Evening star., 1909-05-11
token From HIS ASSOCIATE
CHEST OF SILVER PRESENTED
TO MICHAEL I. WELLER.
Testimonial From Colaborers OF Pub.
!. lic Comfort Committee During
Recent Inaugural.

/ : As a testimonial of personal regaro
and esteem. as we'll as by way OF reward
| for faithful efficient and arduous service
| the members of the public comfort com
mittee who before and during the re-
cent inaugural period had charge OF the
| thousand and one matters connected WIN
the STAY of visitors i'm the National cap
| ital last night presented to their chair
man. Mic&ael T. Weller. a chest of silver
appropriately insert cd Fifty commit
| teemen met in the red parlor of the New
Willard in h, nor If their late chler, ana
after the presentation had Deen made
and utteran . in happy vein had peeI
delivered refreshments were served IL
was explained last evening that the pres
entation of the silver was In recognition
of Mr. Weller'S services as chairman OF
the public comfort committee durfnS HNe
inaugural periods and the bellef was ex-
pressed that there Will not be chdnce
for him to dodge the same position When
-four more years have rolled around.
Edward ]. Stellwagen. chairman OF
the general inaugural committee, pre-
| sided.
In introducing Henry Clay Simpson
| secretary of the committee, who spoke
| for his associates, telling of the chair
mans work as public-spirited citizen
| and in the cause of public comfort.
with reference both to residents OF the
| rious states, he spoke in an exceedingly
| happy vein, and was frequently inter
rupted by applause.
Mr.. Weller's Remarks.
Mr. Weller replied:
The public comfort committee is not
| like others. 1t does not appeal to the
| public with a flourish of trumpets. 1t Is
given a large slice of the hardest of hard
rlich faS
erlv means that 1t must guard the inter
ests of the visitors and protect the fair
name of Washington from the ISLANDERS
which are frequently cast upon 1t al
Inauguration time.
"The civic pride of individual citizens Is
great asset in our work. We must
take care of those who come from far
off states and make them feel at home.
We must be hospitable. and at the
same time be businesslfke. The task
imposed upon us is one of adjusting dr.
verse interests. In our work of placing
guests we must be scrupulous about
treating all local interests alike. There
must be no favors bestowed.
The frightful weather conditions
which we endured at the recent inaug-
uration brought the arduous nature CT
our work into sharp relief. 1t was
then our system was put to its severest
test. and although all plans had to be
utterly cast aside, we proved equal to
the event
TT was necessary to protect the rep
utation of our business men. In one
instance it was deemed proper to exon
crate visitors from blame for a certain
incident and condemn our own citizens.
The genral citizenship is determin ed
that there shall be no eXortion.
Appreciates the Gift.
Mr.. Weller expressed his heartfelt
appreciation of the gift Of his commit
teemen, and deprecated all talk of maxi
ing him chairman for a third time. ex-
pressing a desire to be private in the
ranks" at the next event. He was the
recipient of many congratulations upon
the successful execution of the work
devolving upon the public comfort COM
mittee.
The special committee in charge of
the affair consisted of James F. Oyster.
first vice chairman; James f. Hood. sec
ond vice chairman, and Harry Is. Simp-
son, secretary.