National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1888-04-15
4 NATIONAL HALL.


Gen. Boynton.
Washington Special to the Cincinnati Com.
inerCial Gazette
WAsnINcToN, Apr. 12.-The NATIONAL
REPUBLICAN, which Ia always alive to the
interests of the capital, has made sugges-
tion of general interest to the country, as
well as of local importance.
1t is the erection Of great hall for ma
tonOl gatherings and assemblages of all
kinds, rs well as for the use Of the govern
incnt for what may be called its ceremonies
of state.
The RErrBLICAN is modest In its suggcs-
tions, and only asks that Congress should
give the land and allow private enterprise to
erect the hall. 1t indicates the circle south
of the white house grounds as Il suitable
location.
In this respect nothing could he better
But this subject Is one which is far wider
than the local interest of Washington. The
time has come when the government needs
great audience room, capable, with its
galleries, Of holding 10000 people. 1t
needs II for the inauguration ceremonies
and, in fact, for all those occasions, growing
more frequent every year, when the three
coordinate branches of the government
jointly assemble. The inadequacy of all
present arrangements are well known to the
country At least 10000 visitors attend the
Inauguration, aside from those who take
} pnrt In the marching columns Not more
| than SEQ of these can witness the cere-
| monies of swearing I'm the Vice President In
the Senate chamber and the formation of
! the line which proceeds with the President
| to the east front of the capitol. In other
words, asis well known, very few visitors to
the capitol at such times are lucky enough
TO see anything.
The scene IN the Senate chamber is the
| most interesting Of the day. Here gather
the Senate, the House, the national judi
ciory, the chiefs Of the army and the navy,
the heads of the executive departments
| and the representatives. Of all foreign gov
cinmcnts. II is most august assemblage.
Only SEQ of the citizens who come from the
ends Of the land can see It.
So Of such memorial occasions in the
| Hall of Representatives as when George
Bancroft delivered his splendid Grafton on
Lincoln, when Senator Creswell fifty culo-
gi2cd Henry Winter Davis and when Mr..
Blaine delivered his matchless memorial of
Garfield. So of national funerals, such as
The recent one of Chief Justice Waite.
On these occasions the extent of the pres
cnt accommodations which the government
can provide is represented by three tickets
of admission to each Senator and two to
each member Of the House.
The NATIONAL REPuIfIICAS's editorial
on the subject Is here quoted in full.
The site which is here suggested is excel
lent. There is abundant room and the sur
rouDdings are most appropriate. II Is of
convenient access. IL placed toward the
southern side of the great circle in the
white lot its northern front, where inaugu-
tiOns would take place, would be in plain
view of the thousands who could overlook
It from the porchcs, windows, and roofs of
r., Il "a IN
partmcnts. II need not 10 be show build
ing alone. II could combine the practical
uses of hall of records, which is now a
serious and most important want Of the
government. There would be abundant
room under the spacious galleries of the
audience chamber, and other spaces which
could be provided, for the safe storage of
lie building is packed to overflowing with
these accumulations. A safe and commodi-
Gus storage building Is n matter of pressing
public necessity. All needs could be met in
the construction of such national hall
There should be in it sufficient minor
halls to allow of the independent assembling
OF the Senate, the House, and the Supreme
Court for such occasions as Inauguration
and such memorial gatherings as the gov
eminent takes part in. This would obviatc
all the difficulties attending the assembling
of Congress in place at distance from Its
chambers.
Under proper restrictions such q hall
could be used for all suitable national as
scmblies in Washington, such as the Inter
national Medical Convention of last year
the International Woman's Council of this
season, the centennial meeting of American
governments in contemplation for neX
year, when the President is to receive thei
.. representatives.
The total cost need not exceed q half mil
lion dollars, or a little more than would b,
used In the much-needcd hall of records.
the house committee on public buildings ant
grounds would promptly take hold Of thi
matter an appropriation could easily be sc
cured at the present session, and provision
be made, under the proper officials, for de
, terminiDg upon plans and beginning tn
| work. Ii, " Ii.