Weekly journal-miner., 1909-03-10

dent and the vice president-elect were in the almost equally elegant apart ment at the other end of the marble lobby, which is oceapied by the vice president throughout the sessions of congress, and is designated as the vice president s room. The diplomatic corps assembled in the lobby, where
 the ambassadors and ministers await ed an invitation to enter.
 The entrance into the chamber of the several bodies of officials was an-
 nOunced by Assistant DoOrkeepers Stewart and Keller in clear and dis tinct tones. 'Th5 Supreme Court of the United States' was called, and the venerable Chief Justice, followed Dy the eight associate justices in their official gowns of black, and accOmpa-
 nied by the officers of the court, came in slowly, and all were conducted to large leather-covered chairs. which had been placed along the front of the
 chamber facing the vice president, and
 on his right.
 Then came the ambassadors and ministers of foreign countries, in their gorgeous court dresses. The ambassa- dor from Italy, the dean of the corps,
 was the first to enter, being followed by the ambassadors from Austria-Hun- gary, France, Germany, Braizl, Russia,
 Mexico, Great Britain, Japan and Fur key. in the order named. They were
 given seats near the central aisle i'm
 mediately behind the space reserved for the members of the president 's cabinet.
 The house of representatives formed
 in line in the corridor in the southern end of the capitol, and, accompanied by members-elect, who were soon to take their places in the next congress, marched slowly to the senate door.
 which they entered two by two. Speak CT Cannon. at the head of the column,
 was at once escorted to a raised chair on the left of the vice president, mem bers of the house and members-elect taking seats assigned them throughout the chamber. The representatives were accompanied by the house employees,
 who, together with many of the official attaches of the senate. being unable to obtain seats, were obliged to stand throughout the ceremony.
 The doors leading to the floor of the senate had been thrown open at II clock for the admission of any per sons entitled to seats there. Among those who arrived early were officers of the army and navy, who had reeeiv- ed the thanks of congress, which en- titled them to the privilege of taking part in the ceremonies. They were at tired in full dress uniform, made pie turesque in silver and gold ornaments. Admiral Dewey and General Bell were also present in full uniform as the of ficial representatives of the Army and Navy.
 The committee on arrangements in charge of the ceremony of inaugural
 ing the president and vice president consisted of Senators Philander Case Knox. of Pennsylvania; Henry Cabot lodge, of Massachusetts. and Angus tus Octavius Bacon. of Georgia, on the part of the senate, and Representatives i James Francis Burke. of Pennsylvania, Horace Olin Young. of Michigan, and 1 John Wesley Gaines. of Tennessee, on 1 the part of the house. This committee escorted MT. sherman, the vice presi- ! dent-elect. to the chamber and later performed the same service for the | president and president-eleet.
 ] Each of these distinguished person i ages received his full quota of attcn- ! tioG. and although the rules of the sen
 ate forbid applause, there was pro nounced demonstration in the galleries which Vice President Fairbanks. who
 was in the chair, did not hasten to sup press During these Outbursts the la i dies waved handkerchiefs and each of i the recipients of this attention made smiling acknowledgement. MT. Taft raised his eyes to the senators gallery l in which Mrs. Taft and other mem- 1 bers of his family were seated, and
 nodded recognition. Mrs. Taft re- spGnded with a smile.
 i The two most conspicuous seats in
 the senate were reserved for the pres ident and president-elect, both of
 whom faced the presiding officer, the 1 president in the front row on the right side of the aisle, and the president elect on the left Members of the cab
 inet were also given places in the front row of seats near Mir. Roosevelt, and the committee on arrangements
 were seated near them.
 MT. Sherman was at once escorted up the steps tO the desk of the vice
 president and was given a seat on his
 right. There the oath of office was ad-
 ministered to him by Vice President
 Fairbanks, this being the first of the
 functions performed after the gather ing of the assemblage. NIT. Fairbanks
 raised his right hand and MT. Sherman
 assumed like position. The words of
 the oath of office were pronounced in
 a clear. resounding voice and the re
 sponse was distinctly heard in every
 portion of the chamber, where, except
 as it was broken by the voices of the , officials themselves, quiet reigned su preme for the time. The ceremony was , simple but of tense interest, and spec
 tators were duly impressed.
 . Asc MT. Sherman lowered his right
 hand it was grasped in eongratulatior by his predecessor and a ripple of ap . plause was heard throughout the gal
 leries.
 At the instance of Senator Culber
 com cbairD,ap of tba namopratie can