The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-01-05


any very definite rule. At all events. on
arriving (under escort by the military &C
the Senate wing Of the Capitol the Presi-
Dental party will be met by the Ser
geant-at-arms of the Senate and other
onicials, and conducted to the Vice Presi-
dents room.
Mr.. Taft. however, will 60 to the Presi- {
dents room lat the other end OF the cor
ridor. which separates the Senate Cham
Der from the Marble Room), there to seat
himself at table ard perform ths last !
duties of his administration by gIancing /
over and signing bills which have been ,
passed at the last moment, and which, /
lacking his signature, would fail TO be- I!
come laws
The Last Hour.
Before the noon hour actually arriyssi
the hands OF the big clock In the Senate
Charnoer VIII be pushed back by the
Doorkeeper with long pole. 80 Is to
gain few fctional but important min
utes Meanwhile the galleries have filed
with privileged spectators. eagerly wait
Ing for the performance to begin. Their.
are a great many women, whose hats
and dainty costumes lend attractive color
to the spectacle
Al length all Is in readiness, and tn,
hands of the clock being allowed 20 reach
the L, the doorkeeper in a loud voice
announces: The President of the United (;
states and members Of his Cabinet"'
Whereupon Mr.. Taft, followed by hi,
omcial advisers leach Of whom has his
resignation. fguratively, in his pocket,
enters through the main door, under the
clock. and walks down the center aisle
seating himself in big ieather-covered
chafr in front OF the Vice Presidents
desk and on the right-hand side thereof.
Inc doorkeeper next announces the
fresident-elect and Vice President
eject: then the Chief Justice and As
sociate Justices of the Supreme Court"
and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and members Of
the Diplomatic Corps" These persop-
ages likewise march down the aisle and
seat themselves in front of the Vice
Presidents desk-the ARRANGEMENT being
such that the President, the President
elect and Vice President-eiect. and his
Cabinet, the Admiral Of the NayySand
the Chief Of Stan of the army sit on Sns
size, WINE on the other are placed the
members OF the Supreme Court and the
diplomats IN their brilliant court uni
forms.
supply Vice President.
A Vice President is quickly supplied.
however, the first business In order be
ing the swearins-in of the new incum-
bent OF that office by the President pro
tenn of the Senate He Immediately as
sumes the chair, and calls the upper
House to order. That body now finds
itself in special session, convened by the
President at noon, March T. Ito receive
such communications as may be made
by the executive" There is no execu-
tive yet. but presently there will be.
Meanwhile, since breakfast time. one
third Of the Senate has lost its job and
a corresponding number Of new Sen
ators (many of them having been re-
electeD must be sworn in This is &C
complished in double-quick time by the
Vice President. who administers the oath
to them in punches. and who. when the
task has been successfully accomplished.
says: The Sergeant-at-arms will now
execute the order OF the Senate relative
TO the inaugural ceremonies Of the Presi-
dent of the United States"
Thereupon. under the direction of the
a procession is form
ed. 1t Is led by the Marshal of the ST.
preme Court and the Marshal OF the Dis
trict of Columbia, arm in arm. These
officials are followed by the Justices of
the Supreme Court, after whom come
the President and President-elect, and
the outgoing and incoming Vice Presi-
dents, escorted by the Committee OF
Arrangements. Next in line are the dip
.omats. headed by the ambassadors, and,
following them. the members of the
Cabinet, Representatives of the coming
House, and high officers of the army and
navy. The spectators. descending by the
stairs from the galleries. join the parade.
four abreast and the march proceeds
southwark through the main corridor OF
the Capitol and then. by way OF the
rotunda, to the piIlared marble portfco
on the east
The view from the portico presents a
wonderful spectacle. Along the middle
part Of the east front Of the Capitol an
immense platform and grandstand have
been erected. with row on row OF chairs
for occupancy by those who have been
fortunate enough to obtain tickets down
the middle OF the great fight of marble
steps is a passageway, through which
the President-elect descends until he ar
rives at a small platform bearing a sort
OF kiosk. In the kiosk he stands, look
ing down upon an immense sea Of up
turned faces, while the Chief Justice OF
the Supreme Court administers TO him
the oath. Then he begins the delivery
CT his inaugural address, which has al
ready been for some time in type in the
Office of every important newspaper in
the country 1t is in print and or the
streets before he has finished It,
htNit"s
When this part of the performance is
over. the Presidential party partakes OF
lunch in the Senate wing. 1t is a hur-
ried meal. for in the meantime the pro-
session is forming for the march back
to the White House, and hundreds OF
thousands of people along the route are
waiting. Crowds thropg the
to the curbs. which are pro-
tected by ropes. under vigilant guard nv
policemen. and the shabby mile of Penn
syivania Avenue is for the nonce made
beautiful by profuse decorations. every
and even the numerous saloons.
beng adorned with flags and bright
colored bunting.
Congress does go so far as to pay
for the ceremonies at the Capitol. appro-
priating 5000 for building the platform
and grand stand on the east front, for
the wages of extra policemen. for the
printing of tickets of admission to the
Senate wing, and incidentals.
1t would seem odd il Mr.. Wilson should
walk into the Capitol one Of these days
and begin chatting about the plans for
his Inauguration. Yet this was what
Lincoln did. Mai. Richards. at that time
employed in the Senate stationery ROOM.
near the east entrance OF the Senate
wing. was sitting at his desk when he
looked up and saw Uncle Abe. It was a
pleasant February day. and Mr.. Lincoln
said, to get the hang Of things for the
4th of March
He remarked that the unfinished Senate
portico, being unguarded by a railing.
was unsafe for a crowd OF people. Mai.
Rfohards f00k him in 70 SAa the Ser