The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-02-25
WASHINGTON
From our Regular Correspondent.

The President elect and Mrs
Taft have arrived in Washington
and are staying at the home o
Miss Mabel Boardman, whose con
meet on with the Red Cross Societ,
of which Mr.. Taft is Presiden
Eiakes her name known Throughout
the country. The President elec'
is welcome visitor at the White
House and has spent large par,
Of his time there since his arrival
He has presented his report on con.
ditions in Panama to the President
who appears to be highly gratitied
| by it and he has had several con-
ferences with Senator Knox who
will be his Minister of State. The
question of Mr.. Knox's eligibility
for that position has been settled
by Congress both Houses concur
ring in the passage of the bill re-
pealing the salary of the Secretary
of State and reducing it to the sum
paid before the salary increase was
made. Mr.. Taft has not doubted
the willingness; of Congress to make
this concession but he has feared
that Mr.. Knox might feel called
upon to withdraw to avoid un-
pleasant criticism. After the con-
ference Tuesday though it was
stated positively that Mr.. Knox
would accept the portfolio and it is
not believed that the Administra-
ton will be embarrassed by any
question to be raised in the courts
later as TO the Senator eligibility.
Mr.. Taft accompanied to the
White House the Engineers when
they presented their report on the
Panama Canal. The canal report
contains twenty typewriter pag.s
and indorses in every particular
the lock type plan Of construction
and approves the progress and
management Of the work there. 1t
was sent to Congress by President
Roosevelt Wednesday with a spe.
cial message concerning the Canal
in which the President says that
change now to the sea level plan
would be inexcusable folly.
~
These are busy days at the |
White House. The Presidents
family after seven years residence
there are collecting their Lares
and Penates preparatory to their re
to the home at Oyster Bay
and the confusion that prevails in
The upper and private rooms of the
house can only be imagined by
those who find it cheaper to move
than to pay rent. All of the fur
nlshings of the Executive Mansion
belong to the establishment and to
separate these from the personal
belongings, the gifts and acquisi-
tlons CT a seven years residence
makes the task more difficult and |
complicated. Preparations are un-
der way also for the reception of |
the incoming President and as the
social season is at its height and |
there are receptions and dinners
and dances to be given or attended
every day and every night there
is probably not a buster or more |
distracted family in the country |
than that of the Roosevelts. AS |
there is also much to be done in |
getting ready for the long trip |
which the President and Mrs. |
Roosevelt will take Immediately |
after the inauguration every NOM
ent Is filled with work. The Presi-
dent and his wife will sail for Ma
pies on the thirteenth of March
and the precision with which their
plans are made is evidenced by the
tact that they will not return to
the White House after the inaugu-
raj ceremonies at the Capital but
VIII leave Immediately on a special
tram tor Oyster Bay. 1t has long
oeen the custom for the President
elect to ride to the Capitol Oh In
auguration day and to return
along the route of the parade with
the new President occupying the
right hand seat with the retiring
executive at his left, the reverse of
the relative positions in which they
made The trip to the Capitol. Two
innovations will be introduced this
year inasmuch as Mr.. Taft will re.
turn to the White House alone and
instead of using a carriage will use
new automobiles provided for the
occasion.
***
MI Taft is busy writing his in
augural address but not less i'm
portant matter in the Taft family is
the selection of the gown that Mrs.
| Al