New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-18
President-E Elect Drops Politics
to Enjoy Dinner in New York
with Colonel {. M. House.
TALK WITH COCKTAILS
Governor Reserves His Com
ment on Reception as Sub
stitute for Inaugural Ball
at Washington.

his old friend COlOncl r. NJ ilO"o'' az IN
home. in East 35th street. He will leave
here for his Princeton home at an early
bour this morning-in fact, before most
persons have eaten their breakfast. Colo
mel House and the President-elect are
friends of long standing, and Mr.. Wilson
seldom comes to town without calling on
him.
The President-elect did not tell the
uowspaper men he was coming to New
York until an hour before train time, and
the secrecy with which the visit of the
Prcsident-clect was surrounded led 10 al
kinds Of surmlses as to an impending con-
ference Of nationwide importance MI
Wilson, however, assured his induisitorS
that IT was really an evening Of relax
alton from the strain of political confer
ences that he was after and that he Would
see no politicians.
Governor Wilson left Trenton at 4:S2
o'clock. and when he arrived at the Penn
sylvania Terminal a few minutes before
8. Colonel House was waiting for him.
lie went at once 10 the coloneTs nome ii
the latter's automobile
Talks with Goethals.
Before leaving Trnteon the president
elect talked over the Panama Canal STU
alton with Colonel George w. Goethals
for tbree-duartcrs of an hour ColoneI
Goctbals came TO Trenton al Governor
wilson's Invitation. and 1t was generally
believed that the reason foIdthe invitation
was TO give the President-eIect an op'
portuuitv TO size up the canal builder 10:
himself This idea was backed up more
or les later, when Mr.. Wilson. In talking
of Colonel GOethalss visit, said he could
have fot the information concerning the
canal from other sources, but ne pre-
ferred 10 get II right from Colonel Goe
thaIs himself. as he wanted first hand
information.
The Presldent-elcct said his conference
with Colonel Goethals related mainly to
the administration Of affairs in the Canal
Zone.
.I wanted first hand information n
said. about the laws that govern the
Canal Zone and about the general admin
istration Of affairs there, so that l can
take right hold when the time comes
The President-elect said they had not
discussed the physical features Of the
At@4A44''NN'
with that feature OF it. Colonel Goethals
had urged him 70 visit the canal, he said
but" ne added, of course that was out
OF the question"
Sees Wits House Plans.
Colonel Spencer S. Cosby, superintend-
ent Of Public Buildings and Grounds at
Washington. also called on the President
1ff
The plans Of the White House with him.
and also gave the President-elect some Of
the details of the management Of the
building.
The President-olect said the only
changes that were being made were on
the third foor over which he had al
ready been consulted. These changes will
provide additional guest rooms, which
were considered necessary.
United States Senator Obadiah Gardner,
OF Maine, had luncheon with the Presi-
dent-eleot to-day, and told him some OF
the details OF the election in that state
| Yesterday. when Ex-Governor Edwin c.
Burleigh a Republican, was chosen TO
| succeed him. Mr.. Gardner said that be-
fore he left Maine ne heard that the
Democrats were going TO investigate Mr..
Burleigh's election and might bring tho
contest before the United States Senate.
lie was not making the contest person
ally. he said.
senator Gardner was confident up 10 the
time the vote was taken yesterday that
there would be a deadlock, as he did not
expect 81 least three Progressive Repub-
leans 10 vote for Mr.. Burleigh, which
they did.
Penny Postage Plan.
Representative David j. Lewis, Of Mary
land, author Of the House bill from which
the present parcel post law originated,
urged President-elect Wilson yesterday TO
appoint as Postmaster General "a com
petent master Of postal and transporta-
ton economies"
Mr. Lewis suggested no nome, but
Dointsd out in a memorandum submitted
10 Mr.. Wilson that without additional
funds or legislation the Postoffice De-
partment within four years could estab-
llsh rates for the movement of small
shipments at one-half the present express
rates BY making the rural routes rela-
lively profitable through the use Of fast
freight, he said, penny postage would Re
feasible.
HsAsd II he had any comment TO make
or Mr. Lewis's suggestion for a prscti-
cal man for Postmaster General, the
President-elect said, with a smile:
DO you see any green In my eyer"
Reception, Instead Of Bail.
President-elect Wilson declined TO say
what ceremony he would favor as a SUBJ
stitute for the inaugural ball. 1t had
been suggested to him that popular re-
ception at the Capitol might be arranged.
lie said he would not comment further
on the subject until he learned what
William Corcoran Eustis, chairman OF
the Inauguration committee. thought OF
his suggestion Ia eliminate the ball from
the festivities.
President-elect Wilson and Colonel
House went later 10 the COrt Theatre TO
sec Laurette Taylor in Peg o. My Heart
and occupied an upper tier box Not
even the anagers Of the theatre knew OF
the impending visit and there was no
demonstration when the distinguished
patrons entered. Their presence was dis
covered some. time after the play had
begun.
In the course of the piece Miss Taylor
has bit OF dialogue with her dog I'm
which she tells the animal that It can
never be president. This was the sig
nal for an outburst OF applause which
lasted for several minutes, but Mr.. VIII