Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-25
Notable Men Attend Rededica-
ton of Historic Edifice
in Philadelphia.
FOR TEN YEARS THE HOME
OF NATIONS LAWMAKERS
Addresses by Mr.. Wilson and
Speaker Champ Clark Features
of the Program.


building where Congress met from 1890
to 1900, was rededicated today after
having undergone restorations to al
most it's original appearance. The
President Of the United States, members
sentatives. ambassadors from foreign
teen states and leading citizens of
Pennsylvania and Philadelphia partici-
pated in the ceremonies.
President Wilson and party arrived
here a few minutes after / o'clock this
afternoon. The President was officially
welcomed by large reception committee
composed of some of the leading men Of
the city.
Many Distinguished Guests.
With the President came the French
ambassador. Vice President Marshall,
Speaker Clark, Chief Justice White and
several associate Justices senators
from the thirteen original states and
members of the House of Representa-
tives equal to the number of members
sitting in Congress in the latter part Of
1899 and the beginning of 1900. Am
bassadors and ministers of European
and South American countries who had
accepted Invitations were In the Wash
ingtOn party as were also the chaplains
of the Senate and House.
Luncheon was served at the Bellevue
Stratford Hotel, at which were present
the President and Vice President, all
the other invited guests from Wash
states and the several committees hav-
ing charge Of the ceremonies.
After the luncheon came the parade
with President Wilson near the head OF
the line. In the procession were all the
sailors and marines stationed at the
Philadelphia navy yard. four companies
of Coast Artillery from Fort du Pont
and Fort Mott on the Delaware river, a
provisional brigade of the Pennsylvania
National Guard, the Philadelphia, cavalry
commands attached to the state militia
and the patriotic societies.
City Troop His Escort.
The parade wound Its way through the
business. section Of the city to Inde-
pendence Square; Whence President WI
son was, escorted to Congress Han. He
was attended BY the 1st Troop, Philadel-
phia City Cavalry, which has escorted
every President who has visited Philadel-
phia since the time of George Washing
ton
AS the President approached the his
toric hall chorus of 100 voices greeted
the nations chief executive with a
patriotic song. Brass bands blared forth
people massed in and about the square
cheered.
The old building is small, having
width of fifty feet and depth of about
seventy-five feet For this reason only
75O persons could be crowded on the
first floor, where the lower house Of
Congress met The Senate held its ses-
sions on the second floor. During the ex-
ercises today President Wilson sat In
the chair occupied by John Hancock
when he presided over the Continental
Congress at the signing of the Declara-
ton of Independence. 1t was the first
time the chair had been used since Pres
ident Grant requested the privilege of sit
ting In it in 1875
The Invocation was delivered by Rev.
Henry N. Couden. ID. D., the chaplain of
the House of Representatives at Wash
ington. This was followed by the sing
ing of Hail, Columbia
Delivered to the City.
Frank Miles Day of Philadelphia read
a brief statement concerning the restora-
ton Of the building Mr.. Day was chair
man of the committee of architects hav-
ing charge of the work. Then followed
the delivery of the building to the city
by the president of the Philadelphia
CHAPTER OF the AHleTiC11l lIiStitutS VI
Architects. John Hall RANKIN, ana It's
acceptance by the city.
The Grafton by Speaker Clark and the
address of President Wilson, who stood
on the rostrum of the House where
Washington delivered MS fareWeil au-'
dress, followed.
The exercises were closed with the sing
ing of another patriotic song. and the
announcement of the benedicdon by the
chaplain of the United States Senate,
| Rev. Forrest ]. Prettyman.
AS the ceremonies came to an end
salute Of twenty-One guns was fired by
the warships in the Delaware river.
Congress Hall is a twO-story. Shlngle-
rooted building. 1t stands on the south
east corner of 9th and Chestnut streets,
or in other words, in the northwest cor
ner of Independence square. To the east
of 1t is Independence Hall.
The building was constructed for coun
ty purposes. Two different funds were
raised to cover the expense. In colonial
DAYS it was the custom for the mayor of
| Philadelphia when going out of Office to
| give a banquet. Instead of doing this one
| of the mayors contributed the cost of the
feast $50 pounds. to the building fund
| for the new county hall. The other
| money used In its construction came from
| the sale of an old Jail and workhouse.
Gangs of convicts. known then as
..wheelbarrow men,, began its construc-
! ton In 1887, and it was completed in
1859.
rendered for Use Of Congress.
March 4, 1885, the assembly Of Pernsyl-
| vania, acting for the county OF -Phila-
| delphia, rendered the use. of the building