The morning times., 1897-03-09
UNCLE SAM AT The BALL
He Contributed About 500, 900 to
That inaugural Event.
The Pension Office Clerks to Re-
turn TO Work Today Caterer
Essner's Gift to Cha rites.

One of the interesting statements made
yesterday in reference to the use OF the
Pension Office for the inaugural bali is
that 1t cost the Government in the neigh
borhood Of 100000. The payroll OF the
Pension Office is about $33, 900, and it
is estimated that in the loss of time, inter
ruption of the work and new work made
necessary by the inisplacing of papers
In individual cases, although none have
ever been lost, viii amount to about three
weeks pay.
Its unders TODD that the Government viii
not consent again to the use of the Pension
Office for the inaugural ball and there
is already bill prepared providing for
The building for National Guards head
quarter structure, the hall in which
is to be 400x200, which are the outside
measurements of the Pension Office.
The expectation was that the Pension
Office would have been clear of all decor;-
tions yesterday morning, but up to D. H.
there were 100 workmen engaged remov-
ing the decorations and another 100 re-
| placing the file cases OF the clerks There
was an informal contract that the office
Pensions yesterday but the experience
| Of past inaugurations is that the contract
is not carried out nor it's terms exacted
/ literally.
A large proportion of the clerks We're
at work yesterday arranging their papers
! andt the opinion was, owing to the progress
already made, all of the clerks would be
in their accustomed places today. All
nf hn ola ptrid IE,rl,
moved promptly by the United States
| Electric Light Company. The cut flowers
and other similar decorations were nearly
al out OF the building yesterday afternoon.
The carriageways are still up, but were
in process Of demolition yesterday at the
north front OF the building. The lumber
for these was rented by The contractors
and, OF course, will not be sold. The 100
600 yards of drapery put in by Crane * Co,
| OF Paterson, n. j., We're being packed
! yesterday ready for shipment to that town
| for two approaching festivals.
The three great bells or domes, which
were so much admired as having formed
a new ceiling for the building were skill
fully executed pieces OF work and not
| less So in the manner in which they were
| put in position. The dome part of the
structure WIS made on the floor and raised
| by an ingenious system OF pulleys at
taChed TO the rim OF the dome. caught up
TO the ceiling also by pulleys. These
domeS were in the act OF being taken
down yesterday, the parts below the rim
OF the dome having been Observation-Disclosures
ing TO the floor. One OF the difficulties in
this work was the exactness of the meas
urements, square and spherical, and dis
tance from the floor.
Mr.. Crane, the contractor, distributed
| quite a number of flags, etc. To people
the occasion. Flowers, pieces OF smila X,
etc, were also in great demand as
souvenirs All the most valuable potted
plants had been removed by Mr.. Small by
4 p. m, yesterday, at which time the
worknen were engaged stripping the
fountain OF its floral and evergreen
treasures The last Of the structures in
side to he taken down was the golden
gate, which disappeared last night
Mr. Carl G.. Essner, the Philadelphia
caterer who furnished the banquet, re
| lncmbered the poor and the hospitals after
the supper 4 great deal Of the viands
was distributed to people at the Pension
Office. Two wagon loads Were sent. one
to the Garfield Hospital, and the other TO
the Little Sisters of the Poor, After all
these had been attended to- Mr.. Essner
gave luncheon to the boys and girls vino
were present through curiosity or the
grateful smell of the menu 1t was
jolly scene on Friday and Saturday, while
these benefactions were being made.