Evening star., 1896-12-31
Arrangements Made for the Use Of
the Pension Building.
EXPECTED DIFFICULTIES OVERCOME
Ex-Confederate Representation in
the Parade Considered.
CIVIC SOCIETIES COMING

| er Murphy had an extended and satisfac-
tory conference today over the use of the
pension Office building for the inaugural
ball. There were also present Secretary
Fred Bracket of the executive committee
| Chief Clerk Mccoy Of the pension Office
and Capt. James E. Bell, chairman of the
committee on public comfort at ball room
The agreement entered into between Chair
| man Bell and Commissioner Murphy, in
| acc ordance with the directions of the Sec
| retary of the Interior, gives the executive
committee every opportunity for decorating
| and preparing the structure and allows It's
| use en- March 4, and 9.
This will give opportunity for concerts on
| Saturday, as well as Friday, and is conse-
quently particularly gratifying. 1t was ex-
pected that great difficulty would be pre-
| sented when the removal Of the immense
| wooden cases that now occupy large por-
| tion of the pension building court was COM
| menced. These cases contain the papers
| and records in hundreds Of thousands of
| pension claims, and are among the most
precious archives Of the government.
1t was thought they would have to be
carried to the upper floors of the building,
and this work would have entailed i'm
| mense labor and heavy expense. An esti-
mate was made yesterday, however, of the
| space In the rooms surrounding the court
on the same floor, and 1t was ascertained
that ample accommodation could be made
| therein for the cases. The rooms to be
used for this purpose will be those used
| four years ago at the ball for waiting and
| retiring rooms. and this time apartments
! for these purposes will be designated on
the second floor.
The arrangements Of the building other
| wise will be somewhat similar to those on
former occasions. The hat boxes will be
| placed in the rooms on either side Of the
western entrance. The supper will be
served as formerly, In the rooms extending
| from the G street entrance around to the
4th street entrance. The kitchen will be
! in temporary structure erected on the
accommodated on the first floor, where
| there will be also rooms for the policemen
and firemen.
| Chairman Bell will occupy a small room
on the I'd floor at the west end of the build
| ing. and the executive committee the ad-
| Joining apartment. The retiring and wait
same floor on the north side. The President
will occupy the rooms of Commissioner
| Murphy, and the Vice President those ad-
joining The diplomatic corps will be given
apartments on the same lire toward the
east. Chairman Bell appointed Secretary
Bracket and Commissioner Murphy ap-
| pointed Chief Clerk Mccoy to represen,
| them in the arrangement of all details of
| the work at the pension building.
| Music Stand Problem,
1t is probable that the arrangement of
the music stands at the ball will be en-
| tirely different from what it has been on
| former occasions. These stands at preyi-
Gus balls in the pension building have taken
| up vast amount of floor space in the
| court, which would have added greatly to
the comfort of the crowd had it been a.
| their disposal
Mr.. Edwin B. Hay, the vice chairman of
| the ball committee, who has had valuable
experience in helping to make the two last
inaugural balls successful, is well aware of
| the inconveniences occasicned in the past
by this location of the stands and has
! been making a study of the pension office
| court with view of bringing about
| needed change. He has concluded to urge
novel innovation by recommending that
the music stands be elevated on "A level
| with the first gallery and hung between
the huge marbleized pillows, the orches-
| ira to occupy one stand and the band the
other. Mr.. Hays plan embraces a striking
addition to the adornment of the court.
Cadets Will Not Come.
| Unless present plans undergo a radical
change in the meantime the United States
cadets at the Naval Academy will not take
| any part in the ceremonies attending the
| Inauguration Of President-elect Mckinley
This decision Is the result of a full and
serious consideration of the question by
Secretary Herbert, Assistant Secretary Nc
Adoo and Admiral Ramsay. chief of the
bureau of navigation. 1t Is the unanimous
opinion of the gentlemen named that it
| interests of the cadets to take them away
| from their studies for the length Of time
entailed by visit to Washington OH the
occasion in question. 1t Is estimated that
| in case the cadets were ordered to take
part in the inaugural procession that they
would lose at least three days from their
studies
1t is also stated that demoralizing re-
suits followed the visits made to this city
| by the corps of naval cadets on the occn-
sion Of the second Inauguration of Presi-
dnrnf Grov, nv1d nj
President Garfield, not the least of which
\ was the sickness of q large proportion of
the class in consequence Of their exposure
to the weather. which was especially Sc
| we're on both occasions named. For these
| and other reasons the Navy Department
has decided against the proposition to Or
der the naval cadets here for the coming
| inaugural procession.
Secretary Lamont and the other officials
| of the War Department are understood to
| take the same view Of the question, and
| that the order for the corps Of cadets at the
West Point Military Academy to come here
| on the 4th of March would not have been
| issued but for the expressed desire of Presi-
| dent-elect Mckinley that the cadets should
| be here. In fact, 1t Is officially admitted at
the War Department today that the order
| in question was issued by Secretary Lamont
.'at the instance of President-elect McKin-
ley" " ,n.,..,on .,. w., ,,v,
| the attendance of the naval cadets has
been made to the naval authorities. In
case such intimation is made. it will be re-
| spected by Secretary Herbert, but other
| wise no change will be made In the present
| decision that the cadets shall not be or
| dered here.
Ex-COnfederate Clubs.
Mr.. A. P. Funkhouser the editor of the
State Republican Of Harrisonburg, Va was
a visitor to headquarters today. Mr.. Funk
| houser, during the recent campaign, or
| ganized a party Of l,5O0 ex-confederate SOL
diers and sons of confederate veterans, and
took them out to Canton. Mr.. Funkhoussr
| is interested in having similar representa-
| tion in the Inauguration parade, and had a
conference with Chairman B. H Warner
ard Vice Chairman T. c. Noyes of the
civic organizations committee several
| members OF the executive board of that
committee, and Capt Horton, Gen. Porter's
| representative today on the subject.
In conversation with Star reporter Mr.
Funkhouser said the blue and gray senti
ment was very attractive one to the peo-
| pie at large. and fits Introduction In the
parade would be pleasing feature. ne
showed the badge worn by the members az
the delegation which visited MAJ. McKin-
! Continued on Tenth PageJ