Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-20
THE COST OF THE INAUGURa.
TlON.
Inc Views Of NIr. John W. Thompson
on this SEbject-HaOvy the Baii Car, be
mnde tn Pay the Entire Expcnscs-
some Figures of the Last Inaugural.

In the course OF q conversation which a STAR
reporter had with Mr.. John W. Thomson
Win reference TO the coming Inauguration. Mr.
thompson was asked how much was expended at
the last Inauguration, the management of which
was under his direction
"l don't know that can recall the figures TO
DOLLAR" replied Mr.. Thompson ssbut / am not
Key TO forget altogether this feature OF the hau-
gural arrangements for some time The finances
are apt TO make some impression upon a persons
mind In such an affair. However, Will not be
compelled TO rely on my memory, as / have
the report OF the receipts and expenditures
at hand When the committee appointed
10 take charge OF the Inauguration arrange
mentS met the other night at the Airing
ton," be continued, 81 told them that / would
De willing TO give them the benefit OF any
experience may have acquired or TO aid them in
any way except that could not actively enter into
the work of making arrangements 1 think that
they will find that the re ord OF the proceedings OF
the main committee I'm 1881 Will enable them to
enter upon their duties 10 a greater advantage
than the last inaugural committee did. II is true
that four years ago we organized month earlier
but then we had everything TO map out, and had
no idea OF either our expenditures our receipts
The beginning made the other night In arranging
for the appointment OF the committees TO take
charge OF the various parts OF the work is In the
right direction. There were between six and seven
hundred members on these committees four years
ago. Now, when the committees are appointed
the hext thing to be done is to determine the
amount OF money that should be expended, and this
can be aScertained by some estimate as TO the
probable receipts. Now In 1881 gave ball In the
national museum building. The tickets were placed
al IS and admitted a gentleman and lady There
We're ov'r 500 tickets sold as the receipts showed
but estimate that there were about 1900 people
present. We had Of course TO give tickets 70 The
President and his friends and other Invited
guests. but the free list was not large one and |
think that the members OF the committee bought
their own tickets. calculated at the time that we
had 900 visitors In the city and SO / should
Judge II the arrangements for half Rates with the
railroads are made early enough. and IL the rail-
lpftn th.at fhara
will be over 200,G 600 people here this year. On the
supposition that the ball will be held In the new
pension building. which has many advantages over
the museum building not the least CT which Is its
nedrneSS and accessibility, thus causing a saving
in hack hire, should think that fair estimate
would place the sale OF tickets al 1000 II the ex-
pendltureS are kept within s35,o 600 the receipts
from the ball, even at a low calculation. would
cover them. This would allow the expenditure OF
$4,000 for preparing and decorating the hail. and
something like 500 600 for arches along the streets
decorations, fireworks, etc.
''YOu asked me about the cost OF the preparations
In $751; continued Mt. Thompson, referring to a
memoranum book, 81 can give them to you exactly.
For fixing up the National Museum-and that
meant putting in floor, plumbing and gas fitting
temporary approaches decorating the interior &c
we spent S1003247. For the decoration OF the city,
which included the erection OF the great arch over
18Th street at cost OF 81 206I3, of go iron arches
over the streets emptying into the avenue at cost
OF 81, $780, decorating the Washington monument,
the statues about the city, the front OF the Pres
dents house. &C. We spent 6,042 81. Then the py-
rotechn1c display and the electric lighting cost
total expenditure S255732 "a 1t Is hardly necessary
to state that in this expenditure there no pro-
vision made for wine, cigars and carriages for men,
bers OF the commit zee. The only carriages paid for
by the committee were for the use OF the invited
guests TO go the ball. While there was no waste |
think that the public will testify that the arrange
mentS showed no evidences OF meanness or were
unworthy of the occasion and OF the nation. The
contributions from citizens and Others" added Mr..
Thompson "amounted to over S13,000 every dollar
OF which was returned, and there then remained a
balance OF some 300, which was given TO the Gar
field monument association.
s'It occurs TO me-" concluded Mt. Thompson, as
he became aware OF the time slipping by, THAT If
the committee decide how much they Will spend,
and then allOt certain amounts TO each committee
and rigidly confne them to those amounts, that
the receipts OF the ball Will pay all the expenses OF
the arrangements for the Inauguration Ii IL is
decided to erect building for the ball. that will
cost anywhere from $4,000 10 $50 0C0 and OF course
INCREASE The eXneliiIures maleriallX.n