New-York tribune., 1906-12-25
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
IFrom The TrIbune Bureau.I


Washington Dec. A-President Roosevelt and
his family have planned to spend a restful merry
Christmas at the White House. For GRE day In the
year. at least the President win enjoy absolute rest
from official business He will not even look in at
his office. and he Informed Secretary Loeb that he
does not intend to sign single official document He
expects to spend most Of the day with the members
Of his family In the morning. after breakfast the
family viii probably meet in the Red ParlOT. which
is used the general sitting room. and spend
couple of hours opening the numerous boxes and
packages which have been coming by express. mail
and messenger for the last week from friends all
over the world After luncheon. which will be
served at LOO D. m, the President, Mrs. Roosevelt
and the Older boys viii go for n horseback ride IN
the suburbs Dinner will be served under the dl-
rection OF the steward. Henry Pinckney. ~ the
usual hour, 7:3o p. m. and it is not expected that
any guests except Representative and Mrs. Long
worth will be present.
Among the numerous gifts received at the White
House for the President and hts family, number
have come which have been promptly returned 10
the senders. These were boxes sent by strangers.
WHO may may not have had any other reason
for sending the tokens than that OF desiring to
make the day merrier for the President or some
member of his family. 1t would appear. however,
that If total stranger sends gift OF value TO
prominent public official he might expect to re-
ceivo some return. in the way of either financial
political coin. IL he did not have any uIteriOr
motive for making the presentation. he should
have been guided by better taste. In any event,
giving OF those unknown to the President. they
have been informed wherever possible. that neither
the President nor any member OF his family can
accept such gifts. and the remembrance is there
fore returned with thanks In some cases IT has
been impossible to return the presents from un-
known friends, for clew to their identity or
place Of residence has been found within the
packages. In such cases the articles will bo kept
az the White House for time. in the hope that
the senders will make known their identity by
lines in
years the unknown friends of the President have
made their names known by applying for some
Office. You will remember, Mr. President" a man
will write that last Christmas I sent you" etc
Within short time by express mail that person
would receive back the gift which he had fondly
expected would obtain an office for him.
The President and Mrs. Roosevelt. with members
OF their family. may TO Pine Knot. the primitive
little country place owned by Mrs Roosevelt about
Wednesday Both their going and the length Of
their visit will depend the weather. Shooting.
riding. walking and other country pastimes viii be
indulged in. and the President will be Just
official as President can be.
The President had a talk with Secretary Taft this
afternoon about certain features Of the Panama
Canal work. Chief Engineer Stevens is about TO
start back to the zone. said Secretary Taft after
his visit 70 the Presidents office "and the Presi-
dent wished 10 take UP few matters with me that
Mr.. Stevens viii. in turn. attend to when he goes
down there
Commissioner General Sargent OF the bureau OF
immigration. who has Just returned from Hawaii
gave the President report Of his trip, with espe-
cial reference TO the immigration Of the japanese
Senators Warren. Cullom and Long were visitors
at the Presidents ONCE to-day, and the proposed
Senate investigation Of the discharge OF the Negro
soldiers OF the 18th Infantry OF the sub
jects brought up. The whole matter viii die out
within few days" said Of the Senators. The
Senate committee may investigate little. and then
the subject will be forgotten
Other callers at the White House Repre-
sentatives Mann. Parsons and Bennett. Secretary
Straus and Commissioner Garfield.
With the Thermometer at 80, the President played
few sets the tennis court this afternoon
against his two elder sons.