The morning times., 1897-02-23
GENERAL PORTER At WORK
The Grand Marshal Supervising
the Parade Arrangements.
THE ARMY CADETS MAY MARCH
Strong Plea of Secretary Lamont
for the Bill To Allow Them ts,
Participate in the Ceremonies.
All the Public Buildings Are TO
Be Brilliantly Illuminated

Mr. j. Addison Porter. secretary Of
President Mckinley. has personally investi-
gated the arrangements being made for the
Inauguration. and declares them admirable.
Gen. Horace Porter. the grand marshal
of the parade. viii remain here until after
Inauguration TO complete the work Of
preparation for the magnificent pageant
which next week will grace Pennsylvania
avenue. The various reviewing stands are
rapidly approaching competition. They
differ from those of former inaugurations.
being uniform in design, except the Presi-
dents stand. which is 10 be gorgeous
creation of white and gold. and all VIII be
sheltered.
For the first time since the fall of Rich
mond, the various public buildings wiH
be decorated and Illuminated. During
Inauguration ceremonies in the past they
have presented an appearance that did
not compare favorabIy with the gany
adorned buildings n their vicinity, and
at night their beautiful proportions were
only dimly outlined by the inUminatins
near by. Mr. Wallace ii. Hills, for many
years Assistant superintendent of the
Treasury Department, in looking up the
matter OF legislation by Congress, found
that the last act passed for the purpose
was III 1862, when an appropriation wss
made for general decoration and nluInina-
tion OF the govern ment buildings on
Washington's birthday
The badges for the members OF the var
ious subcOmlnittecs viii be distributed n
a few days by their respective chaiFmen.
In all probability they will be withheld
from those who decline 10 do the work
assigned them.
Secretary Lamont has written a letter
TO Chairman Hull. OF the House Military
Committee, regarding the resolution to
bring the West Point Cadets t. Washington
for the Inauguration He says that since
$40 the cadets have been absent from the
Academy on four occasions; at President
Grants Inauguration in oT3, at the Phila-
delphia Centennial in 1876: a. the Column
bian Parade in New York city in 1891,
and at the Chicago Worlds Fair in / sS2-
After mentioning that it was the purpose
or the department 10 order the cadets td
participate in the coming inaugural ceTe-
monies. and that the Comptroller Of the
Treasury had held that the expense could
not be paid from army appropriations. as
1t was donein 1873. and the Senate hav-
ing indicated its disapprovaI Of the pro-
posed visit. the intention had 10 be aban-
dOncd- The Secretary continues.
My views as TO the IrOpriety aEd
pef.iency of requiring the participation Of
the corps Of cadets in the inaugural parade
remain the same as when orders for their
coming were sanctioned The loss of time,
absence from study and reCitationS and
other military exercises VIII te lin tied 20
four days, certainly not a serious loss IN
d four years term. Their absence VIII Of
course. be attended with the chance Of
injury 70 health III individual eases, but
! the department did not feel that these Oh
Jections should control. The cadets are
generally il excellent health, of gcCd con
stitJtiUns, and their officers wiz take al
| necessary precautions TO guard against
the risks Of exposure. Experience Indicates
that following past absences from the
academy, ard a break in the course OF in
struotiGn, there is a falling off in lass
standing Of some cadets, while failure to
| pass an examination has been attributed to
/ d Ike cause, but on the other hand, u is
believed that substantial advantages would
| accrue to these young men Iron their per
| sonaI participationin in the imposing crremo-
| MES Attending the Inauguration Of the
| chief executive officer Of the nation and
| y,ho for his term of office VIII be their
| commandeT-in-chief."
In conclusion the Secretary submits a
! recommendation from Col Ernst, super
fntendent of the academy, that the cadets
| be left Undisturbed.
| Secretary Herbert has ordered 500 sail
ors to take part in the naval section of the
| inaugural parade with the United states
Marine Corps The men will be collected
from Admiral Bunce's ships at Hampton
Roads. from the Brooklyn AT Philadelphia,
and from the New York navy yard