to
view the great pageant that was to as
semble there to form an impressive set
ting for the simple exercises by which
President Theodore Roosevelt was to be
indicted into office.
The day opened, with a promise of fair
weather The beautiful structure of white
marble never looked more stately. It was
never more typical in It's grandeur Of out
line and in its massiveness, Of the -vigor
and growth of the republic that Is a giant
among nations of the earth. No ornate
decoration could add ITO the beauty of Its
simplicity 1t was reared against a back
ground of blue sky with only tho colorine
Of the flag of the nation to intensity its
pure whiteneSS
s. Crowds In the. Plaza.
Before the main entrance that leads to
the rotunda was an immense platform OF
area ample to accommodate Congress and
hundreds of distinguished visitors gathered
from all parts of the country. AS the morn
ing wore on the throng of humanity In
creased in numbers. The people waited pa
| tiently for the coming of the pageant made
up Of organizations representing every
phase Of citizenship.
During the entire morning those who
possessed tickets admitting them to the
| Senate wing of the Capitol were arriving.
The ceremonies of Inauguration were to be-
| gin in the Senate chamber. when the Vice
President was to be sworn in and in turn to
administer the oath of office to the SEN
! ators who have been elected to serve terms
beginning today.
Senate Galleries Filled.
Within the Senate chamber the galleries
| were filled with brilliant assemblage long
before noon.
Those who came early were entertained
by witnessing the dignified proceedings of
the Senate during the last two hours of
the F1fty-eighth Congress. which had ad-
| journed at midnight to meet again at 10
o'clock this morning to close the work of
| the session. But 1t was not until noon that
| the Senate of the Fifty-ninth Congress was
called to order by Senator Frye, President
| pro tenn.
The entrance Of distinguished guests on
the floor OF the Senate was attended by
great interest. In the assemblage on the
| floor Of the Senate the brilliant uniforms of
the diplomatic corps stood out prominently
amid the somber black attire of the sena.
tors, representatives cabinet officers and
| other officials. All available seating space
on the floor Of the Senate was occupied by
| the distinguished gathering.
The section of the Senate usually reserved
| for the families of senators was largely
| occupied today by the family and circle
of friends of the President. Mrs. Roose-
welt, Miss Roosevelt and others of the I'm
the first row of the gallery. The family
and friends of the Vice President, families
| of Justices of the Supreme Court and of
Cabinet officers were also in the senator's
reserved gallery Vice President Fair
banks mother was prominent as an occu-
pant of seat In the front row.
The demand for seats was in excess of
| the capacity of the galleries. Each senator
| had been given -four seats and each rep
| resentative two tickets. for seats in the
galleries. but the number OF such admis-
| sions was greater, than the number Of seats.
But visitors were wellg satisfied to secure
| standing room, and every available place
was taken up by the ticket holders.
| The diplomatic gallery, usually unoccu-
Pied was filled with members Of the fam
| lilies of diplomats. The eagerness on the
part Of foreign residents to see the exer-
cises attending the Inauguration was never
greater than today.
Signing Belated Bills.
In the last hour Of, the I'd Congress
| President Roosevelt was in the Presidents
| room, adjoining the lobby OF the Senate.
accompanied by members Of his cabinet.
| He was there in readiness to sign belated
| bills.
| Little business awaited the President. The
bills which were passed yesterday and at
tho evening session were PRESENTED to him
by the House officers. and he aligned them
quickly He had considerable time to de-
vote to senator's and members who called to
pay their respects.
The President signed all the bills that
| were given to him. with the exception Of
| two. the District OF Columbia smoke law.
and House bin 11204. rathying lease made
by the Seneca Indians Of New York. In all
he signed thrity-nine bills OF the House and
Senate and nine resolutions.