New-York tribune., 1909-02-28
Mr.. TAFT AT CAPITAL
PRESTDENT-ELECT READY
FOR INAUGURATION.
Washington Already Thronged acith
Visitors in QuadrenniaI Tkroes
of Excitement.
of Excitement.
rFror ne tribune Burear J


Washington. Feb 2T-President-elect and
Mrs william H Taft arrived IN Washington
late to-day from New York and viii settle down
10 inauEuration preparations. Mr. Taft was
taken st once 10 the White House. where he
made an engagement for this evening. but or
returning at so o'clock. and the President still
being cut he decided TO postpone his conference
until tomorrow morning. The subject on which
Mr.. Taft desires an audience with the President
relates 10 the inaugural address.
The new automobile which has been pur-
chased FOR Mr.. Taft's use when he occupies the
White House vas tried by Mr. and Mrs Taft
This atterr>on. and the new Potomac Park was
explored No callers we're scheduled for this
evening and there was no interruption 70 the
quiet enioyed at the Boardman home, where the
President-elect will remain until the night OF
March 8 At that time Mr. and Mrs. Taft will
go to the White House the guests of Presi-
dent and Mrs. Roosevelt
Mr.. and Mrs. Taft were accompanied to Wash
ington BY State Chairman Timothy l. Wood
r7,e. of New York The trip to Washington was
urithou. incident. Both Mr. and Mrs Taft kept
20 their stateroorn and admission was denied to
al callers
PREPARATIONS FOR INAUGURATION.
With the arrival Of large throng Of early
Inaugural visitors and the issue Of the inaugural
medals. with Taft and Sherman prohles, the cap
tai may be said now TO be really in the throes
OF it's oua6rennial excitement Nearly all the
hotels are well filled with strangers, and the
boarding houses are overfowing with country
cousins"
Yesterday afternoon at the close Of work the
Pension Building. where the inaugural ball is 70
he held was formally turned over to the in
aue71ral committee by the Interior Department
The clerks employed at the pension bureau will
get holiday until March s. to allow the decora-
tors florists. carpenters and electricians to put
.he big structure in shape for the ball and to
remove the decorations after IL is over.
washington business men are trying. in the
midst of their preparations for the present fes-
tiv1ties, 70 raise money to construct an audi
torium large enough to accommodate the in
auEural ball four years hence, and if the at
tempt is successful Congress VIII not again be
called upon to give the use of the Pension Build
ing for the purpose
The great wooden tunnels runways extend
ing from the four streets bounding the pension
bureau grounds are now nearly complete, and
only require covering OF rainproof paper. There
will be big ticket Office the 5th street side
OF The Pension Building for the accommodation
of those who delay purchasing until the eventful
night and nearly all the large stores in town
are ticket agencies for the committee. From
present indications one OF the largest crowds
ever present at an inaugural ball will greet
President and Mrs Taft on the evening of
March 4.
UNION STATION NEWLY PARKED.
Aside from the decoration Of the Court of
Honor .n front OF the White House, where Pres
tdept Taft viii preside when he witnesses the
great parade after he takes the oath. the most
striking and artistic piece of decoration in the
capital is perhaps that of the Union Station
-Four years ago this magnificent marble and
granite station was not in existence. and the
crowds came in as best they could at the anti
quated Pennsylvania and Baltimore & Ohio
sheds Now the station Will handle expe-
ditiousiy and comfortably any throng that the
railroads can possibly bring to the city.
But the many acres of parking surrounding