Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-20
The Splendid Work of the Capitol
Centennial Committee.
CHAIRMAN GARDNER AND ASSOCIATES
A Handsome Surplus After All Ex-
penses Were Paid.
A NJ E RIAL PLAQ q E


w. Woodward. treasurer; ]. w. Babson, H
L. Bscoe. Mills Dean. j. ]. Edson, w. j.
Frizzell. F. A. Lehman, Theo. w. Noyes
Chas. +. Powell, a. r. Spofford. A. F.
Sperry. Henry Sherwood, Jas. F. Scaggs,
DR.. j. NJ. Toner, Duncan S. Walker l.. c.
Williamson, Marshall w. Wines
The meeting was called to order by Chair
man Gardner, and in the absence of Secre-
tary Z. B. Hay, Mr.. A. F. Sperry was
chosen secretary pro tenn. Mr.. Gardner
explained that the meeting had been called
to hear the final reports of the chairman,
treasurer and chairman of the finance COM
mittee. and to wind up the affairs of the
COMMITTEES. He thereupon read his report,
which was as follows:
The Final Report
I'm presenting this, the final report. as
chairman of the committee on the centen-
NAL of the laying of the corner stone of the
Capitol. which was appointed by the Dis
trict Commissioners ten months ago, there
has been some delay in making the report.
Tor reasons explained to the honorable Dis
trlct Commits Stoners, and by them approy-
ed. As far as the business matters in rela-
tlon TO this committee were concerned, so
Well was the work of the subordinate COM
mittees kept in hand that We were pre-
pared 10 make our report within forty
eight hours after the celebration.
The first and important work was that
or the hnance committee. The committee
had hardly proceeded with it's work before
We were overtaken by a financial depression
that has been seldom equaled in this coun-
Try. Considering everything, 1t was won
derful what that committee ACCOMPLISHED
and 1t was only done by the very SYSTEM
ATTIC manner OF its canvass ard the close
personal attention of the chairman of that
committee. Mr.. John Joy Edison. On ac-
count of the difficulty in securing money
many or our plans in connection with the
celebration had to be abandoned, causing
much disappointment, but there was no
way by which 1t could be avoided. In one
instance, namely, that of the fireworks COM
mittee, who had labored hard and prepared
program to present to the people of the
city, that perhaps had never been excelled
in the District, no appropriation was made
And II was to them and the chairman a
serious disappointment at not being able to
carry out their part of the program. The
work of the committee on Invitations, under
the direction of Gen. Duncan S. Walker
speaks for itself, and there is nothing that
could say that would add to the honor of
that committee.
Efficient Committee Work.
THE committee on stands. with Mr.. VIM
]. Frizzell as its chairman, had stands
erected sufficient to accommodate all our
guests md the choir. So we'll We're their
plans arranged that the great mass which
We were compelled to provide for found am
pie accommodation. The music committee
with Mr.. William a. Gordon as chairman.
DIR. Frank L. Howe. chairman of the sub
committee on chorus, and Mr.. Ralph Gait
chairman OF the subcommittee on bands,
performed the services assigned them with
rare and marked ability, overcoming the
many difficulties thrown in their way. In
this connection l should like to call atten-
ton to the voluntary work performed by
Prof. n. DuShane Coward, in organizing
and drilling his grand chorus, and feel that
= ~ rnf n l-d hnf -
thanks be rendered him by this committee
for the services rendered. At his suggestion
a rehearsal was held of the choir at Conven-
ton Hall, the proceeds of the concert nearly
paying the entire expense of organizing
this chorus. The committee are under obIi-
cations to Mr.. James r. Scaggs who took
charge of the arrangements and manage
ment of all affairs pertaining to the concert
which was handled with eminent skill and
success.
The committee on badges produced a
badge that compares more than favorably
with anything of the kind ever attempted
In this city. The badge is we'll worthy of
the occasion We were commemora ting
Great credit is due to Mr.. Thos. Somerville
as chairman, and the very able assistance
rendered by MIR. Fl. II. Twornby. as secre-
tary of the committee. To his close atten-
ton we are indebted to most of the surplus
we now have on hand The design for the
badge and medal was furnished by Mr.
George W. CASTELAR,.
nc ON Time.
THE parade committee of which Gen.
Ellis Spear was chairman, Mr. Charles W.
Darr, vice chairman, did their work in a
manner the citizens of Washington can
judge better than this committee On all
sides I have heard nothing but the most
favorable comments on the parade One Of
the best evidences of the thoroughness of
their work was the fact that the details
had been so thoroughly arranged that when
they turned their work over to the grand
marshal, Gen. Albert Ordway there was
not the slightest hitch or mistake. In the
management Of the parade by the grand
marshal 1t would be wrong to allow this OPP
portunity to pass without calling attention
to the perfect precision with which the pro-
cess1on was organized and moved 1t was
arranged by the general orders that the
procession should start from the White
House at l o'clock, and as the city bells
struck that hour the Presidents carriage
orove through the gates, passing down the
avenue and reaching the Capitol at the
time designated
The committee on public order Mr. H.
L. Blscoe. chairman, had a very laborious
duty to perform in seating the visitors on
the grand stands. Their work was es-
peclally hard in the evening. In connection
with the illumination of the building the
committee on lllumir alton, Mr.. F. A. Leh-
mann, chairman, and Mr.. w. A Hart, vice
chairman. did wonderfully well with the
limited amount of funds at their disposal
anu II II Hdu Ueen pos SlDle 10 nave furnish
ed them with anything like the amount
they asked for the proper illumination Of
the building their work would have been
more satisfactory to themselves and the
ciuzens; as 1t was, they did wonders.
Words of Appreciation.
THE committee Oh ceremonies at the
Capitol, with Mr.. B. H. Warner as chair
man prepared and presented a program
that has never been equaled or excelled for
the number of distinguished men participant
ing. The press committee. Mr.. Theo. w.
Noyes, chairman, and Mr.. Fl. l.. West, sec
rotary, rendered US very efficient aid, and
TO our local press, the Post, The Star and
Evening News, that labored with us to
keep the celebration properly before the
public. we owe debt of gratitude. The re-
ception committee, under Mr.. Beriah Will
kinS, as chairman, net on the day of the
celebration at the Arlington, where they
received distinguished guests and escorted
them to the Capitol. From McShane &
Company of Baltimore the committee had
the use of a chime of bells that rang at
stated intervals during the day.
In conclusion, l desire to thank the Of
ncerS OF the committee for their close at
tention and assistance in carrying out the
work of the celebration. and to this COM
mittee for its hearty cooperation, for with
out that our celebration could not have been
success. For myself. 1 desire to say that
from many causes there were times when
felt like giving up the management Of
the celebration, on account of the many
many difficulties placed in the way of the
committee. But by the advice of a number
of good friends on the committee we strug-
gled on, the celebration was a success and