The daily sentinel., 1909-03-04

apartment III the Capitol. Mr.. Roose-
welt, accompanied by members of his
cabinet, had arrived early to attacn
his signature to measures, the pas
sage of which had been delayed by
the rush of business during the close
of the session, and had been very
busily occupied in the last hours of
his administration. The Vice-Presi-
dent and the Vice-president-elect
were in the almost equally elegant
apartment at the other end of the
marble lobby. which is occupied by
the Vice-President throughout the
sessions of. Congress, and is desig-
mated as the Vice-President's room.
The diplomatic corps assembled in
the lobby, where the ambassadors
and ministers awaited an invitation
to enter.
The entrance into the chamber of
the several bodies of officials was
announced by Assistant Doorkeepers
Stewart and Keller in clear and dis
tinct tones. THE Supreme Court of
the United States was called, and
the venerable Chief Justice. followed
by the eight associate justices in their
official gowns of black. and accom-
panied by the Officers of the court,
came in slowly. and all were conduct
ed 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 gorg-
eous court dresses. The ambassador
from Italy, the dean of the corps, was
the first to enter. being followed by
the ambassadors from Austria-H Hun
gary, France. Germany, Brazil Rus
sia. Mexico. Great Britain. Japan and
Turkey, in the order named. They
were given seats near the central
aisle Immediately behind the space
reserved for the members of the
Presidents cabinet
The House of Representatives
formed in line in the corridor in the
southern end of the Capitol. and. ac-
companied 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. Speaker Cannon, at the head
of the column, was at once escorted
TO a raised chair on the left of the
Vice-President, members of the house
and members-elect taking seats as
| signed them throughout the cham
ber. The representatives were ac-
companied by the house employees.
who, together with many of the Of
ficial attaches of the senate, being
to stand throughout the ceremony.
The doors leading to the floor of
the senate had been thrown open at
eleven O'Clock for the admission of
any persons entitled to seats there.
| Among those who arrived early were
| officers of the army and navy, who
had received the thanks of Congress.
which entitled them to the privilege
of taking part in the ceremonies.
| They were attired in full dress uni
| form. made picturesque by silver and
| gold ornaments. admiral Dewey and
Genera. Bell We're also present in
full uniform as the official repre-
sentatives of the army and navy
The committee ON arrangements
escorted Mr., Sherman, the vice-presi-
dent-elect, to the chamber and later
performed the same service for the
| President and President-eleof Each
of these distinguished persoaages re-
ceived his full quota of attention
and although the rules of tnc senate
forbid applause, there was a pro-
nounced demonstration in The gal
leries which Vice-President Fair.
banks, who was in the chair did not
hasten to suppress. Duriug these
outbursts ladies waved hand erchiefs
and each of the recipients of this at.
tention made smiling acknowledge
menl- MT. lall 1uiSeu MS eyes tt
the senator's gallery in which Mrs
raft and other members of his family
were seated. and nodded recognition
Mrs. Taft responded with a smile.
The two most conspicuous seats II
the senate were reserved for the
President and President-elect. botl
of whom faced the presiding officer
the President in the front row on tn,
right side of the aisle. and the Presi
dent-elect on the left. Members o
the cabinet were also given places II
the front row of seats near Mr.
Roosevelt. and the committee on ar
rangements were seated near them
: Mr.. Sherman was at once escorted
t, up the steps to the desk of the Vice
, President and was given n seat on hi.
|, right There the oath of office wa,
administered to him by Vice-Presi
dent Fairbanks, this being the frs
4 of the functions performed after the
gathering of the assemblage. Mr.
A Fairbanks raised his right hand ant
Mr.. Sherman assumed like position
The words of The oath of office were
pronounced In a clear resoundine
voice and the response was distinct,
heard in every portion of the cham
. ber. where. except as 1t was broker
by tho voices of the officials them
selves. quiet reigned supreme for The
time. The ceremony was simple but